Using Excel for Analyzing Survey Questionnaires

This guide walks the reader through five steps to analyze survey results, including the creation of an Excel database and the coding, entering, cleaning, and analysis of data. While written for Microsoft Excel 2002, many of the tips are appropriate for more recent versions of Excel or other comparable spreadsheet programs.

Token & Incentive Accounting Templates

Between 2010 and 2013, Washington State University collected data and provided education at 15 pilot markets participating in a Wireless Technology Project. The project was funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block grant through the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The team worked with the Anacortes Farmers Market (AFM) and their CPA (Sheri Muntean CPA PhD) to create training tools and a series of templates that facilitated Markets’ ability to take food stamps/EBT cards, incentives, and Debit/Credit cards.

The Farmers Market Vendor Token Return Form (Token-Incentive-Accounting-Templates-9.17.201-updates) template tracks tokens, incentives and daily sales information collected from vendors at the end of the Market day.

The Token Accounting Spreadsheet (Generic-Farmers-Market-Worksheets) template facilitates the recording of vendor information from the Paper Forms (above), token counts, and card-machine batch-reports. It allows results to be reconciled against accounting records, expedites check writing to vendors and protects against errors and irregularities.

The AFM, working as the Skagit Valley Farmers Market Coalition, continues to maintain and develop these materials. Training materials for the use of these forms will be posted here soon. If you have questions, please contact Sheri Muntean CPA PhD at sheri@shamballacentre.com.

Token & Incentive Accounting Templates

Between 2010 and 2013, Washington State University collected data and provided education at 15 pilot markets participating in a Wireless Technology Project. The project was funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block grant through the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The team worked with the Anacortes Farmers Market (AFM) and their CPA (Sheri Muntean CPA PhD) to create training tools and a series of templates that facilitated Markets’ ability to take food stamps/EBT cards, incentives, and Debit/Credit cards.

The Farmers Market Vendor Token Return Form template tracks tokens, incentives and daily sales information collected from vendors at the end of the Market day.

The Token Accounting Spreadsheet template facilitates the recording of vendor information from the Paper Forms (above), token counts, and card-machine batch-reports. It allows results to be reconciled against accounting records, expedites check writing to vendors and protects against errors and irregularities.

The AFM, working as the Skagit Valley Farmers Market Coalition, continues to maintain and develop these materials. Training materials for the use of these forms will be posted here soon. If you have questions, please contact Sheri Muntean CPA PhD at sheri@shamballacentre.com.

IRS Details on Claiming Tax Deductions for Donating Food

Selling at Farmers Markets FAQ

This resource is part of the Washington State Farmers Market Management Toolkit (chapter 6), created for potential farmers and vendors in Washington State and serves as a great guide to anyone who considers selling at a farmers market.

Weighted tent policy to prevent accidents

Farm to City’s November 2014 update to their policy on weighing tents down to prevent them from being flipped over by wind gusts.

Farmers Market Vendor Booth Guide

Download this resource for checklists and tips on creating the best farmers market booth.

Farmers Market Sustainability — Obstacles and Strategies

This report, initiated by the City of Seattle for the Regional Food Policy Council, identifies obstacles faced by Seattle farmers markets and recommends strategies for overcoming them. Data was obtained through four monthly meetings of a working group comprised of farmers market organizers, City of Seattle staff, and other stakeholders. The Report also identifies best practices from around the United States.

Understanding Your Market Base: Strategic Surveys to Make More Shoppers Core Shoppers

Do you know what characteristics distinguish between your market’s core, higher spending customers and the ones that just shop periodically? How can a detailed understanding of a farmers markets’ most loyal shoppers translate into strategies to systematically grow the core customer base? On this webinar, learn about the findings revealed by an in-depth study of market shoppers conducted by Ontario’s Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network, including customer demographics, motivations, spending habits, and much more. Presenters discuss some practical methods for researching customer perceptions, habits, and motivations in order to continuously improve services, spending, and satisfaction.

View the Webinar Slidedeck

View the Resources PDF

Greenbelt Farmers’ Market 2012 Customer Survey

Presenters:

Anne Freeman, Project Co-ordinator, Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network
Hélène St. Jacques, M. Ed., President, Informa Market Research Co. Ltd.
Co-hosted with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

New Hampshire Farmers Market Manager and & Customer Surveys

A 2013 customer survey at 24 farmers markets conducted by the University of New Hampshire College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and UNH Cooperative Extension found that the majority of customers spend between $26 an $50 per visit, 77 percent travel fewer than 10 miles to their farmers market and 46 percent shop at their local farmers market once per week.