FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408
Release: Farmers Market Advocates Call for Delaying New Rule Amidst Uncertainty
Washington, DC, November 3, 2026 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), alongside other farmers market advocates, delivered a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Acting Administrator Shiela Corley requesting a delay of the updated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Stocking Requirements poised to take effect November 4, 2026.
“As the new rule takes effect this week, countless markets don’t have clarity on how their own retailer status will be affected – and we’ve seen a corresponding uptick in requests for technical assistance from farmers markets nationwide. These markets are often run by unpaid market managers or the farmers themselves and are relying exclusively on email communication with USDA. They need publicly available clear guidance and a simple process on how to navigate the updated rule,” commented Hannah Quigley, NSAC Policy Specialist.
USDA initially proposed the updates to the SNAP stocking requirements in September 2025. At that time, NSAC reviewed the proposed rule and did not foresee implications for farmers markets or other direct marketing farm retailers who have historically been categorized as a SNAP retailer under Criterion B (the rule primarily affects vendors authorized under Criterion A). When a business applies to be an authorized SNAP retailer, they answer questions about its stocking and sales of staple food items. USDA uses this information to determine which Criterion best reflects their retailer type. This information is primarily an internal record for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration and is not often shared with the applicant, even after their application is approved. As a result, this has left many farmers markets around the country unsure if the new rule affects them.
Farmers markets are not the only groups requesting a delay in the rule enforcement. Similar requests have been made by other retailers, Senate Republicans, and locally elected officials.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/
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