|
Farmers'
Markets
Farmers'
markets have proliferated across the United States over the
past decade with more then 4,300 markets today providing a
high-margin retail outlet for an estimated 20,000 to 30,000
small and medium-sized farmers. Farmers' markets provide increased
incentives and rewards for farmers who diversify their products,
provide low entry barriers for small volume producers, and
helps farmers diversify their income streams. These direct
connections between customer and farmer create a unique identity
of place, valuable economic and social relationships between
producer and consumer, and offer high value opportunities
for farmers.
Because
of these factors, markets have provided expanded retail opportunities
for limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, immigrant, refugee,
and beginning farmers-who often face obstacles operating in
traditional retail distribution outlets. With the overall
growth of markets, there is also a growing need for farmer
recruitment and marketing assistance to support new entrants
to farmers' markets.
Farmers'
markets also can bring new life to downtown areas as customers
patronize area businesses, supporting downtown revitalization
efforts. They also can support the availability of fresh food
foods to low-income populations in urban and rural areas,
especially through the USDA Senior and WIC Farmers Market
Nutrition Programs.
Our approach
at the Institute has been to help support and facilitate farmers
markets by providing information resources on farmers' markets
to Congress and other organizations, provide analysis on the
role that markets and market farmers play within communities,
and to coordinate with other organizations on resources and
policy relating to farmers' markets and market farmers.
Partners: Henry
A. Wallace Center
Growing Markets, Growing Needs
for Marketing Skills
Relevant
Briefings
Farmers
Markets & Public Markets: Small Investments, Big Results
(June 27, 2006)
Reports
and Publications
Amid
Global Agricultural Trade Debates, Local Markets are Growing
- NE-MW Economic Review
Consumer Interactions and Influences on Farmers Markets' Vendors
October 2006 report on the Northeast
Farm and Food System
Resources
Resources
for Farmers' Markets
USDA AMS
Farmers' Markets
Local Harvest
|
