A bill to provide that the Secretary of Agriculture shall offer encouragement, advice, expertise, and other assistance for the purpose of establishing and maintaining farmers' markets designed to lower the cost of food for consumers and increase the income of small farmers.

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain a program by which the Department of Agriculture collects, prepares, makes available, and distributes information regarding the establishment and operation of farmers' markets and the potential of such markets for increasing the income of small farmers. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make available horticultural and marketing materials to small farmers; (2) obtain existing materials concerning farmers' markets, prepare new materials, and make available such materials to interested parties; and (3) conduct, or contract for, specified research. Defines "farmers' market" as any marketplace where at least 10 farmers congregate for the purpose of selling their agricultural commodities directly to consumers in a manner designed to lower the cost of food for the consumers while providing an increased income to the farmers. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.…