Great Falls Farmers Market Could Lose Funding Next Year

Summer is beginning to wane across Big Sky Country, and it means the close to a favorite Saturday morning event in Great Falls.  The Great Falls Farmer's Market has announced September 27, 2025, as the last day of the season for the year.

via GIPHY

With the end of the market approaching, the Women, Infant, Children (WIC) funding offered could see a major hit for 2026.  Allocated funds are not being used, meaning less for next year.

Great Falls Farmers Market Could Lose Funding Next Year

For those not aware, food assistance programs are available through the Great Falls Farmer's Market vendors who have applied and are signed up with the state.  The Montana Farmer's Market Nutrition Program offers those individuals that are signed up for WIC to purchase "fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables."

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Participants of the program receive coupons for redemption at participating vendors at Farmer's Markets across Montana.  However, according to the FMNP, if there is low participation in the program, the vouchers may go unused, and this will impact state funding, including our own local market.

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Great Falls Has Used Less than 25% of Allocated Funds in 2025

The Cascade City-County Health Department released that just $2300 of the $10,000 allocated to the Great Falls Farmer's Market has been used thus far in 2025.  That means that if not used, those funds could see a hit for the future in 2026.

For those that are part of the WIC program in Montana, although the local farmer's market will close on September 27, vendors are able to sell products through WIC until the end October to those signed up.  For more information about the Great Falls Farmer's Market food programs, visit here.