Mobile market programs

AN ACT Relating to mobile market programs; adding a new section 1
to chapter 43.70 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective 2
date; and declaring an emergency. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that small local 5
farmers play a crucial role in providing communities with access to 6
fresh, healthy foods. Farmers markets provide a place for local 7
farmers to sell their products, encouraging consumption of fresh 8
products in the communities in which they were grown.9
The legislature recognizes that some households may live in rural 10
areas or food deserts where access to farmers markets and fresh food 11
is limited. There are a number of programs to help increase access to 12
fresh, healthy foods for low-income communities. The farmers market 13
nutrition program was established by congress in 1992 to provide 14
fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to women, infants, and 15
children program participants and to expand the awareness, use of, 16
and sales at farmers markets which benefits both program participants 17
and local farmers. Similarly, the senior farmers market nutrition 18
program provides low-income seniors with access to locally grown 19
fruits and vegetables. Participants in both programs commonly use 20
their food benefit at farmers markets, farms, and roadside stands.21
S-0209.2
SENATE BILL 5214
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Shewmake, Harris, Wellman, Kauffman, Stanford, Chapman,
Riccelli, Saldaña, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Slatter, and
Valdez
Prefiled 01/09/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5214
The legislature further recognizes that other states including 1
Pennsylvania and Virginia also allow mobile market providers to 2
accept both women, infants, and children and senior farmers market 3
nutrition program benefits. This provides greater nutritional support 4
to households that may live in a rural area, an area without access 5
to a farmers market, or in a food desert. In these states, eligible 6
low-income households are still able to access fresh, healthy foods 7
which not only benefits that household, but benefits the local 8
farmers as well. 9
It is hereby the intent of the legislature to provide 10
participants of both the women, infants, and children and senior 11
farmers market nutrition programs access to fresh, healthy food 12
through nonprofit mobile markets to promote access to fresh, healthy 13
food regardless of a household's proximity to a farmers market.14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.70 15
RCW to read as follows: 16
(1) The mobile market program is established in the department 17
with the goals of providing increased nutrition access to 18
participants of the women, infant, and children and senior farmers 19
market nutrition program, while also supporting local farmers.20
(2) The mobile market program is available to participants of the 21
women, infant, and children and senior farmers market nutrition 22
programs so long as funding is made available to the department 23
through the United States department of agriculture.24
(3) The department shall define the mobile market program through 25
rule making. At a minimum, the definition must require mobile market 26
programs to be operated by a nonprofit organization and serve an area 27
that does not have a farmers market. 28
(4) The department shall conduct rule making consistent with this 29
section to establish the mobile market program. 30
(5) If the department deems it necessary to file a waiver, the 31
department shall file a waiver with the United States department of 32
agriculture to allow mobile market programs to accept both women, 33
infants, and children and senior farmers market nutrition program 34
benefits. 35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate 36
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 37
p. 2 SB 5214
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 1
effect May 1, 2025. 2
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p. 3 SB 5214