USDA KICKS OFF 1997 FARMERS MARKET SEASON



                                            Release No. 0206.97
                                                               
                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                              ltrivers@usda.gov
                               Connie Crunkleton (202) 720-8998
                                           ccrunkleton@usda.gov
                                                               
USDA KICKS OFF 1997 FARMERS MARKET SEASON

     WASHINGTON, June 27, 1997--Agricultural Secretary Dan Glickman opened
the season's first USDA-sponsored farmers market today welcoming local
farmers, employees, and area residents.  Energy Secretary Federico Pe¤a,
Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, and D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes
Norton joined Glickman at the market's opening.

     Glickman said the five USDA-sponsored farmers markets held last year
were so popular with the farmers and with consumers that USDA will host
farmers markets every other Friday through October, with a special "pre-Thanksgiving" market in November.

     "USDA is proud to be a part of what has become a true community event,"
Glickman said.  "This year we will more than quadruple the number of USDA
farmers markets held last year.  And, with the Departments of Energy and
Transportation participating, small- to medium-size area farmers will have
expanded options for marketing their products while District residents,
tourists and employees will have easy access to a variety of fresh produce
and baked goods every Friday."  

     Beginning July 18, the U.S. Department of Energy will host markets on
alternate Fridays to the USDA markets.  And, the U.S. Department of
Transportation will begin hosting markets later this summer.

     Twenty-two farmers participated in today's farmers market, offering
farm fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese, herbs, trout, baked goods and more. 
They came from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
and South Carolina.  Eleven of the farmers are members of minority groups.

     At the market's close, the farmers donated unsold produce and other
foods to the D.C. Central Kitchen, a local food recovery organization.  
Last year, USDA's farmers markets donated 3,300 pounds of food to the D.C.
Central Kitchen for the hungry in the city.  

     "With the increased number of markets, our gleaning activity from these
events should be quite substantial this year," said Glickman, the leader of 
the Clinton Administration's effort to expand gleaning and food recovery
activities. 

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