August 29, 1997

Farmers Market is the missing link in good nutrition

The Crescent City Farmers Market hosted a national training session for the National Association of Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs (FMNP) this summer.

Representatives of state agricultural departments travelled from as many as a dozen states and from as far away as Hawaii to attend the two­day conference where they learned about innovative ways to link the women, infants, and children's (WIC) nutrition program with local farmers' markets. Louisiana is among one of the remaining states that does not have a WIC/FMNP program.

The market's Richard McCarthy addressed the conference and conducted a tour of the Crescent City Farmers Market. Market vendors Ben Burkett and Johnny Gallo also addressed the conference.