FMC

Price comparisons at farmers markets: understanding value and affordability

In the February Farmers Market Coalition webinar, farmer and community and economic development specialist Anthony Flaccavento of Rural SCALE, Inc. will discuss his recent price comparisons between farmers markets and grocery stores in six states, and offer advice on how this data can be part of efforts to reinforce markets’ commitment to equity and affordability. Webinar is scheduled for Tuesday February 7, 2012 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

FMC registration

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FMC to Partner with University of Virginia on Interdisciplinary Course on Researching Farmers Markets

FMC story

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FMC Price Comparison Webinar – February 7

Tuesday February 7 at 2 pm EST.
In this webinar, farmer and community and economic development specialist Anthony Flaccavento of Rural SCALE, Inc. will discuss his recent price comparisons between farmers markets and grocery stores in six states, and offer advice on how this data can be part of efforts to reinforce markets’ commitment to equity and affordability.

FMC registration

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FMC December webinar: Measuring the Mob

Farmers Market Coalition continues their monthly webinar series with the first one devoted to a deeper understanding of measurement. Two stalwarts of the farmers market movement, Garry Stephenson and Richard McCarthy present their clicking or dot methods and take questions on the challenges found. As always, free for FMC members, which includes access to the archives.
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There’s still time…

To join the Farmers Market Coalition’s webinar today at 11 EST, “Markets As Business Incubators: Strategies To Grow Your Vendor Base” with a simple registration on their website.
To register
Young Kim from Fondy Food Center in Milwaukee WI and Peter Marks from Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project in Asheville North Carolina will present some case studies and recommendations for markets to increase the benefits for vendors to participate, large or small.
The archives of the webinar will be available to review for FMC members after the call.

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Great video about the use of incentives to increase SNAP sales

One of my past colleagues at marketumbrella.org Emily Schweninger, is interviewed here about the pilot incentive programs done at the Crescent City Farmers Market that really changed the reach of their market system starting in 2007/2008. I will also recommend the other video on tokens found on the same marketumbrella.org YouTube channel called “FAQ-token systems.” I’m very proud of this series that I produced while at marketumbrella.org and hope it’s helpful for you.

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Occupy our time

The latest newsletter from the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) came out last Wednesday and it strikes a whole bunch of the same notes as the orchestration being played by hundreds of thousands of individuals in Zuccotti Park and many other public spaces around the world these days.
FMC points out that economy of scale arguments (“Get Big or Get out” for those who know their post WW agriculture history) and words like efficiency and scale have (for years) been used against those of us who prefer to work towards diversity, shared wealth, sufficiency and innovation in our movement. And that human-scaled movements that work are messy and hard to quantify or even to see, but there they are, in booking places to stay or quietly sharing knowledge…
FMC inspired me and probably lots of you too while they reminded us to take the time to measure success in our world in accordance with the values we fight for and, as importantly, to keep at it. Sometimes those words are necessary even for zealots like food organizers…
FMC Newsletter

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Seven days, seven ways to celebrate farmers markets during National Farmers Market Week

Our national voice for farmers markets, Farmers Market Coalition(FMC) has launched their great Seven Days, Seven Ways campaign to celebrate the many ways markets benefit the farmers, shoppers and community. Take a few minutes to see the list of economic, social and human measurements FMC has used in their report (culled from markets own reports) and make a mental note to visit the innovative markets that FMC honored this year.

FMC story

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Market Forces Report is released

Michigan: “UCS released the report just a few days before the 12th annual U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Farmers Market Week, which starts Sunday. According to the report, “Market Forces: Creating Jobs through Public Investment in Local and Regional Food Systems,” the number of farmers markets nationwide more than doubled between 2000 and 2010, jumping from 2,863 to 6,132, and now more than 100,000 farms sell food directly to local consumers.”

Source: Huron Daily Tribune

Download the report here:
Report

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Farmers Market Coalition visits Oregon City Farmers Market to kick off FM week

Stacy Miller, Executive Director of Farmers Market Coalition kicks off National Farmers Market week in Oregon.
Story

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Off to Portland Oregon

I travel this evening to Ecotopia (read the description of the area in the book “The Nine Nations of North America”) to work with my colleagues at the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), and as a bonus, to meet up with the fine folks from Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) who will be also be traveling to the area.
As many probably know, I serve as a board member of CFSC. It is an amazing organization that puts on the best food conferences and its crackerjack staff has a myriad of projects going to support many different organizations, like FMC and their Learning Circle project (more on that later) that I will be able to work on as well.
Check out both of their websites:

CFSC

FMC

Pictures and updates from the Renewable Region over the next few days…

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You “can” win

*Discover You Can Summer Canning Education Program *

***

*We are excited to introduce *Discover You Can, a summer canning
education program developed to assist Farmers Market Coalition member
organizations in achieving their education mission. The program is sponsored
by Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball® Brand Fresh Preserving Products.
Discover You Can**SM** *is offering 50 FMC member farmers market
organizations the opportunity to apply for $1,200 in funding. The funding
is to be used to support local efforts to educate communities on the
benefits and simple ‘how tos’ of canning. In addition to funding, the
selected 50 organizations will also receive a starter kit, signage, coupons,
samples, and more from Jarden.

The Food Channel recently named home canning as the #1 food trend. This
program will allow you to host canning demonstrations—a topic relevant and
of interest to consumers. It will bring value to your community as they
learn the benefits of canning and buying fresh, local produce.

If you are interested in participating in this program, *click
here<a href="”>
* to complete the application and read the full list of Frequently Asked
Questions. Once completed, please return the application to *
DiscoverYouCan@imschicago.com* or fax to (312) 664-5454. If you have
questions about this program, please contact Amber Meairs at 312-242-4723.

Jarden Home Brands is accepting applications until Friday April 29, 2011.
Select farmers markets will be announced the week of May 2, 2011 and welcome
kits will be mailed immediately thereafter.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. If you’re not currently an FMC
member, you can join
todayto be
eligible for Discover You Can Apply now!

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FMC launches PDF versions of their FAQs.

Recently, FMC and the Wallace Center developed the Market Managers FAQs as PDF documents, giving market managers more flexibility to use and share this relevant content. The PDFs are broken down into seven categories:

* Market Fundamentals
* Market Policies
* Market Staff
* Insurance, Liability, and Regulation
* Market Growth, Outreach, and Evaluation
* Extending the Market Season
* Increasing Market Access

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