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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 as reported by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture; 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 continue to grow in popularity, and WHEREAS, Moscow Farmers Market has been a vibrant part of our community since 1977 and is the oldest operating market in the State of Idaho; 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 food and plant starts; and WHEREAS, The Moscow Farmers Market now accepts Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmer Market Nutrition Program benefits from Washington State residents; and WHEREAS, Fresh food choices and dietary awareness generally improve health outcomes and reduce the incidence of obesity; and WHEREAS, USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsak observed that “farmers markets play a key role in developing local and regional food systems that support the sustainability of family farms, revitalize rural communities, and provide opportunities for farmers and consumers to interact”; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Lambert, Mayor of the City of Moscow, do hereby proclaim August 7th through 13th, 2016, to be National 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 1st day of August, 2016 Bill Lambert, Mayor