WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on Thursday joined a group of senators in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure hungry Ohioans do not lose access to the healthy and local fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods they can purchase at farmers markets, according to a press release from Brown’s office.

“Providing the ability for SNAP participants to purchase food at farmers markets is a win-win. Not only does this provide critical access to healthy, local fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods, it also helps family farmers to develop important local markets and expand business opportunities,” the senators wrote in their letter.

As one of the primary vendors that services farmers markets through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) prepares to cease operations later this month, Brown said he wants to ensure families that use SNAP benefits to shop at farmers markets do not lose access to these vital markets.

He also wants to ensure farmers are not left without customers during the height of the farmers’ market season.