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SPONSOR: | Altamirano | DATE TYPED: | 01/28/01 | HB | |||
SHORT TITLE: | Promotion & Marketing for Farmers' Markets | SB | 66 | ||||
ANALYST: | Gilbert |
Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
$ 45.0 | Recurring | GF |
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates House Bill 65
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
Department of Agriculture
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 66 appropriates $45.0 to New Mexico State University (NMSU) for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to promote local farmers' markets throughout the state, to provide marketing and organizational assistance to new and developing markets, and to disseminate educational information about New Mexico agriculture to consumers.
Significant Issues
Currently, there are 28 Farmers' Markets in New Mexico. This appropriation is intended to benefit Farmers' Markets by allowing them to participate in numerous consumer promotions and to increase consumer awareness of the availability of fresh produce, vegetables, livestock products, greenhouse products, processed foods, and other goods produced in New Mexico.
According to the 1999 National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) survey, there are over 900 farmers participating and contributing to New Mexico Farmers' Market's annual sales of $1.4 million. Farmers' Markets stimulate rural economic development and provide a direct retail market for New Mexico small-scale farmers. With the implementation of the WIC/Farmers' Market
Nutrition Program, Farmers' Markets are experiencing additional growth. (Note: WIC/Farmers' Market Nutrition Program allows WIC clients to purchase fresh produce and products at Farmers' Markets.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $45.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall revert to the general fund.
LG/ar