Subject: ACT NOW: Virginia Farmers Markets Should Be Essential Like Grocery Stores!

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Dear Friend,

Virginia farmers markets are classified as restaurants and not as essential businesses like grocery stores. Farmers markets, like restaurants, are only open for takeout and delivery. To many farmers and consumers, farmers markets are essential but right now, many are closed because of the restrictions put on them in Virginia. To most surrounding states and the USDA, farmers markets are considered essential.

Consumers are demanding food directly from farmers for many reasons including low grocery store supplies, shorter supply chain and fewer hands on local food, the safety of shopping in open air, and wanting to support the local economy. 

Please contact Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Commissioner Jewel Bronough, and Governor Ralph Northam and let them know that you want farmers markets to be reclassified as essential businesses.

Please see below for more details on how to take action.

Thank you for all you do.

Alexia Kulwiec
FTCLDF Executive Director
Virginia Farmers Markets
TAKE ACTION #1

If you're a Virginia resident, please contact Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Jewel Bronough, and Governor Ralph Northam and ask them to reclassify farmers markets as essential businesses for the purposes of COVID-19 containment policies.

Let them know why you would like farmers markets to be considered as essential.

A phone call is more effective than an email. And remember to keep the conversation polite and to-the-point.

Secretary Bettina Ring
(804) 692-2511
Agriculture.Forestry@Governor.virginia.gov

VDACS Commissioner Dr. Jewel Bronaugh
(804) 786-3501
jewel.bronaugh@vdacs.virginia.gov

Governor Ralph Northam
(804) 786-2211
MORE INFO

To learn more about this issue from the Virginia Association for Biological Farming, click HERE.
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