Tennessee Contacts
Tennessee Association of Farmers Markets (TAFM)
board@tnfarmersmarkets.org
SNAP Info & Contacts
Program name/EBT Card Name: SNAP/Benefit Security Card
Current contractor: Fidelity Information Services, LLC (FIS)
Contact:
board@tnfarmersmarkets.org
Tennessee Ag Department
Tennessee Department of Agriculture
FMNP & SFMNP
WIC & Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
John J. Dreyzehner, Commissioner
Email: john.Dreyzehner@TN.gov
or
Peggy Lewis, Director
Phone: (615) 741-0227
Fax: (615) 532-7189
VOC Contact: 1-800-342-5942 (1-800-DIAL-WIC)
Email: margaret.t.lewis@state.tn.us
FMC Contact
To add state news and resources, contact:
Honesta Romberger
honesta@farmersmarketcoalition.org
Tennessee News/Case Studies
USDA Farmers Market, Local and Regional Food Systems Grants Announced
Hannah Fuller October 2, 2020The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced this week that it has awarded $27 million in grant funding through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) and $9.3 million in grant funding through the new Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant program. The grants fall under the Local Agricultural… Read More
Standing Together Against Racism: Black Lives Matter
Stephanie Fenty June 3, 2020Over the past week, the United States has been shaken by the deep inequities rooted within our justice system that have continued to destroy the lives of Black Americans like George Floyd. In the past, the Farmers Market Coalition has largely remained silent on matters of race and injustice. We will do so no longer.… Read More
2019 National Poster Contest Winners
Maya Clark July 9, 2019The Farmers Market Coalition and Farm Aid are pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 National Farmers Market Poster Contest. Since 2014, Farmers Market Coalition has hosted the National Farmers Market Poster Contest to showcase the creative ways that farmers markets around the country are advertising in their communities. Both FMC and contest sponsor… Read More
Tennessee Association of Farmers Markets Bi-Annual Meeting & Farm Tour – Sept 21-22
Honesta Romberger September 7, 2018WHEN: Friday, September 21, 11:30am – Saturday, September 22, noon WHERE: Mountain Harvest Kitchen, 105 Unicoi Village Place, Unicoi, TN 37692 DETAILS: We’ll meet at the Mountain Harvest Kitchen on Friday at 11:30am for registration and lunch. Lunch will be $12 per plate, prepared at Mountain Harvest Kitchen. Following lunch will be presentations from experts… Read More
From Coast to Coast: A Snapshot of the 2018 Farmers Market Poster Contest
Allie Vrtachnik May 25, 2018The 2018 National Farmers Market Poster Contest has come to a close, folks! The deadline for poster submissions was May 15th, but you still have till until May 31st to act as a judge for the Fan Favorite award. Your vote counts as a ‘like’ for your local market or favorite submission. Browse the contest… Read More
Farmers Market Managers Meet and Greet – March 17, 2018
Honesta Romberger March 2, 2018Dear All, I hope you’re doing well preparing for this Spring season. My name is Lee Manning, I’m the Director at the Mountain Harvest Kitchen—a brand new food business incubator located in Unicoi, TN off I-26 about 10 minutes from Johnson City and 45 from Asheville. We opened our doors last September and would like… Read More
Tennessee State University’s Farmers Market Development Outreach Workshop – March 20, 2018
Honesta Romberger March 2, 2018Looking to start a farmers market near you? Check out Tennessee State University‘s Farmers Market Development outreach workshop, featuring Ky State University Area Agriculture Specialists. They will spend the day teaching and providing breakout sessions for planning and developing a Farmers Market. March 20 at TSU in Nashville. Contact Darlene Gunther for more info and… Read More
2018 PickTNConference 2/15-17
Allie Vrtachnik February 15, 2018The PickTN Conference is to hosted in Chattanooga, an opportunity to grow your business and attend educational sessions, a tradeshow and network with Tennessee producers. For more information, check out the conference website. Read More
Champions for Health in the South
Darlene Wolnik February 5, 2018According to a recent report, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Vermont rank as the healthiest states in the nation. The bottom three? Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. That’s not a surprise, says Jay Maddock, a professor of public health at Texas A&M University. In southern states, Americans are more likely to die prematurely from a wide variety of chronic conditions.… Read More
Farmers Market Boot Camp: Six Events Will Be Held Across Tennessee in January & February 2018
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Via The Knoxville Focus: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Farmers who want to pursue their dream of starting a food business can learn how to turn that dream into reality at six Farmers Market Boot Camps to be held across Tennessee in January and February. The workshops will be taught by specialists from the University of Tennessee… Read More
UT Workshops to Teach Farmers How to Keep Records for Value-Added Enterprises – Dec 12, 13, 14 & March 13, 14,15
Honesta Romberger December 6, 2017Keeping good business records is critical for any value-added farm business, says Hal Pepper, Financial Analysis Specialist with University of Tennessee Extension. “Direct marketers, food processors and agritourism operators who keep good records are better able to analyze their costs and returns and evaluate market outlets.” In December of this year and March 2018, Pepper… Read More
PickTN Conference in Chattanooga, TN – February 15-17, 2018
Honesta Romberger November 29, 2017Pick This Conference To Grow Your Business February 15-17, 2018 • Chattanooga Marriott, Chattanooga, Tennessee Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in educational sessions, tradeshow and networking with producers from across the state. Join us on Friday, February 16th for our first ever all conference banquet that will join all 7 state associations for an… Read More
Developing Value-Added Agriculture Businesses Workshops – Nov. 20-22, 2017
Honesta Romberger November 7, 2017Giving careful consideration to business planning is the first step for any farm business wanting to develop a value-added enterprise. Farmers who identify trends and market opportunities and develop a well thought out business plan may enhance their likelihood of success. Developing Value-Added Agriculture Businesses is designed to help farmers identify business planning considerations, grant… Read More
Meet KK and Will Proffitt of Hoodley Creek
Allie Vrtachnik October 15, 2017Kathleen “KK” Proffitt has been connected to land and animal since day one. Watching her grandfather milk the family cow, Adorabelle, climbing the hay feeders’ ladder to find nests full of eggs, and stopping by the hog pen to throw scraps are just some of her fond, childhood memories. During those early summers, KK, a… Read More
November Farmers Market Manager Trainings in Franklin & Knoxville
Darlene Wolnik October 11, 2017The Center for Profitable Agriculture is hosting two Farmers Market Manager Training: Nov. 28 in Franklin Nov. 29 in Knoxville Pre-registration required by November 20 here or contact Hal Pepper at 931-486-2777. The Center is a partnership between UT Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau. As a department in UT Extension, the Center for Profitable Agriculture provides educational… Read More
The Southern SAWG Annual Conference in Chattanooga January 17-20, 2018
Darlene Wolnik October 11, 2017The Southern SAWG Annual Conference is well-known for providing the practical tools and solutions you need at our annual conference. It is the must-attend event for those serious about sustainable and organic farming and creating more vibrant community food systems! This popular event draws over 1,200 farmers and local food advocates from across the nation each year. We… Read More
Spotlight on Nolensville Farmers Market
Allie Vrtachnik October 6, 2017The Nolensville Farmers Market was a prescribed dream for a hungry community. Dr. Miro Bandalo, current market Vice President, and several of his patients wanted access to fresh, local foods. After some envisioning and planning, he assembled the market’s Board of Directors. Other community markets graciously allowed some of the board members to shadow and… Read More
Market Square Farmers Market is Nourishing Knoxville
Allie Vrtachnik August 16, 2017Market Square in Knoxville, Tennessee was created in 1854 when William Swan and Joseph Mabry donated land to the city with the hopes of a “curb market for farmers forever”. Within a decade of this land endowment, the market became a huge draw and two rows of buildings framed what is now modern-day Market Square.… Read More
#LoveMyMarket Instagram Contest Winners
Liz Comiskey September 20, 2016“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas This summer, market fans were challenged to get creative and show their market love by posting photos to Instagram incorporating our I ‘Heart’ Farmers Markets tattoos. The photos entered into our #LoveMyMarket Instagram Contest piece together a beautiful mosaic of… Read More
Little Shoppers are on a Mission at POP Club Farmers Markets
Liz Comiskey October 30, 2015This fall, FMC and Chipotle Mexican Grill sponsored Power of Produce (POP) Club programming at 30 farmers markets nationwide and the impact was far-reaching. In September, farmers saw increased sales, and markets reported not experiencing the usual drop in attendance when the kids returned to school. “The kids come running up to the market table… Read More
Meet FMC’s Guest Instagrammer: Hip Donelson Farmers Market
Honesta Romberger October 12, 2015From under blue, October skies and rows of colorful, canvas tents, photos will flow this week from Hip Donelson Farmers Market, in Nashville, TN! Hip D – as the market is affectionately referred to by its local patrons and vendors – is next up to take over FMC’s Instagram account. We caught up with volunteer,… Read More
#MoretoMarket Instagram Contest Winners!
Liz Comiskey September 4, 2015We at FMC want to extend an enormous THANK YOU to all the markets, farmers, shoppers and fans for participating in our #MoretoMarket Instagram Contest! With over 1,000 submissions, your efforts highlighted the love of farmers markets on a global media platform – and hopefully inspired a wave of curious followers to get out and… Read More
8 Ways to LEARN from each other, MAKE Markets Awesome, and SHARE the Results
Liz Comiskey September 3, 2015This summer, 30 FMC members were selected to run special food preservation events at their markets. The program, entitled Discover Market Fresh: Learn, Make, Share℠, is sponsored by Jarden Consumer Solutions, makers of the FoodSaver vacuum sealer. Each market was provided with the same vacuum sealing tools and promotional materials, and yet every program… Read More
Nashville Farmers’ Market Goes Producer-Only
FMC May 27, 2015Founded in the early 1800’s, the Nashville Farmers’ Market (NFM) has long been important to local shoppers and regional farmers and food producers. This year, the market adopted a new producer-only policy to further benefit local producers and elevate the quality of the market. According to NFM, the market “was founded as a producer-only market… Read More
Nashville Farmers’ Market Goes Producer-Only
FMC May 27, 2015Founded in the early 1800’s, the Nashville Farmers’ Market (NFM) has long been important to local shoppers and regional farmers and food producers. This year, the market adopted a new producer-only policy to further benefit local producers and elevate the quality of the market. According to NFM, the market “was founded as a producer-only market… Read More
FMC Poster Contest Winners!
Jen O'Brien August 3, 2014Happy National Farmers Market Week! To kick-off the celebration, FMC is excited to announce the winners of the first-ever FMC Poster Contest. Over the past month we’ve received more than 160 farmers market posters from across the country, each highlighting the unique flavors, farms and events of their regions. Market posters are not only promoting a… Read More
