In This Issue:

VAFMA Recieves FMPP Grant
Update on Scam Website
Market Manager Certification Program
State of Virginia’s Farmers Markets
Virginia Food Access Investment Fund

We have some incredibly exciting news. VAFMA received a USDA FMPP grant!

This funding will allow us to better serve Virginia’s farmers markets and to help build a more resilient local food system. We are very grateful for this opportunity and for the USDA’s confidence in our project.

In our e-news below we have a few other items we wanted you to know about before the holiday as well. There’s an update on the fraudulent website we notified you about earlier this week, a State of Virginia Farmers Markets report, news on a funding opportunity for retail food operations, and a reminder about our Market Manager Certification Program.

On behalf of VAFMA’s Board and Staff, I wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Kim

Kim Hutchinson, PhD, MBA
Virginia Farmers Market Association
Executive Director

This is a significant turning point for our organization, for our members, and for Virginia’s farmers market communities. We look forward to sharing the details of our project in the coming weeks.

As you will see from the list of projects at the link, we are in good company. More info

We have taken and will continue to take all of the actions we can to shut this activity down. We filed claims with the appropriate agencies and have made the site’s service partners aware of the fraudulent activity.

What You Can Do
VDACS and the Virginia Attorney General’s office advised us that if your business name and logos are being used without your permission, you can file an identity theft complaint with the FTC, as well as with local law enforcement in the jurisdiction of your business.

You may also file consumer complaints or ID theft complaints in the jurisdiction where the potential perpetrator is based which appears to be New York in the case of Sagos Marketplace. The New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) prosecutes individuals and businesses engaged in fraudulent trade practices and provides information to consumers. The Office’s Consumer Fraud Bureau’s webpage is https://ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds-bureau/identity-theft, or call the Office’s General Helpline at 800-771-7755.

If the individual conducting fraud can be identified, you might consider having an attorney draft a cease and desist letter as well. There is a LinkedIn link from the website to a specific person.

Graduates of the program will:

• Be fully knowledgeable in today’s best practices for managing farmers markets
• Learn strategic tactics to expand and optimize their farmers market potential
• Be equipped to build successful relationships with farmers, shoppers, and politicians
• Use their certification to leverage support and funding for their market

Details

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, and Virginia’s farmers markets play a vital role as the place where most consumers and producers interact around local food. Farmers markets also help communities increase access to local, healthy food through SNAP and Virginia Fresh Match.

This survey shows the impact of farmers markets on their communities as well as the needs they have in order to continue to advance this important work.
View the Report

Applicants may be individuals, farms, nonprofits, organizations (faith-based or others), or for-profit businesses.
Details