Designing an effective, scalable data collection tool to measure farmers market impacts

The need for an updated framework for all types of farmers markets and the varied levels of capacity to share the impacts of their work led to the develop- ment of the Farmers Market Metrics (Metrics) program at the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), a nonprofit working to strengthen farmers markets across the country. This essay provides a timeline of the steps and partnerships that led to the creation of this program, including the exploration of existing data collection systems suitable for grassroots markets, observations from markets engaged in evaluation, feedback by pilot users of the Metrics system, and best practices and recom-
a * Corresponding author: Darlene Wolnik, Senior Advisor, Farmers Market Coalition; P.O. Box 499; Kimberton, PA 19442 USA; +1-888-FMC-8177 x708; darlene@farmersmarketcoalition.org
b Jennifer Cheek, Executive Director, Farmers Market Coalition; jen@farmersmarketcoalition.org
c Marian Weaver, Metrics Program Manager, Farmers Market Coalition; +1-888-FMC-8177; marian@farmersmarketcoalition.org
mendations uncovered during the development of Metrics.

Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development,