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Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing

Farmers Markets and Direct-to-Consumer Marketing

Farmers markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage and have continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Farmers markets allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grows the produce. Direct marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. As of National Farmers Market Week, (the first full week in August), there were 7,864 farmers markets listed in USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory. This is a 9.6 percent increase from 2011.
Find a Farmers Market Near You National Farmers Market Search Engine The USDA National Farmers Market Directory, maintained by AMS Marketing Services, is designed to provide members of the public with convenient access to information about U.S. farmers market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings, and accepted forms of payment. Market information included in the Directory is voluntary and self-reported to AMS by market managers, representatives from State farmers market agencies and associations, and other key market personnel. Farmers Market Growth: 1994-2012 08/12: Geographic Coordinates Spreadsheet for U.S. Farmers Markets (.xls) Farmers Market Program Fact Sheet (.pdf) Publications (For a full list of publications, click here.) 09/11: Mapping Competition Zones for Vendors and Customers in U.S. Farmers Markets (.pdf) 09/11: Results of Dot Survey: USDA Outdoor Farmers Market, Washington, DC (.pdf) 06/10: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at Farmers Markets: A How-To Handbook (A joint publication by: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Project for Public Spaces, Inc.) (.pdf) 02/10: Connecting Local Farmers with USDA Farmers Market Nutrition Program Participants (.pdf) News Releases and Blogs News Release (08/03/12): USDA Directory Records More Than 7,800 Farmers Markets National Resource Helps More Americans Connect with Local Farmers USDA Blog (01/03/12): Taking A Closer Look At the Benefits of Farmers Markets USDA Blog (12/28/11): 7,175 Markets and Counting: Farmers Markets at your Fingertips USDA Blog (12/15/11): Winter…The Perfect Time to Visit a Farmers Market News Release (12/15/11): Winter Farmers Markets Expand Now More than 1,200 Locations for Fresh Local Foods News Release (08/05/11): More than 1,000 New Farmers Markets Recorded Across Country as USDA Directory Reveals 17 Percent Growth News Release (12/08/10): USDA Highlights Nearly 900 Operating Winter Farmers Markets; Many Markets Located in Cold-Weather States USDA Farmers Market SUMMER MARKET Location: USDA parking lot, corner of 12th Street & Independence Avenue, S.W. Dates: Every Friday starting June 1st and ending November 16th Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. WINTER MARKET Location: 1400 Independence Avenue South Building: 3rd Wing, Independence Side Date: Every Wednesday starting December 5 through May 22, 2013 Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Learn more.

Resources


		Farmers Market Consortium


		Farmers Market Coalition


		WIC: Women, Infants, and Children


		SFMNP: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

Last Modified Date: 10/15/2012



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