the state of farmers markets ~ bernadine prince, farmers market coalition ~

The State of Farmers Markets

~ Bernadine Prince, Farmers Market Coalition ~

Hooray for Maryland!

Over 100 MD farmers markets

MD/DC WIC training!

“Farmer-Up” for a week, part of Buy Local Challenge

Annual “Eat Local Cookout”

500+ members Represents 2,500 farmers markets in

47 states Serves over 22,000

farmers and producers

Mission Accomplished!?

The “good” and the “bad” about the growth of farmers

markets

The “good” and the “bad” about the growth of farmers

markets

Popularity ≠ Measured Value

Growth Means More Scrutiny

Despite countless hours at the farmers market and behind

the scenes, Farmers Market Managers are

given very little professional

credibility. As of 2005, more than 60%

were unpaid.

Farmers Markets Need Help

Local-State-National Feedback Loop

• Innovate• Educate

community• Share ideas

Market

• Identify needs & promising practices

• Host manager convenings

• Evaluate• Lead pilot programs• Bridge state agencies

State FMA • Link peers,

presenters, & other resources

• Host webinars• Translate needs to

USDA/Congress• Bring new

stakeholders• Develop advocacy

tools and common language

FMC

Why do Farmers Markets need the Farm

Bill?

$33.1 billion spent on commodity crops corn

soybeanscottonricewheat

$4.3 billion spent on specialty crops

fruitsnutsvegetables

FY 2010: $65 billion for SNAP (Food Stamps), not counting WIC! Most SNAP

redemption is at retail food markets.

FY 2010: Farmers received $15 million in revenue through FMNP

Supplemental Nutrition Programs Benefit Consumers

and Farmers

Percent of Total SNAP Redeemed at Farmers Markets, 1993 - 2011

SNAP in Farmers MarketsSNAP Redemption at Farmers Markets & Direct Marketing Farmers, Oct. ’10

– Sept. ’11# of Farmers Market &

Direct Marketing Farmer Retailers

Total SNAP Redeemed with

Farmers

Percentage of Total SNAP

Redeemed with Farmers

DC 8 (11) $18,470 .015%

DE 5 (6) $22,078 .010%

MD 27 (32) $192,393 .017%

PA 49 (83) $267,786 .010%

VA 38 (53) $86,566 .006%

WV 12 (20) $14,701 .003%

Farmers Market Promotion Program

Why do Farmers Markets need the Farm

Bill?

Marker Bills in Congress The Local Farms, Food & Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286) ~ Rep. Chellie Pingree & Co-sponsor Sherrod Brown + 78 others

The Expanding Access to Farmers Markets Act (S. 1593) ~ Sen. Gillibrand

LFFJA (S. 1773, H.R. 3286)

• Increase FMPP to $20M annually and create Local Marketing Promotion Program

• Increase Specialty Crop Block Grants to $90M annually

• Encourage more EBT@ farmers markets• Increase SFMNP to $25M/year• Total investment = 1/6 of 1% of USDA’s

budget

Expanding Access to Farmers Markets Act (S.

1593)• Provide farmers markets with wireless,

mobile equipment to process SNAP• Amend Food & Nutrition Act to treat

farmers markets same as traditional retail food centers

• Encourage state agencies to partner and contract with nonprofits to assist with outreach, administration and farmer and market training

What is Success?Measuring what farmers markets do:

Economic (sales, jobs, income, new businesses, circulation of resources within local community)Human (learning new skills, acquiring new knowledge or experiences)Social (trust, volunteerism, gleaning programs, the role of the market as a gathering place)Natural (farmland, organic and sustainable practices, diversity of products, distance and time from farm to final consumer)

Know Your Farmer,

Know Your Food Compass

Leap Day, Feb. 29

2pm ET

KYF Compass Webinar

www.usda.gov/live

Twitter: @usda/#KYF2

FMC ResourcesResource Library

Webinars

Market Manager FAQs & videos

National Farmers Market Week Toolkits

Policy Toolkits (in progress!)

Listserv for Market Managers

the market beet newsletter

On the FMC Web Site…

• Upcoming & Archived Webinars

http://farmersmarketcoalition.org/information-marketplace

• Market Manager FAQs and Videoshttp://farmersmarketcoalition.org/managerfaqs

• Latest newshttp://farmersmarketcoalition.org/category/news

• Talking Points & FM Week Resourceshttp://farmersmarketcoalition.org/membership/markets-are-up-campaign

Questions? Ideas?Email: info@farmersmarketcoalition.org

www.farmersmarketcoalition.org