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Farmers Market Week Proclamation WHEREAS, National Farmers Market Week recognizes important contributions by farmers and farmers markets across the United States; and WHEREAS, Farmers markets stimulate regional economies by directly supporting local growers who reinvest in their communities; and WHEREAS, Agriculture is Idaho’s leading natural resource based industry, contributing an estimated $9.76 billion annually to the State’s economy annually; and WHEREAS, Preserving our State’s farmland—including small farms—is critical to maintaining productivity, profitability, and food security; and WHEREAS, Farmers markets in Idaho are growing in popularity, with forty-fiveCitizen markets now operating throughout the state; and WHEREAS, Moscow Farmers Market has been a vibrant part of our community since 1977; and WHEREAS, Moscow’s award-winning Shop the Market Program enables use of electronic benefits transfer technology or EBT by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients to purchase wholesome fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, eggs, honey, seeds, and edible plant starts; and WHEREAS, Fresh food choices and dietary awareness generally improve health outcomes and reduce the incidence of obesity; and WHEREAS, Moscow is increasingly recognized for its myriad efforts, independently and in coordination with others, to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles, and was recently recognized by the White House for participation in the Let’s Move! Initiative; and WHEREAS, The Palouse-Clearwater Food Coalition consists of area growers, sellers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academic experts, and economic development interests, who are working together to support and expand local food production, consumption, and sale; and WHEREAS, USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsak observed that “farmers markets play a key role in developing local and regional food systems, support family farms, revitalize local communities, provide important outlets for producers and the opportunity for farmers and consumers to interact; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Lambert, Mayor of the City of Moscow, do hereby proclaim August 2nd through 8th, 2015, to be Farmers Market Week and I urge all citizens to join me in recognizing and enjoying the many benefits of the Moscow Farmers Market and other farmers markets in our area. DATED this 3rd day of August, 2015 Bill Lambert, Mayor