Slow Food® Utah

• (SLCa Downtown) Salt Lake City Downtown Farmers’ Market

  

  The Downtown Farmers’ Market is "open Saturday Mornings, June 14 through October 18, 2008, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Historic Pioneer Park (300 South & 300 West) in Downtown Salt Lake City. The Downtown Farmers’ Market is a local growers’ market, featuring fresh produce from over 70 Utah farmers. In addition to the produce, the Market also offers a variety of fresh baked breads and pastries, cheeses, meat and seafood, jams and honeys, house and garden plants, arranged planters, and numerous handmade arts & crafts. Unique food vendors also are a part of the Market, offering prepared foods and beverages."

  - "Music at the Market" featuring live music every Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Center Plaza, Pioneer Park. Check "City Weekly" for music listings.

  - Calendar of Events: 6/14 Opening day. 6/21 Tempting bistro sandwiches. 6/28 "Independents" week kick off. 7/5 Celebrity chefs finals. 7/12 Leonardo on wheels. 7/19 Puff pastry & salad surprises. 7/26 B.Y.O.Bags. 8/2 Harvest pickin’. 8/9 Library book sale. 8/16 Gazpacho mania. 8/23 Pacific Islander festival. 8/30 It’s all about the bees, honey! 9/6 Third annual chef showdown. 9/13 Tour and taste of the market (SFU). 9/20 Fresh pesto fest. 9/27 Downtown art & culture day. 10/4 Food and art for kids, by kids. 10/11 Poached fruit temptations. 10/18 Pumpkin festival. (Please check the Downtown Farmers’ Market Website for more information on events and musical offerings.)

  - Sign-up to receive "Fresh Peaches" the Farmers’ Market email newsletter twice monthly to your inbox.

  - Wondering where to park for the Downtown Farmers’ Market? (6/08)

• (SLCa Downtown) The SLC People’s Market

  

  The SLC People᾿s Market is open Sundays, June 15 through October 28, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the International Peace Gardens, 1000 South 900 West in Salt Lake City.

  "The People’s Market will help build a more robust food system, small–scale entrepreneurship, and community pride. The SLC People’s Market is an opportunity for residents, local growers, and city–wide consumers to come together to find good food and great bargains on locally produced items. Originally conceived within a local community leadership program, the People’s Market is a true grassroots effort to improve our local quality of life."

  Check–out the Latest News and Collaborations between the Peoples Market and additional organizations.

• Contact The SLC People’s Market. Kyle LaMalfa (801) 359-8559. (Google Map.) (6/08)

• (SLCa Central) Pioneer Craft House Tuesday Farmers’ Market is of the first Tuesday of each month, July through September, 2008, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pioneer Craft House, 3271 South 500 East in Salt Lake City. (Updated information on their Website was not posted at time of publication, so this is 2007 information.) For additional information, please contact Tim Williams at (801) 412–3218.

• (SLCa Central) Murray Farmers’ Market is open Fridays and Saturdays, August to November 1, from 9:00 a.m. until late afternoon, at Murray City Park, 5106 South Murray Park Avenue (200 East) in central Salt Lake County. (In the parking lot East of the "Park Center" Recreation Center. Enter from State Street Murray Park entrance.) Sponsored by the Utah Farm Bureau. Contact Aurline Boyack (801) 233-3010. (6/08)

• (SLCa South) Sandy City Farmers’ Market is open Fridays and Saturdays, August to November 1, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at, 10200 South State Street in the parking lot south of Target, in South–Central Salt Lake County. Sponsored by the Utah Farm Bureau. Contact Aurline Boyack (801) 233-3010. (6/08)

• (SLCa Southwest) West Jordan Farmers’ Market is open Tuesdays, July 8 through October 28, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 7990 South Redwood Road in Southwestern Salt Lake County. Call Julie Brown at (801) 569–5119 for more information. (6/08)

• (Wasatch Front–North: Bountiful) Bountiful Farmers’ Market is open Thursdays, June 26 through October, 2008, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 100 South 100 East, Bountiful. Contact Mary Carpenter at (801) 721–1642 for more information.

  Map.

• (Wasatch Front–North: Kaysville) Utah Botanical Center 2007 Farmers’ Market

  

  Thursday evenings, July 10 through October 2, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 925 South #50 West, Kaysville. (No market July 24.) Google Map

  This market will feature "local growers, gourmet food producers and artisans," and will be held in the open air pavilion of the Utah Botanical Center. The Utah Botanical Center Farmers’ Market has been "developed to educate consumers about the importance of local farming and seasonal eating, and to foster community activities that bring people together."

  "The Utah Botanical Center is home to research and demonstration projects focused on sustainable living in the Intermountain West." UBC is the home of "Utah House," Utah State University Extension’s sustainable building demonstration and education center.

  Contact the Utah House at (801) 544–3089 or email Lori Matsukawa at lorim@ext.usu.edu.

  Map – Visiting the Utah Botanical Center.

• (Wasatch Front–North: Syracuse) Syracuse Farmers Market is open Saturdays, last Saturday of July through last Saturday of September, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, at 1891 West 1700 South, Syracuse. Contact Nancy Nakai at (801) 825–3633 for more information.

• (Wasatch Front–North: Clearfield) The Downtown Clearfield Farmers’ Market.

  

  Now in its second year (2008), Friday evenings, August 1 through September 26, 2008, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., at 55 South Center Street, Clearfield, Utah. (Between the North Davis Fire District and the Clearfield Community Center.) Featuring locally grown produce, food & craft vendors, and retailers. Hosted by the City of Clearfield. For more information, please call Clearfield City at (801) 525–2796 or (801) 525–2790. (Google Map.) (6/08)

• (Wasatch Front–North: Ogden) The Ogden Historic 25th Street Farmers’ & Art Market.

  

  Open Saturdays, mid–July through mid–October, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. (July 12 through September 27, 2008.)

  "Get Fresh in the City — The market invites you to visit downtown Ogden with the promise of a mini festival each week.The quality of our Farmers Market vendors is the talk of the town. Over 50 local growers participate in the market bringing fresh produce ranging from berries, peaches, plums, apples and pears, to tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, pumpkins and seasonal flowers & herbs from late summer through fall. Browse the bounty of unique artwork with a cup of your favorite coffee and catch a late breakfast or early lunch in the mild morning breeze. Look for handmade herbal soaps, unique bird houses, ornamental metal garden stakes and mosaic concrete pavers, ceramics, silks and glass... treasures for and from the garden that you won’t find at the retailer. It’s what everyone loves best about Saturday morning accompanied by live acoustic performances from local musicians."

  "25th Street "Unplugged" — From traditional Alpine longhorns to ’shredding’ bluegrass to soothing Brazilian jazz, our performers wrap the market in a blanket of music guaranteed to get you in a good mood for the weekend! Live music that’s all acoustic, all culturally diverse, and all provided free during the Farmers & Art Market. Local artists perform folk, blues, bluegrass, Celtic, alternative rock and jazz. Northern Utah’s talented singers and songwriters will have your weekend humming with free acoustic concerts every Saturday morning. Performances feature a diverse line-up of local musicians. See Music Performance Schedule."

  "Also featuring the "Little Sprouts Market" for ages 16 and under featuring ice–cold, home–brewed root–beer and lemonade, along with wagons full of homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers, handmade jewelry, artwork and face painting by kids."

  "Farmers & Art Market Bike Rental: Decided the day is wonderful and wished you had ridden your bike for a casual tour? Well, it just so happens we thought of that for you. Great his or hers city cruiser, only $2 per hour ( Registration required with valid ID & CC)"

  This Farmers’ Market is located at the Ogden Municipal Park 25th Street and Grant Avenue in downtown Ogden.

  For more information on this Market, please visit Ogden Historic 25th Street Farmers’ & Art Market or contact Peter Barrera at (801) 393–2295. You may also sign-up for their Newsletter. (6/08)

• (Wasatch Front–North: Brigham City to Willard) Box Elder County "Fruitway"

  

  Roadside fruit and produce stands are open daily, later June through September, along "Fruitway" (Highway 89 from Brigham City to Perry to Willard).

  Numerous fruit and vegetable growers offer products along the area’s historic Highway 89. "Fruitway" produce stands can be found along Utah’s Highway–89, from Brigham City to Willard.

  Utah’s historic "Fruitway" has been the scene of numerous road–side fruit–stands for many years. As real estate values climb, and more rural land transitions to urban uses, fruit orchards and road–side fruit–stands on this 10–mile stretch of Highway–89 are becoming less common. Many of the fruit growing operations have been handed down for generations.

  "Historically, the economy of Willard centered around agriculture, with fruit crops being the major product. Colorful roadside fruit stands grace Highway 89 as it winds through the area. Buyers travel far to purchase the best fruit in the west along northern Utah's "fruit way." The construction of Interstate 15 west of Willard eliminated many negative aspects of the "through" traffic on Highway 89 by reducing the noise level and minimizing the hazards of crossing the busy highway. It impacted the local economy by reducing sales at the fruit stands for awhile, but patrons have since returned in force, and sales are strong." [From Utah History Encyclopedia: "Willard" by Marlene T. Braegger.]

   

  Web pages about active Fruitway operations, provided by Utah State University Extensions’ UtahReach!:

  Pettingill’s  |   Christensen’s  |   Grammy’s Fruit & Produce  |   Perry’s of Willard  |  

  Gray’s Fruit  |   Tagge’s Famous Fruit  |   Sumida’s Farm  |   Matthews Fruit Farm  |  

  Nielson’s  |   Farmco  |   Hill’s Fruit.

   

  — Fruitway Calendar – What’s Ripe When?

  — Fruitway Recipes – "Samples of cherished family recipes from Famous Fruitway cooks!"

   

  Fruit stands featuring active Websites:

  Thayne and Cari Tagge’s Famous Fruit (Site hosted by "Utah’s Own.")

  Pettingill’s. (Site hosted by "Utah Fruit.")

  Tagge’s Famous Fruit. (Site hosted by "Utah Fruit.")

   

  — Visit Utah Fruit for more Utah fruit growers and related information.

  — See Utah State University Extension’s Box Elder County Produce Stands Reference Guide (PDF) for specifics on what the Fruitway farmers generally produce.

• (Wasatch Front–South: Tooele/Stansbury Park) "Harvest Days" at the Benson Grist Mill

  

  During the month of August, 2008 the Benson Grist Mill will host their "Harvest Days" farmers’ market. Local gardeners are invited to bring their surplus garden produce to the market for sale to the public. Harvest Days will be open Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In addition to locally grown produce, anyone who makes hand crafted items or has yard sale items are welcome to bring these goods to sell. There is a one time $5 vendor fee for participating. Tables are available on a first come first served basis.

  The Benson Grist Mill is located at 325 State Rd 138, in Stansbury Park, Utah 84074. (North of the Stansbury Park Gold Club.)

  For more information, please contact Marilyn Shields at (435) 882–7678. (Google Map.) (6/08)

• (Wasatch Front–South: Lehi) Thanksgiving Point Farmers’ Market

  

  Starting in August and continuing each Friday through the first Friday in October, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the Village Shops Promenade at Thanksgiving Point, 3003 North Thanksgiving Way, in Lehi, Utah. (Take Exit 284, in Lehi, off of Interstate 15 and travel west to Thanksgiving Way.) While this market’s primary focus is growers and producers, there will also be food vendors and handmade arts and crafts vendors in attendance, all featuring fruits and vegetables, fresh breads and other fresh foods, crafts, jewelry, and gifts. (MapQuest Map.)

• (Wasatch Front–South: Lindon) Lindon Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, mid–July through October, from 8:00 until 10:00 a.m. at 60 North State Street, Lindon, Utah. Contact Grant Lund at (801) 785–7981 for more information. (Google Map.)

• (Wasatch Front–South: Provo) Provo’s Old Towne Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, June through October at 500 West 100 South in Provo, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This market is an alliance with Provo’s Franklin Neighborhood, Provo’s Downtown Business Alliance, and Provo City. This market is committed to providing locally produced and fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, with bread and hand–made crafts included. Call Tom Parker at (801) 377–1859 for more information. (Google Map.)

• (Wasatch Front–South: Spanish Fork) Spanish Fork Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, August to October, from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at 40 South Main Street (City Park at Center & Main Streets). For more information, contact Mary Clare Maslyn (801) 798–5000. (Google Map.)

• (Wasatch Front–South: Payson) Payson’s Hot August Nights Street Market is open Thursdays, August 3 through August 31 on historic Main Street, from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. Contact the Payson Chamber of Commerce at (801) 465–2634 for more information.

• (Wasatch Back–North: Logan) Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market in Logan, Utah.

  

  Open Saturdays from May 10 through October 4, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pioneer Park, 100 South 200 East, Logan, Utah. "The market was started to allow people who were growing large gardens, so common in the Cache Valley, to market their extra produce. That’s why it’s called a Gardeners’ Market. The market has grown to include produce vendors who only come to sell a one time surplus of potatoes, to small scale farmers who make it every weekend and have a following of loyal customers. In addition, we welcome vendors with handmade craft items and food products to our market."

  The Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market is a project of SAABRA (Sustainable Agriculture Association of the Bear River Area) Other SAABRA projects include:

  Bear River Kitchen Incubator — An inspected commercial kitchen for people who want to sell processed foods. The use of this type of facility is required by food safety regulations and sharing this resource means that no one business will have to pay the expensive capital investments alone.

  Cache Community Garden — We will be assisting with administration of the Cache Community Garden a gardening area shared by urban families with the assistance of [Utah State University] Extension professionals.

  Mobile Poultry Processing Unit — The mission of the SAABRA Mobile Poultry Processing Unit (MPPU) is to allow small-scale poultry producers to process their birds in a safe manner in a Utah inspected facility so that they can sell birds to the public within Utah.

  See SAABRA.org for more information, or contact Penny Trinca, Chair SAABRA, C/O Cache Valley Learning Center, 75 South 400 West, Logan, UT 84341. Phone (435) 753–8811.

• (Wasatch Back–Central: Park City) Park City Farmers’ Market

  

  Open Wednesdays from June 4 through October 22, 2008, from Noon until 7:00 p.m., at the Canyons Resort in the Cabriolet Parking Lot (the lower lot just off Hwy 224). Featuring a wide variety of local growers, producers and artisans, along with local musicians and picnic tables to sit down with a plate of freshly prepared gourmet food and enjoy the musical offerings.

  For more information, contact Volker Ritzinger, Market Manager, 435–671–1455.

• (Wasatch Back–Central: Park City) The Park Silly Sunday Market in Park City.

  

  "A forum for neighbors and friends to come together to celebrate our commUnity of fun and funky Park Sillians."

  The Park Silly Market is Sundays, June 15th through September 28th, 2008. Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding August 3 in lieu of the Kimball Arts Festival. Snow, Rain or Shine – The Show Must Go On!  Located On Historic Main Street in Park City, Utah

  "The Park Silly Sunday Market is an eco–friendly, open–air market and street festival. It is a treasure box that features unique and eclectic—local and regional arts and crafts, music and performance art, antiques, imports and one–of–a–kind finds, delicious gourmet foods, and farmers market fruits and vegetables. It is as unique as its town is."

  For more information, please contact the Park Silly Sunday Market at (435) 655–0994.

• (Wasatch Back–Central: Kamas) Kamas Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kamas Rodeo Grounds featuring food, arts & crafts, and music. Contact Sheila Richards at (435) 783–4766 for more information.

• (Wasatch Back–South: Heber City) Heber Valley Farmers Market and Concert in the Park and Concert in the Park is open Thursdays June through August from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Heber City Municipal Park, between 200 and 300 South on Main Street (Hwy 40). Featuring produce, arts & crafts, live music, food and special events. Contact Chuck and Helen Warren at (435) 654–4555 for more information.

• (Wasatch Back–South: Midway) Midway Mountain Valley Farmers’ Market is open Fridays from June to October from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Midway Town Center, Midway City Park. Call (435) 654–7441 or 654–4459 for more information. Google Map.

• (Vernal) Ashley Valley Farmers Market

  

  Open Thursday evenings 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., July 31 through August 28, 2008, at the Old Dinosaur Gardens, ~240 East Main Street, Vernal, Utah. (Between the Uintah County Library and the "Field House.")

  "This is the first year that the Ashley Valley Farmers Market will be opening. We are all very excited and hope that it will be a great success. We will offer a wide variety of vendors selling fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables to the public. We hope that this will give our local growers, gardeners and farmers the benefit of selling their products directly to the consumer."

  For more information, please contact Dale Gray at Ashley Valley Farmers Market, PO Box 1246, Vernal, Utah 84078, or phone (435) 789–2836. (Google Map.)

• (Elsinore) Elsinore—Made In Good Taste Farmers’ Market

  Open Fridays Noon to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 40 West Main Street, Elsinore, Utah 84724. (South of Richfield on I-70 at Exit 31. 1/8 mile East of I-70, exit 31 on Main Street)

  Farmers Market open outdoors in season, indoors during the winter, featuring baked items, jams (made in the USDA kitchen), crafts, jewelry, and art work.

  For more information, please contact Susan St. Pierre. Phone (435) 893–1777 (cell). (Google Map — Utah’s Own Map.)

• (Moab) Moab Community Farmers Market

  

  Open Saturdays, June to October, at Swanny City Park (one block West of Main Street) from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. The Youth Garden Project are the organizers of the Moab Farmers’ Market Alliance (MFMA) which plans, markets, and increases public awareness of the Moab Farmers’ Market and the fresh, locally grown produce available there weekly. Each year, through more coordination, YGP has increased the market’s size and accessibility, creating a more family–friendly atmosphere. As an integral part of rural community living in Grand County, YGP is also a proud organic vendor at the Moab Farmers’ Market.

  For more information contact the Youth Garden Project at (435) 259–2326.

  Stay tuned to Moab’s KZMU, Moab’s Fiercely Independent Community Radio station at 90.1 & 106.7 FM, for information about the Moab Community Farmers’ Market and other Moab happenings.

  Also, check the KZMU PSA listings for current YGP/Moab Community Farmers Market announcements.

• (Escalante) Escalante Farmers’ Market is anticipating opening the first week of August at 530 West Main Street, Escalante, Utah. Contact Alena Balmforth at (435) 826–4577 for more information.

• (Kanab) Kanab Farmers’ Market / Kane County Gardeners’ Market is open Saturdays, May 31 through October 25, 2008, from 9:00 until 11:30 a.m. at the Kane County Travel Council, 78 South 100 East, in Kanab, Utah. Contact Jana Beebe at 435–644–5543 for more information.

• (St. George) Downtown Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, May 10 through November 1, 2008, from 8:00 until Noon at Ancestors’ Square, located on Main Street between St. George Boulevard and 100 North, St. George, Utah.

  

  Featuring fruits, vegetables and other local goods, as well as live entertainment. The new Downtown Farmers Market is sponsored by Randall and Nicki Richards, owners of the Painted Pony restaurant in St. George. The Painted Pony is stocked "with produce purchased from local organic farmers, and it was a few of these local growers who inspired the concept for the Downtown Farmers Market. We have a couple of organic gardeners that we buy from in the season, and we wanted to support them and see them succeed. So that’s what gave us the idea that we should be doing a farmers market in St. George, and that’s how the whole idea started." said Nicki Richards. "Originally, it was about supporting our local organic gardeners, but, of course, a farmers’ market is so much more. It’s crafts and artists and bakers. Pretty much the only condition we have is that (items sold) are homegrown or homemade, so anything local... [the plan is] to reserve at least half of the vendor spaces for gardeners with fresh produce. This is to ensure that the farmers market doesn’t become a flea market."

  Contact Nicki Richards, Market Coordinator at (435) 632–9515 for more information.

  (See the article "New Farmers Market Comes to Ancestor Square" in the Dixie Weekly News.

• (Springdale) Zion Canyon Farmer’s Market

  

  Open Saturdays, April 19 through October 25, 2008 from 9:00 until 11:30 a.m., at the Bit and Spur Restaurant, 1212 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, Utah. Featuring fresh local fruit, vegetables and other locally grown agricultural products.

  New! Community Garden: The new Zion Canyon Community Garden will be accepting plot applications beginning mid-March 2008 on a first–come first–served basis.

  For further information, please contact Lisa Zumpft at (435) 772–0435.

• Buy Local First Utah — Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture, & Food Organizations.

• Local Harvest – Home or Local Harvest – Utah Farmers Markets. – A national organization with information about products grown and sold locally:
  
  
• Local Harvest maintains a definitive and reliable "living" public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources.
• The Local Harvest search engine helps people find products from family farms, local sources of sustainably grown food, and encourages them to establish direct contact with small farms in their local area.
• The Local Harvest online store helps small farms develop markets for some of their products beyond their local area.
• Local Harvest provides a map and list of participants in the Utah area.

• Farmers Market Dot Com listing of Farmers’ Markets in Utah. Also lists markets in other states in the United States. "Online since 1995, FarmersMarket.com has been a free directory of farmers markets and food–related sites."
• Farmer’s Market Online "is dedicated to providing an inexpensive opportunity for small–scale and home–based entrepreneurs to sell their homemade, home grown and self–produced products to shoppers worldwide. Our booth fees are kept minimal to encourage maximum participation. We believe that independent entrepreneurs who sell their own products directly to consumers are a key component of a sustainable economy, particularly in economically challenged rural areas. Farmer’s Market Online(tm) is a sole proprietorship operated by a mom–and–pop couple in the Wood River Valley of central Idaho. We welcome partnerships with businesses, investors, organizations, and individuals who share our interest in sustainable development. How can we work together? Let’s talk!" E–mail.

  Farmer’s Market Online Utah Listings.

• US Department of Agriculture: Agriculture Marketing Service –
  Alphabetical Listing by City of Utah Markets.
  
  
  
• "Utah’s Own" listing of Farmers’ Markets.
  
  
  
  
  
• What to do in Provo & Surrounding Area – Things to Do in the Summertime lists a variety of activities, including Farmers’ Markets. (Mostly Utah County listings. However, does include some surrounding counties.)

• (San Francisco, California) — San Francisco’s "Ferry Plaza" Farmers Market

  

  "The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is a California Certified Farmers Market operated by CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. We run four markets per week, all of which take place at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Since its beginning in 1993, the Market has been a crucial link between San Francisco residents and the farmers who practice sustainable agriculture in our region."

  (Webmaster’s Note: "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize.")

   

• (Washington, D.C.) — USDA Farmers Market, in Washington, D.C., "began in 1996 and, due to the success of the market, has continued since that time. The initial season started with five market days in the months of August and September, but now the USDA Farmers Market operates weekly from June through October with an average of 14 farmers and vendors."

  (Webmaster’s Note: Hey, even the USDA has a Farmers’ Market!...)

• NAFDMA

  

  "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.
• USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service:
• Farmers Market Consortium
• "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.)

• Utah State Department of Agriculture and Food Farmers’ Market Guidelines.

A Survival Guide to Farmers’ Markets, by Vanessa Chang...

• Bring your own bag: Although most stalls have plastic or paper bags to take away your goodies, it’s wise to bring a canvas bag or two to conveniently stash everything away. Some folks even tote along a Radio Flyer wagon for larger loads.
• Stop by the ATM: Cash rules at the markets. Some stalls will accept checks, only a scant few take plastic at all.
• Protect yourself against the sun: Mornings are cool, but by 10 a.m., when markets usually start to thrive, the rays can be unforgiving. Wear sunscreen, bring sunglasses, and if you need it, wear a hat. Don’t forget to protect the kids, too.
• What about Fido?: Outdoor markets are great social places where even canine members of the family can be welcome. But check with market regulations first before toting along a four–legged friend.