Farmers' Markets Information & Resources

Contents

• North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association
  

  "North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association" is a trade association dedicated to nurturing the farm direct marketing industry. Its actions are driven by those whose daily lives are dedicated to this way of life. Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm–grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers’ markets, pick–your–own farms, consumer–supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever–growing innovations in direct producer–to–consumer agricultural marketing methods. Here at our Web site, you can find lots of information."

  "Why family farms? Food security. Farmland preservation. Quality of life. Locally grown foods. Taste. Quality. Freshness. These are all great reasons to support family farms. How about also the preservation of farmers?"

• Sustainable Table on Farmers’s Markets.
  
  "At farmers markets, producers from an area gather together to sell their goods to residents of the local community. They can be inside and year-round or outside and seasonal, in a parking lot or in the middle of a field."
  
  "Farmers markets support a sustainable food system by offering regionally-grown produce. Small family farms stay in business; land is protected from development, and consumers receive fresh food that does not travel far. Many markets sell more than just fruits and vegetables, and include meats, wines, cheeses, flowers, herbs, baked goods, wool and hand-crafted items. These markets provide a direct link between the farmer and consumer, benefiting both. "
   
• USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service ("AMS"):

  Farmers Market Consortium A service the U.S.D.A.

  "Resource Guide" (PDF)  The Resource Guide promotes a free flow of information between the programs that support farmers markets. It is divided into four types of projects: market development, producer training and support, consumer education and access, and market promotion. The Resource Guide describes each of these four types, followed by an overview of the participating programs and a list of the most recent projects that support farmers markets."
  
  "The latest U.S. agricultural census identifies the emergence of two trends in the farming sector–a consolidation of medium and large farms and an expansion in the number of small farms. In our era of large farms, where food can travel over a thousand miles from farm to table, consumers are looking for alternative sources of food by supporting small local farmers.
  
  Today’s farmers are taking advantage of the swelling demand for locally-grown food by adopting a broad range of alternative production and marketing methods to capture this expanding market. Meanwhile, consumers are increasingly interested in knowing how their produce is grown–whether it is traditional or organic–and where it comes from. The convergence of these trends has generated a renewed interest in farmers markets across the nation.
  
  The United States Department of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is committed to the long–term support of farmers–particularly small and medium–sized farmers. Currently over 3,700 farmers markets operate in the U.S., in all fifty States and requiring many different kinds of assistance.
  
  A Farmers Market Consortium was formed in November 2005 to further the cause of farmers markets..." (From the Resource Guide Summary.)