Category Archives: Newsletter

New Farmer's Guide: Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets

Liz Comiskey October 24, 2012

Contributed by FMC member Shelly G. Keller, Marketing & Events Manager of Davis Farmers Market Davis Farmers Market Association has published a new guide for farmers wanting to sell at farmers markets. Entitled “New Farmer’s Guide: Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets,” the on-line publication was funded by a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant awarded…

New Farmer’s Guide: Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets

Liz Comiskey

Contributed by FMC member Shelly G. Keller, Marketing & Events Manager of Davis Farmers Market Davis Farmers Market Association has published a new guide for farmers wanting to sell at farmers markets. Entitled “New Farmer’s Guide: Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets,” the on-line publication was funded by a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant awarded…

The 3 Different Ways Farmers Markets and Farmers Are Accepting SNAP

Liz Comiskey

guest post by Daniel Bowman Simon, SNAP Gardens The 3 Different Ways Farmers Markets and Farmers Are Accepting SNAP EBT infographic was created to help people understand how SNAP EBT can be implemented at farmers markets.  This infographic was designed by the talented Matt Hannigan, who is excited at the prospect of working on other…

Family matters: Notes on a transition

Liz Comiskey July 19, 2012

When I became Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition in 2009, I knew it was a privilege that I would work to earn, every day. I follow in the steps of many inspiring people in the farmers market movement. I am gifted with the opportunity to walk aside (and learn from) the thousands of organizers and advocates around the country who work hard every day to make the miracle of farmers markets a reality in their communities, or help advocate on their behalf from city halls to Capitol Hill. The faith that has been invested in me as a young leader has not gone unnoticed, or unappreciated.

Farmers Market Inspiration Award seeks stories from behind the stands; Offers $1,000 grand prize for winning essay

Liz Comiskey

by Natalie Roper, FMC Research and Education Intern On June 21st, the Farmers Market Coalition launched the Farmers Market Inspiration Award. In honor of National Farmers Market Week 2012, the Award is designed to reward and showcase the variety of ways farmers markets benefit communities across the United States, as told throughout the lens of…

Give your farmers market national attention during National Farmers Market Week

Liz Comiskey

National Farmers Market Week (August 5th-11th) is dedicated to celebrating the value of farmers markets in communities large and small.  We need your help to pack Farmers Market Week 2012 with pride about their spectrum of benefits. Last year, FMC released a media kit for members to use during this week that included the Seven…

States act fast to distribute wireless SNAP/EBT technology to farmers markets

Liz Comiskey

In May 2012, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced additional funding of $4,054,000 to expand the availability of point of sale terminals to farmers markets that are not currently participating in SNAP. FMC believes that facilitating federal nutrition program participants’ use of farmers markets achieves multiple USDA goals, as farmers markets can improve access…

Farm Bill passes House Committee; What’s next?

Liz Comiskey

Early in the morning of July 12, the House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the farm bill (FARRM) on a bipartisan 35 -11 vote, moving one step closer to the passage of a farm bill before the current law expires on September 30. The full Senate passed the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act…

Sowing SEEDs for research at Oregon City Farmers Market

Liz Comiskey

by Darlene Wolnik, Independent Trainer and Researcher for Public Markets & FMC Market Programs Advisor Oregon City-Where the Oregon Trail ended, the SEED trail begins for Oregon. The Oregon City Farmers Market (OCFM) was the site of the first official Oregon SEED study on June 23 of this year. SEED stands for Sticky Economic Evaluation…

FMC and marketumbrella.org to partner on assessment of FMPP impacts

Liz Comiskey

In partnership with marketumbrella.org, FMC will now be investigating and quantifying the range, reach, and impacts of FMPP-supported activities and offer specific stories that illustrate the range, reach, and impacts in order to quantify these outcomes. This process will start with analysis of existing final grant reports, an online survey of grantees, and follow-up interviews with selected community projects. By documenting the range of grant investments in community health, this research is intended to help inform future policies, private investment, and allied stakeholders