Acknowledgements and Funding
Farmers Market Metrics Prototype Development
Funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced was provided to Farmers Market Coalition in 2013 to test a web-based tool that will help farmers market managers collect, analyze and communicate the impacts that their markets are having in their communities.
Indicators for Impact: Farmers Markets as Leaders in Collaborative Data Collection and Analysis
Funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) (grant 2014-68006-21857) supports the ongoing Indicators for Impact: Farmers Markets as Leaders in Collaborative Data Collection and Analysis research study and the work of the Farmers Market Coalition and University of Wisconsin Project Team.
The Indicators for Impact: Farmers Markets as Leaders in Collaborative Food System Data Collection and Analysis project is informed by a panel of seven national advisors with extensive experience in farmers market operations and development and data collection and research practices. Advisors contributed to the review and refinement of the metrics selected for consideration by nine pilot markets for use during this three-year data collection effort.
A team of market leaders from each of the project’s three regions (Chesapeake Bay, Gulf Coast and North Central Appalachia) was selected to inform the planning and implementation of Indicators for Impact. Notably, the research teams played a key role in the market selection and recruitment process. Research teams meet quarterly with the Project Manager and Research Lead to continue to give input on project tasks and progress.
Farmers Market Metrics Training Materials
Funding from USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) FL-326-G funded the development of Farmers Market Metrics data collection training materials. Additionally, these materials reference research in process as part of the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI 2014-68006-21857) in collaboration with Dr. Alfonso Morales of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. The materials were created by Darlene Wolnik and Stacy Miller with support from Jennifer Cheek, Sara Padilla, Daniel Blaustein Rejto and a panel of expert advisors including Colleen Donovan, Dru Montri-Meairs, and Sharon Yeago.
FMC’s Free SNAP EBT Equipment Program
Funding from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) was awarded to Farmers Market Coalition to provide eligible farmers markets and direct marketing farmers with free electronic benefit transfer (EBT) equipment necessary to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. A subset of metrics (11) will be used to collect data on this work through the Farmers Market Metrics Program.