Show some support to Farmers Market Coalition and this necessary project:
America’s 8,000 farmers markets are bringing huge health benefits to their communities, often with little cost, structure, or support. Collecting accurate data on these grassroots organizations is imperative if we’re to maximize their impacts.
Farmers markets in low-income communities webinar August 29, 2013
Speaker 1: Mukethe Kawinzi, Project Coordinator, The Food Trust
Farmers markets are an effective means to bring fresh and healthy means to under served neighborhoods.
TFT operate 25 markets and support more.
Most important criteria in establishing markets in low-income areas:
1. Strategic site selection
Intersecting criteria: high traffic area, low access to fresh fruits and veg,
2. Community Partners
Wide selection of types, help with logistical and demographic support. Help with marketing.
3. Food Assistance Programs
Critical to success of FMs; half of farmers sales at times are benefit dollars
Their Huntington Park Farmers Market ( with 1 farmer) is a good example of organizing to ensure community involvement.
TFT surveys their shoppers every year and monitor sales, both in benefit sales and other sales.
Speaker 2:
Oren Hesterman – Fair Food Network
Double Up Food Bucks: Monetary incentive strategy
Purpose of DUFB is to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of incentives, while supporting farmers and inform policy.
2009 Detroit first project was called Mobucks (Motown Bucks)
5 FMs, including Eastern Market
26,000 SNAP and 10,600 in MoBucks, Year one
Year 2 expanded beyond Detroit, changed the name to DUFB
Short FFN YouTube video about program available on FFN YouTube channel
In 2013: DUFB serving 100 FMs in MI and Northern OH
2012: Reached almost 2 million dollars in SNAP and DUFB sales at those markets
Good evaluation is key: check out the DUFB website
80% SNAP shoppers are buying more varieties
1200 farmers statewide participating: 83% are making more money because of the DUFB
FFN, MU, WW and RoC released a cluster analysis of incentives in 2013.
Speaker #3: Jen O’Brien FMC
SNAP: 16.6 million spent at FMs in 2011. But only .O2 % of SNAP sales
Only 3500 of 8000 FMs are SNAP authorized in 2012
2 main goals in regards to FMs:
That those with SNAP access are maximizing their program
Closing the gap: more markets need to be authorized
SNAP is not the only goal for a market in a low income community: market characteristics are often diverse when serving low income communities
Many funding opportunities for markets to expand access through USDA grants (as long as the Farm Bill is passed!)
Much innovative work has been done with FMPP funding ( see FMC report) and with specialty crop grants at state level. (Low income veterans are the subject of a specialty crop project in Bridgeport Connecticut)
A link to an excellent opinion piece by Stacy Miller, project director at Farmers Market Coalition where the deep crisis of regulatory burden on small family farms is addressed. No question that the lack of clarity among cities, states and the federal government to write and administer common-sense regulation is one of the most important areas that all food system organizers and practioners need to work together to solve.
Farmers Market Coalition
It’s officially NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET WEEK. Use hashtag #FarmMktWeek to share your markets’ happenings, and use #FMCFUN and #FMCCookingDemo to take part in FMC’s Instagram Challenges this week.
A fascinating report from FMC and MU about the Farmers Market Promotion Program.
Report and more information here:
Calling all State Association and Market Network Leaders: Please register for the FMC State and Network Leader webinar discussion on July 8th, at 4pm EST/1 PST. We will be discussing the Mobile Market App and any challenges that markets and networks face using smart phone technology. Darlene Wolnik, independent consultant to public markets, will be moderating. Please be ready to ask any questions or share comments during the call, or feel free to submit questions beforehand. This is meant to be a discussion among leaders, not an informational webinar.
Last month, several participants called in to the webinar via phone only. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of this technology, those participants were in ‘listen only mode’ and couldn’t speak or ask questions. If possible, join the webinar through your computer AND your phone, for optimum sound and participation!
However, these calls are recorded and notes taken so everyone can share after the call is over. If you are a network leader and have not received the invitation, email Liz at farmersmarketcoalition.org to receive a registration.
• Bellingham Farmers Market, Bellingham WA
• Bushwick Farmers Market, Brooklyn NY
• City Market, Kansas City MO
• CitySeed, New Haven CTCommunity Farmers Market, Bowling Green KY
• Countryside Conservancy, Peninsula OH
• Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, Evanston IL
• Downtown Farmer Market, Salt Lake City UT
• Durham Farmers Market, Durham NC
• Farmers Market Association of Toledo, Toledo OH
• Foodchester, Inc. Pleasantville NY
• Greater Springfield Farmers Market, Springfield MO
• Green City Market, Chicago IL
• Hub City Farmers Market, Spartanburg SC
• Lancaster Market, Lancaster NY
• Las Vegas Farmers Market, Las Vegas NV
• Mainstreet Farmers Market, Statesboro GA
• Minnetrista Farmers Market, Muncie IN
• Moscow Farmers Market, Moscow ID
• Neighborhood Farmers Market, Seattle WA
• New Orleans Food & Farm Network, New Orleans LA
• North Central Texas Farmers Market/Cowtown Farmers Market, Fort Worth TX • Omaha Farmers Market, Omaha NE
• Oregon City Farmers Market, Oregon City OR
• Rochester Downtown Farmers Market, Rochester MN
• SD Weekly Markets, San Diego CA
• Seacoast Eat Local, Exeter & Dover NH
• Smart Markets, Fairfax VA
• Teller County Farmers Market, Woodland Park CO
• Ypsilanti Farmers Market, Ypsilanti MI
©2013 Hearthmark, LLC dba Jarden Home Brands. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Hearthmark, LLC dba Jarden Home Brands, Daleville, IN 47334. Hearthmark, LLC is a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH).
I am posting a link to analysis of market manager positions that I did for an organization in Maine.
It was meant to be a simple overview of the types of paid positions that exist in the market world and certainly could be and should be expanded in the future.
Last year, I posted the original graph that FMC and CFSC created to show food stamp (SNAP) redemption at markets since the 1990s.
This is the most updated published graph:
By the way, 2012 redemption was over 16 million. FMC will have an updated story this week or next.
Great job folks.
Today, the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) submitted recommendations to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service regarding their collection of data about farmers markets. These recommendations were developed in response to a request for comments on proposed revisions to USDA’s National Farmers Market Manager Questionnaire. Changes proposed by USDA include the addition of on-farm markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations to their annual information collection.
The USDA Farmers Market Directory offers the only comprehensive census of farmers markets currently available. In the letter, FMC supports efforts to maximize its accuracy, reduce market manager burden, and systematically improve the collective understanding of farmers market characteristics as well as those of on-farm markets and farm subscription programs like CSAs. We support elimination of the lengthy Farmers Market Manager Survey (currently conducted every four years, with a two+ year analysis/publication window) in favor of a more concise, timely, efficient annual data collection process.
We invite you to read FMC’s recommendations on our website, here where you’ll find a link to the letter submitted earlier today. As FMC President Bernie Prince points out in the letter, “market manager participation is crucial to ensure accuracy, and communication to the respondent population must be clear, consistent, and offer sufficient response windows.” We support annual data collection, coupled with the Farmers Market Directory update, that focuses only on a small set of questions clustered around an annual research theme. This theme should be identified in collaboration with other agencies and organizations (like FMC) each year and actively communicated to farmers markets well in advance. FMC pledges its continued efforts to help farmers markets engage in regular measurement and communication of their impacts.
As you prepare for a stellar 2013 season, what priorities do you think USDA should focus on in their national research efforts? We urge you to make your thoughts heard before the January 4th comment deadline. Please read FMC’s recommendations and consider endorsing them on behalf of your organization or yourself as an individual. Simply visit the regulations(dot)gov online form (here). In the Comment box, type “As a member of the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), I endorse the recommendations submitted by FMC on January 2nd.” Of course, please add any additional suggestions you have for the agency as it relates to the collection of information about farmers markets, on-farm markets, and CSA operations. The deadline to submit comments is this Friday, January 4, 2013.
Happy New Year, and thanks for your ongoing support for stronger farmers markets!
Sincerely,
Your friends at FMC
I often refer to the 2010 report “Real Food, Real Choice: Connecting SNAP Recipients With Farmers Markets” that was done by CFSC and FMC. The page that I refer most to is this one, so thought I’d post it here.
Why does a market need to define its purpose? For starters, defining purpose helps to attract partners, vendors, and assist board with management. Many markets are closer than they think to having a mission statement and this webinar will give those organizations a head start on creating a mission statement, and a clear purpose for doing so. Check out the resources and other webinars here: Why does a market need to define its purpose? For starters, defining purpose helps to attract partners, vendors, and assist board with management. Many markets are closer than they think to having a mission statement and this webinar will give those organizations a head start on creating a mission statement, and a clear purpose for doing so.
Presenter- Darlene Wolnik, Independent Researcher and Trainer — Community Food Systems
and FMC Market Programs Advisor
Moderator- Jen O’Brien, Interim Executive Director, Farmers Market coalition
News from Farmers Market Coalition:
We are about to send out the market beet, our Autumn newsletter, and it includes a pretty fantastic lineup of webinar topics and experts. To expedite the approval process for our webinars, we are asking that people use their member # in the registration form.
And, here is the schedule:
FMC capacity building webinars take place on the second Tuesday of every month, unless otherwise noted. Webinars are for FMC members and provide an opportunity for interactive learning and skill development from experts in the field.
November- Purpose Defined: Developing a Market Mission Statement
November 13, 2012, 1 pm eastern
Presenter- Darlene Wolnik, Independent Researcher and Trainer – Community Food Systems
and FMC Market Programs Advisor
Moderator- Jen O’Brien, Interim Executive Director, Farmers Market Coalition
Read More and Register Today!
December: Event Fundraiser Success Stories
December 11, 2012, 1 pm eastern
Presenters- multiple farmers market managers including:
Megan McBride, manager, Easton Farmers Market, PA
Donita Anderson, executive director, North Union Farmers Market, OH
Moderator- Leslie Schaller, director, ACEnet
January: Vendor Stories: Vendor perspectives on Market Organization
January 8, 2013, 1 pm eastern
Presenters- Multiple direct marketing farmers
February: The Power of POP: Oregon City presents their children’s market program
February 12, 2013, 1pm eastern.
Presenters- Jackie Hammond Williams, market manager, Oregon City Farmers Market
Natalie Roper, FMC intern, student, UVA- replicating POP in Charlottesville, VA
March: Farmers Market Promotion Program evaluation
March 12, 2013 1pm eastern
Presenters- Stacy Miller, Farmers Market Coalition
Also in early 2013
Farmers Market Coalition member meeting
~and~ 2013 FMPP application process
Helping Farmers Markets Grow 