Membership

Farmers Market Coalition membership offers market operators*, farmers, consumers and supporters the opportunity to work collectively to strengthen farmers markets across the country. As a member, you are directly supporting your national voice for farmers markets, and joining its network of thousands of leaders. FMC serves as the voice of farmers markets in issues of federal and state policy, representing the interests of all farmers markets. Together, we can make farmers markets even better.

Is your state farmers market association a current Network Partner? If so, you already have FMC Membership. Check with your state farmers market network leader.

FMC’s 2026 definition of a farmers market:
A farmers market is a designated, recurring location in which two or more vendors sell locally-produced items directly to shoppers.  At least one vendor must sell agricultural products (produce, meat/poultry, seafood, honey, plants, eggs, dairy, grain) that they grew, raised, or harvested. Farmers markets are coordinated by an individual, group, or organization/agency.

The following member benefits apply to all FMC members:

  1. A Voice and a Vote: Take part in FMC’s annual membership meeting and vote in the Board of Directors election.
  2. Representation at the table with federal agencies and organizations which provide funding for farmers markets and establish national policy and advocacy opportunities.
  3. An electronic subscription to The Market Beet, our electronic newsletter delivered every other month (six issues per year).
  4. Knowing that your contribution improves our ability to respond to farmers markets’ needs today, tomorrow, and in years to come.

Membership dues are annual and tax-deductible to the full extent allowed under IRS 501(c)(3) law. Should you have specific questions about membership, pease email info@farmersmarketcoalition.org

How do I log in to FMC?

There is not an active login in 2026. In other words, there are no specific benefits that members need to log in to access.

Any active member can nominate people to open board seats once the board publishes the number and timing of those seats through the listservs and newsletter. To add your name or another person’s name to the board nominations, or to vote for board members and to attend our annual meetings, you will just need to verify an up-to-date membership.

When we have these membership actions, we will send out a form for members to participate.  PLEASE SAVE YOUR PAYMENT CONFIRMATION if you are a direct member to use your date of renewal for member benefits. If you are a member under a current network partner, you will need to affirm you are a member of good standing with them on the form.

Still having questions? Please email fmcboardofdirectors@farmersmarketcoalition.org

Want to add FMC Membership to your organization’s benefits? FMC’s Network Partner Program allows organizations that directly serve farmers market operators to provide FMC membership to their members. This option allows Network Partners to easily expand their services while also ensuring that their state is well-represented within the FMC member base. The more members we have in a state, the more we know about its needs and activities, and the better we can represent them in our policy efforts.

We are committed to offering this partnership at an affordable rate, so each Network Partner determines their member fees based on the ability of their organization. FMC suggests 0.1% of the organization’s annual budget as a guideline, with a minimum fee of $100 and maximum fee of $2,000.

Network Partners receive the following benefits, in addition to those already mentioned: 

  • Participate in the annual membership meeting each year and cast your vote in the Board of Directors election .
  • Be included on our S/N List and Call. Each spring,  the listserv will be refreshed and input collected on call structure and agendas for the coming year. Each member entity can have up to 2 staff members added to that database. (Networks can always send a request to FMC before a call to send a proxy staff member to the call if the usual leader is not available.)
  • Amplify your markets, organizations, farmers, communities, programs, advocacy efforts by taking over FMC’s national Instagram for a week.

 

How does my organization sign up to be a Network Partner?

  1. Fill out the form to be invited to be a network partner. If your organization meets the criteria on the form, sends in the fee and emails the database to fmcboardofdirectors@farmersmarketcoalition.org email, you should be accepted. 
  2.  The State Partner membership fee is calculated by 0.1% of your annual operating budget with a MINIMUM payment of $100.  Your entity MUST agree with FMC’s definition of farmers markets, support farmers market operators directly, and manage and be willing to share a database of those market operators with FMC.

(Annual Operating Budget) X .001 = (Annual FMC State Network Partner Fee)

You can pay by Square.  DO NOT PAY for a Network Partnership before filling out the form above. If you do submit a network partnership payment and are NOT accepted as a network partner, your membership will be processed as an individual membership.

After payment, please send your current farmers market database to board@farmersmarketcoalition.org

PLEASE SAVE YOUR PAYMENT CONFIRMATION if you are a direct member to use your date of renewal for member benefits. If you are a member under a current network partner, you will need to affirm you are a member of good standing with them on the webinar registration form.

How long is the membership?

Membership is for one year. Please mark the date in your calendar to renew. We also attempt to send out renewal notices but do find that many get bounced back to us. 

How is a Network Partner different than our current membership?

If your organization is a member of FMC, but not a FM network partner, your members do not receive membership benefits, only your organization does.

Find FMC partners:

State Map