Policy & Advocacy

Why Advocacy?

Our impact deepens when we work together.

OFMA connects with organizations that share our concern for farmers, food security and the well-being and equity of Oregon’s food system. Members sit on statewide committees, coalitions and leadership teams representing the needs of farmers markets to help inform and advocate for systemic strengthening of our food system.

Spring 2023 Update

So much has happened this past season! Today, we are writing very specifically to update you on a pressing OFMA development.

We’re pleased to share that within the new  Bipartisan Drought Relief and Water Security Package there lies a proposal for a state investment in farmers markets of $2.5 million. OFMA urges you to join us in strongly supporting this bill and in particular bring your attention to the long lasting impacts for your market and those across the state in the funding requests included under components 4-7 and 4-8:

  • 4-7: Mini-Grants for Resilience/Adaptation and Relief for Small-Scale Farms and Ranches for the Oregon Community Food System Network (OCFSN) (page 21)

  • 4-8: Increasing Food Security for OFMA and OCFSN (page 22)

There are two REALLY IMPACTFUL ways that you can support Oregon’s Farmers Markets today!

  1. Register to testify online at HB 3124’s hearing. The deadline to register is Thursday, March 30th at 3pm and the hearing takes place on Monday, April 3rd at 5:30pm. Registration: Follow this link, scroll to the bottom and click “register to testify.” Fill in your info, select whether you will be speaking remotely or in person, and be sure to register in “support.

  2. Submit Written Testimony (Deadline April 5th, at 5:30pm) Link Here>>

Doing these two things is not as intimidating as it sounds! There are great tools to help you understand the topic. Our partners at FOFF, in their usual manner of exceeding expectations in their untiring support of the farming community, have put together a fantastic and approachable update here. There are  legislative step-by-step guides to help you through the process here along with templates courtesy of FOFF for both of the above testimony options here. You can also review other folks’ testimony here.

Especially helpful is sharing your own personal experiences and challenges that funding from this package may help with in the future. Did you personally lose income from your market closing due to wildfires? Have you seen vendors vanish during unseasonably warm times of the year? Have your vendors and/or your market lost revenue because of drought and disaster related crop losses? Your stories are really valuable to share with Oregon representatives and decision makers and sharing that via testimony is a powerful tool in garnering support.

Policy Partners

OFMA’s advocacy is intertwined with that of many amazing organizations. We couldn’t advocate without their collaborative efforts.

 

Farmers Market Fund

The Farmers Market Fund is dedicated to providing low-income, elderly and underserved populations greater access to fresh, locally grown foods. They were a primary advocate for Double Up Food Bucks match funding in the 2019 legislative session.

Oregon Food Bank Advocacy Department

The Oregon Food Bank works year-round on public policies that affect Oregonians experiencing hunger. They were a primary advocate for Double Up Food Bucks match funding in the 2019 legislative session.

Oregon Community Food Systems Network

The Oregon Community Food Systems Network is a collaboration of 53 nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening regional food systems.

 

Friends of Family Farmers

Friends of Family Farmers builds a strong and united voice for Oregon’s independent family farmers.

Farmers Market Coalition

The national Farmers Market Coalition is dedicated to working with farmers market operators to strengthen farmers markets across the United States so that they can serve as community assets while providing real income opportunities for farmers.

 

History of OFMA’s Advocacy Efforts

OFMA has a strong history of working on behalf of our member markets to enact policy changes and groundbreaking programs that help Oregon’s markets thrive.

Double Up Food Bucks SNAP Match

State Bills HB 2837 and SB727 

OFMA was part of a coalition that endorsed and successfully advocated for a statewide farmers market SNAP matching program. This bill, passed in 2019, helps ensure that Oregonians of all income levels have access to fresh, nutritious local foods. State funding for this program provides stability for an already successful program, potentially increasing consumption of fresh produce for an estimated 150,000 low-income Oregonians. The program has also benefited participating markets and put money directly into the pockets of small farmers.

 

Ballot Measure 103

OFMA took a public “No” position on Ballot Measure 103 in the 2018 fall election. We believe in protecting small businesses and farmers, not corporate interests.


Cottage Food Bill

Oregon’s cottage food bill helped pave the way for new value-added producers to launch farmers market-based businesses minimal red tape.


Federal Farm Bill Programs

OFMA advocates for federal Farm Bill programs such as the Farmers Market Promotion Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program.