U.S. Senate honors farmers markets
The U.S. Senate, honored farmers and farmers markets earlier this month.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., introduced a bipartisan resolution designating Aug. 2 - 8, 2026, as National Farmers Market Week to celebrate the hardworking farmers and ranchers who feed our families, fuel our communities, and strengthen rural America.
“Agriculture is the heart of Iowa, and farmers markets make it easier for Iowans to buy fresh, locally grown food in communities across our state,” Ernst said. “I’m proud to lead a bipartisan resolution designating Aug. 2 through 8 as National Farmers Market Week to recognize the tireless work of our farmers, ranchers, and producers who put nutritious food on Americans’ tables every day.”
Padilla agreed.
“California is home to more than 800 farmers markets that nourish our families, bolster the local economy, and cultivate thoughtful relationships between growers and consumers,” he said. “We cherish these shared spaces which are a vibrant, dependable source of nutrition for our state. I’m proud to lead this Senate resolution celebrating National Farmers Market Week to support our local farmers who feed our families and strengthen our communities.”
In 2023, Senators Ernst and Padilla announced the first-ever congressional resolution to celebrate National Farmers Market Week, which was adopted unanimously by the Senate and celebrated again in 2024 and 2025.
U.S. Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine., introduced a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.
“The Central Valley grows a quarter of our nation’s food on less than one percent of America’s farmland, yet too many people living in urban areas don’t realize what it takes to get food from field to table,”
Valadao said. “Farmers markets provide a valuable opportunity to connect people with the hardworking producers who feed our nation, and they highlight the important role agriculture plays in our communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing National Farmers Market Week and honoring the contributions of ... producers working to support food access, bolster local economies, promote healthy living, and foster sustainable farming.”
“A quarter of Maine farms sell directly to consumers, with more than 100 farmers markets currently operating in our state,” Pingree said. “Farmers markets not only help put healthy food on the table, but also strengthen local economies and help preserve Maine’s agricultural traditions for future generations. ...
In red states and blue states alike, farmers markets can be a force for good — and an important part of building a stronger, more resilient food system for all Americans.”
The resolution noted that farmers markets accounted for $1.7 billion in income for farmers of the United States in 2020. Also, the number of farmers markets in the United States rose from 1,755 in 1994 to 8,771 in 2019. Farmers markets are significant educational sites and as bridges between urban and rural communities, contributing to a better public understanding of farming and ranching.
Farmers markets and direct marketing farmers help improve the health and wellness of low-income people in the United States who receive Federal nutrition benefits.
Democrats delay Farm Bill
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, spoke Thursday to criticize Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats who voted against advancing the Farm Bill, delaying critical support for America’s farmers:
“I’m disappointed the Democrats voted against advancing the Farm Bill today, leaving America’s farmers and rural communities waiting even longer for the certainty of a five-year Farm Bill,” she said. Ernst noted that the Farm Bill includes priorities she has been fighting to deliver for Iowans for over a decade, from expanding access to year-round E-15 gasoline, keeping farmland out of the hands of China, and supporting farmer mental health.
“While today’s vote is a setback, I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure states are treated fairly as we strengthen accountability in SNAP, find a long-term fix to the harmful effects of Proposition 12, and build the bipartisan support needed to get a Farm Bill across the finish line and signed into law,” she said.
