Advocacy Toolkit

Having the tools and confidence to communicate what your market does and what your policy priorities are to decision-makers is as important as ever. Policy decisions made by elected officials impact farmers markets every day. At the federal level, Farmers Market Coalition is the only organization advocating on behalf of the needs of farmers market operators and supporting them as they engage with their elected officials. FMC’s Advocacy Toolkit provides guidance in communicating to local, state and federal legislators the importance of farmers markets.

Advocacy Toolkit Webinar

National Farmers Market Week is coming up and it is a fantastic opportunity for farmers markets to engage with elected officials and other policymakers in their local communities!

To make sure you have all the information you need to work with the materials, FMC’s Executive Director, Ben Feldman, walks us through our Advocacy Toolkit in this webinar recording. Farmers markets and other food organizations can serve as powerful agents of change in their communities and making your needs known through engagement with policymakers is essential.

Proclaim National Farmers Market Week 2023

Use our easy National Farmers Market Week Proclamation template to proclaim August 6th-12th as Farmers Market Week in your town, county or state! Fill out the basic information then send along to your local government officials so they can officially proclaim the week!

Last year we saw many proclamations from states across the country as well as a handful of small jurisdictions! Read more about why advocacy during National Farmers Market Week is important in this guest blog post on the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition blog.

Proclamations can take some time to process. We recommend submitting your proclamation request at least 6-8 weeks in advance of National Farmers Market Week. 

Video Series: Meeting with Elected Officials About Farmers Markets

In this five part series, Gary Matteson of The Farm Credit Council and FMC Board Member explains why advocacy is important for farmers markets, and breaks down the steps towards building strong, lasting relationships with elected officials.

Communicating with Elected Officials Playlist

Part 1: Plan Ahead for Your Meeting (6:52)

Part 2: Convey a Clear Message (4:27)

Part 3: Build a Lasting Relationship (10:09)

Part 4: Prepare for Tough Questions (3:12)

Part 5: Be a Confident & Passionate Leader (5:59)

FMC Advocacy Resources and Actions

FMC is an active member of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, through which it continues to advocate for farmers market-friendly food safety regulations, EBT assistance, and direct agricultural marketing programs. If you would like to invite your elected officials to tour your market and learn about its work, schedule a strategy session with a member of FMC’s policy team.

Join FMC or sign up for the FMC newsletter to stay up-to-date with how you can support farmers market policies and to receive many other member-only benefits.