BILL REQ. #:  S-0874.1 

Read first time 01/28/2005.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to expansion of farmers market nutrition programs; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) The farmers market nutrition programs promote health, alleviate hunger, prevent obesity, and encourage the development of good eating habits by enabling low-income women to purchase locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables for themselves and their young children and low-income and homebound seniors to purchase locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables for themselves through farmers markets, congregate meals sites, and senior housing. Women and children in twenty-three counties and seniors in thirty-five counties of the state are presently able to participate in the program.
     (2) The farmers market nutrition programs support small farmers and rural economies through the promotion of Washington state agriculture. Farmers market nutrition programs increase sales of Washington grown fruits and vegetables, increase marketing opportunities for local farms, strengthen local economies and communities, preserve farmlands, reduce energy usage and pollutants, and promote collaboration among agriculture, health, and social service and food assistance programs.
     (3) Low-income women and children, low-income seniors, farmers markets, and agencies administering the farmers market nutrition programs will be denied the opportunity to participate in coming years because of cuts at the federal level and lack of sufficient state funds to continue current program levels.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   During the 2005-2007 biennium, an additional four hundred thousand dollars from the general fund--state are appropriated to the department of health to maintain 2004 participation levels for the farmers market nutrition program for women, infants, and children. During the 2005-2007 biennium, seven hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund--state are appropriated to the department of social and health services to maintain 2004 participation levels for the senior farmers market nutrition program.