Serve Family Farmers
What We're Up Against
Small and mid-size farms are the backbone of any stable economy. They provide healthy food, middle class jobs, and protection for our land and water. By contrast, Big Agriculture today has become an extraction industry making it hard for farmers to survive–let alone expand and hire more workers–and negatively impacting rural communities.
Our state government has not responded to the small farmer crisis, and as a result, West Virginia farms are on the decline. We have also lost a generation of potential farmers. Equally troubling, little of the money we spend on food in state stays here. Instead, it also goes to large chains and food distributors.
We can reinvent and reinvest in this sector of our economy–creating new jobs, healthier food, and more wealth for our people, but only if we shift our public policy toward small farms, local foods, and regenerative agriculture.
Our Plan
- Provide 500+ forgivable loans and venture capital grants per year to support new farms, ag cooperatives, niche industries.
- Create an active farm supply lending program.
- Institute a “Big Box Tax” on large retailers and chain restaurants responsible for undercutting the local economy.
- Require state institutions to source locally and regionally first.
- Eliminate red tape for EBT, SNAP, and WIC recipients so we are no longer hurting the hungry or our farmers by keeping people from accessing food.
- Permit EBT, SNAP, and WIC recipients to use their benefits online at local stores for delivery and pick-up.
- Support the use of SNAP dollars for local food.
- Support expansion of school food programs to include afterschool meals and summer food programs statewide (see also our Education Plan).
- Support the implementation of the Food for All recommendations.
- Reform and modernize laws that lead to mass food waste.
No one politician or slate of candidates can win this plan alone. We need you.
If you have an idea for how to make this plan stronger, or if you would like to lend a hand to win it, contact our co-chair Stephen Smith at stephen@wvcantwait.com.