A proclamation signing this morning at Adelup named Aug. 2-8 as Guam's Farmers Market Week.

"Farmers market preserve farmland and livelihood," Farmers Cooperative Association President Mike Aguon said. "We must work harder to protect Guam's farmland and realize that without a new generation of farmers and stronger local food system there would be no one to work the land, protected or not. And, lastly, farmer's markets stimulate local economies." 

He also added that, nationally in 2017, more than $22.4 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed at farmers markets, bringing more local produce to those in need. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero spoke about future plans.

"There are resources that we can invest in the farmers market through GEDA grants and we have, we have already awarded some monies to the GEDA grant," she said."And of course, our plan to grow it into an industry where we can export. We'd be working with UOG, with the Dept. of Agriculture, GEDA, and also the farmers market." 

She said there is an active task force looking at policy, finances, and networking for a robust system, including exporting within Micronesia and into the Asia-Pacific region.