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House Ag committee concurs on SJ 11 to study farmers markets and local food systems
Summary
The House Agriculture Committee unanimously concurred with Senate Joint Resolution 11, which requests an interim study of farmers markets and local food systems to clarify implementation gaps in recent cottage-food and local-food laws and improve consumer protections and market viability.
Senator Bruce "Butch" Gillespie (Senate District 9) presented Senate Joint Resolution 11, asking the Legislature to direct an interim study of farmers markets and local food systems. Gillespie said farmers markets connect producers and consumers, bolster local economies and inform policy decisions about how food is raised and distributed.
Proponents from across the state told the committee the study is needed. Kalli Wicks of Grow Montana said many markets are legitimate businesses that drive local economic development and called out implementation confusion stemming from changes to the Local Food Choice Act. Ben Catton of the Montana Environmental Information Center tied stronger local markets to climate resilience, citing 2024 crop losses of about $540,000,000 as a reason to shore up local infrastructure. Rachel Prevost of the Montana Farmers Union said the study can help balance consumer safety and small-producer viability.
Jillian Street of the Montana Department of Agriculture and Mercedes Oberlie of the Department of Public Health and Human Services identified themselves as informational witnesses available to answer questions about enforcement and food-safety considerations.
Vice Chair Carter moved concurrence; the committee approved SJ 11 by voice vote. The committee recorded all 17 members in favor and 0 against. The resolution requests that a collaborative, expert study examine statutory classifications, liability and enforcement issues, and recommend legislative fixes as needed. The committee will forward SJ 11 per the concurrence vote.
The study is intended to clarify how the Local Food Choice Act and related Montana Code Annotated provisions apply to today's farmers markets and to recommend changes to reduce confusion around enforcement, liability and market classification.
