Gotta Move That Market? It Can Be Done.

by Darlene Wolnik. darlene@farmersmarketcoalition.org   Here is a great article from Catt Fields White who is the founder and CEO of the San Diego Markets, on a recent 4-year “temporary”  move for one of her markets, Little Italy Mercato. As she says in here, “Cue muffled sobs.” The “pod” idea explained in the article is interesting and I…

Let’s Make National Farmers Market Week Local

by Dar Wolnik | darlene@farmersmarketcoalition.org FMC Program Associate Allie Vrtachnik has been working closely with the USDA AMS team on materials and activities for 2018 National Farmers Market Week (NFMW), updating citations and graphics for markets and state associations, and organizing potential in-person market events for officials to attend during that week. The primary message for…

May 31 Farmers Market Manager Workshop with Georgia’s Sagdrina Jalal

USDA Report on Direct-To-Consumer Fruits & Vegetable Purchasing

By Dar Wolnik | darlene@farmersmarketcoalition.org This USDA ERS report came out earlier this year and has some interesting data and new conclusions about shoppers, although the authors stress that more analysis is needed. And thank you to Dr. Dawn Thilmany for offering her input into my analysis of the report. If you don’t know her…

Understanding Customer Behavior at Farmers Markets to Improve Farm Sales

Date: Thursday, April 19th Time: 9:30am-2:30pm Location: Lake Morey Resort- Fairlee, VT Cost: $25 NOFA-VT and VTFMA members, $35 non-members. Lunch is included. Registration is closed but there still is space! If you’re interested in attending, please email kyla@nofavt.org

Markets: Location, location, location

Requests for technical assistance tend to come in here at FMC in clusters, and we have noticed one grouping has been on market locations. From choosing a new site, negotiating an agreement with a host, adding infrastructure to designing the right layout for an expanding market, the questions have become ever more complex as markets…

Agricultural Food Safety Workshop

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety should attend this food safety training. The Agricultural Food Safety Workshop is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement…

Farmers For America Documentary Showing

“Quick-action” grants from AARP Community Challenge available

2018 TIMELINE March 21: Launch of the 2018 AARP Community Challenge May 16: Applications are due by 5 pm ET June 25: Winning applicants will be notified by email by this date November 5: All projects must be completed December 3: After Action Reports due For the 2018 AARP Community Challenge, AARP will prioritize projects that aim to achieve the…

2018 Catapult Fund seeking Louisiana food businesses

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation has partnered with four organizations to provide small business owners in the food industry with training – and grant funding. Applications for the 2018 class of the Catapult Fund are now available. As with the 2016 edition of the program, the 2018 Catapult Fund is focused on the culinary…