marketshare: Market Budget Scenario 1

Budget case study for a seasonal market with stall fees and sponsors. marketshare is a program of marketumbrella.org, which works to cultivate the field of public markets for public good. These free documents (called “shares”) are the best of “lessons learned” from public markets everywhere.

2021 Annual Farmers Market Coalition Member Meeting

The 2021 Annual Member meeting took place on January 29, 2021 at 10am PT / 1pm ET on Zoom.

In this meeting, FMC staff presented an overview of the organization’s accomplishments and challenges through 2020 within the context of our five year strategic plan and shared our focus areas for the coming year.

• View the recording of the meeting
• Access the “Additional Resources” document referenced in the webinar
• View the slides from the webinar.

Additionally, we introduced the candidates for the FMC board positions and opened voting for the elections. Board voting is open to active FMC members only and is open through February 23, 2021. Log in to renew your FMC membership or become a new member here!

View the candidates for open FMC Board positions, voting has now closed.

Washington State Farmers Market Management Toolkit

The Washington State Farmers Market Management Toolkit provides timely information, tips, and templates to help market managers navigate the increasing demands they face. We hope to cut your learning curve, share best practices, and adapt the excellent existing resources to your market.
Each chapter includes downloadable tools in Word or Excel that you can tailor to your market needs. The Toolkit is designed to be added to and updated in real time. Please send us your recommendations and suggested improvements. The Toolkit is available both online and as a binder from the WSFMA thanks to support from the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program.

This Toolkit is dedicated to Washington State’s indefatigable farmers market staff, boards, volunteers, sponsors, and farmers and other vendors who are working hard to support local farms, grow good food for families, and make our communities brighter.

View the Toolkit Here: http://www.wafarmersmarkettoolkit.org/

Purpose Defined: Developing a Market Mission Statement

This FMC webinar discusses reasons why a market needs to define its purpose, including helping to attract partners, vendors, and assist board with management. This webinar gives organizations a head start on creating a mission statement, offering a variety of examples from around the country of markets started with different goals in mind.

• Presenter: Darlene Wolnik, Independent Researcher and Trainer at Helping Public Markets Grow and and FMC Market Programs Advisor
• Moderator: Jen O’Brien, Executive Director, Farmers Market Coalition

Best Board Practices and Meetings that Matter

This webinar, presented by Roseanne Stead of the Tides Center, provides an excellent overview of governing board best practices, and how to ensure that board and committee meetings are effective and efficient.

• Presentation (PDF)
• Handouts (PDF)

Sample By-Laws, Policies, and Vendor Applications

A collection of sample documents from British Columbia Association of Farmers Markets (BCAFM) member markets; helpful examples of farmers market policies, regulations, vendor handbooks and vendor applications forms.

Directors & Officers Insurance for Farmers Markets: What & Why

This two-pager gives an overview of Directors and Officers Insurance and its relevance for nonprofit farmers market organizations, providing examples of potential conflict scenarios and related legal costs that may be covered under a D&O policy.

Friends of the Market Toolkit

An introduction to Friends of the Market developed by the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York, discussing the purpose of Friends of the Market Organizations, what they can do for your markets (especially those operated by municipalities) and for the community.

Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance Mission Statement

The NFM’s mission is “to support and strengthen Washington’s small farms and farming families  by creating and operating vibrant, successful neighborhood farmers markets. We provide direct sales opportunities for 100 of our region’s small farms, provide healthy produce to city residents, and educate consumers about local agriculture.”

Organizational Details: 4M Strategy

Market Umbrella outlines their strategy of the “Four Ms” that helps structure their work, organize their resources, focus on their mission, and measure their results. They can be used to help order an idea and keep your organization on track.