Marketing Tips for an Ever Changing Marketplace: increase sales, foot traffic and repeat customers

Hannah Fuller July 12, 2021

Summer is now upon us, and we’re in the full swing of the farmers market season. All of the happy and excited faces of customers are walking from booth to booth to pick their favorite, fresh local produce, eggs and meats. It is an amazing time to be in the food movement and so vital…

WIC FMNP Advocacy Update Summer 2021

Hannah Fuller June 23, 2021

Earlier this year, the Farmers Market Coalition called on our members and broader farmers market community to ask their Members of Congress to sign on in support of an increase in funding to the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). Thanks to those advocacy efforts, “Dear Colleague Letters” in both the House and Senate resulted…

The 2021 National Farmers Market Week Toolkit is Here!

Hannah Fuller June 16, 2021

National Farmers Market Week (NFMW) is our favorite celebration of the year here at FMC. The past year has been quite the haul for farmers market operators, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the resilience of our farmers markets nationally, and everything they do to serve their communities locally. After releasing portions of the FMC National…

Farmers Market Brochure to Appear at S.D. Tourist Sites

Diana Broadaway June 10, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   6-8-2021 Farmers Market Brochure to Appear at S.D. Tourist Sites Yankton, S.D.-  The S.D. Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) has developed a new rack card to promote South Dakota’s Farmers Markets to tourists across the state. The promotional cards will appear in five S.D. Interstate Welcome Centers along Interstate 29 & 90…

Adding Incentives to Your Market

Hannah Fuller June 2, 2021

In a 2019 article for the American Journal of Health Promotion, researcher Dr. Darcy Freedman identified six factors correlated with the increased use of SNAP at farmers markets. Of these, by far the highest increase came from additional incentives. Freedman wrote that “weekly SNAP Sales at markets were 69.9% higher if two or more incentive…

Announcing Support for Farmers Markets Applying for FMPP Grants

Hannah Fuller May 19, 2021

**REMINDER: This year the timeframe for applying to the USDA AMS FMLFPP funding has been shortened to 45 days with applications being accepted now through June 21, 2021.**   As FMLFPP season gets into full swing, Farmers Market Coalition will be offering direct consultation and peer-to-peer support opportunities to farmers market organization FMPP applicants through an…

A Historic Year for FMLFPP

Hannah Fuller May 12, 2021

It’s FMLFPP season once again! This year the timeframe for applying has been shortened to 45 days with applications being accepted now through June 21, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT and as always, must be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, there have been a number of changes built into the…

The Challenge of Indoor Market Operations During a Pandemic

Diana Broadaway May 4, 2021

In the Fall of 2020, Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) brought together a small group of winter market operators into a Community of Practice (CoP). That group was faced with the daunting challenge of trying to operate their usual indoor market spaces while following CDC protocols for mandates and restrictions.  This small group participated in monthly…

InTents 2021: FMC’s Intentional Presentations

Hannah Fuller April 27, 2021

Farmers Market Coalition is always excited to connect with fellow farmers market enthusiasts. Recently, FMC had the opportunity to partner with Farmers Market Pros and present at InTents: the Farmers Market Conference 2021, connecting with market operators, managers, advocates, and vendors from across the country and abroad. As partners, FMC shared our expertise and resources…

Climate Change and Farmers Markets

Hannah Fuller April 21, 2021

Earth Day has a way of making us reflect on the environment, climate change, and our personal relationship to the natural world around us. At FMC, we’re taking time to reflect on our work and the role farmers markets play in the mission for sustainable food systems. Farmers markets are the site for innovation for…