RESOURCE LIBRARY
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Category: Market Start-up and Development
SD Farmers Market Online Guidebook: Development, Operation, Promotion, Safety, Regulations
SDSU Extension provides guidance to communities on establishing a Farmers Market including information on establishment steps, regulatory agencies, by-laws and promotion.
A Farmer’s Guide to Selling at Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are just one outlet for farmers to sell their product directly to consumers. How do you decide that they are the right option for you and your farm? Although every farmers market has its own culture and flavor, there are certain consistent aspects of selling at farmers markets that you can count on. In contrast to other outlets such as wholesale, farmers markets provide an opportunity to maximize the amount of revenue that go directly to the farmer; however, they come with their own set of opportunities, challenges, and logistical considerations. Read on to learn more about how markets work, if they are a good fit for your farm and business model, and how to maximize opportunities for success.
Kentucky Farmers’ Market Manual and Resource Guide
The Kentucky Farmers’ Market Manual is intended to serve as a comprehensive resource for Kentucky farmers’ market managers and vendors. A partnership of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the manual contains valuable guidelines and recommendations on Good Agricultural Practices, establishing market rules, displays, marketing, organic certification, and every other aspect of operating a successful farmers’ market.
Willimantic Farmers’ Market Website Development Guide
These resources were developed with the support of a USDA Farmers’ Market Promotion Program grant, GROW Windham and the Willimantic Farmers’ Market.
The website development guide was prepared by Christopher Brechlin, from Blueprint for Impact. The guide outlines how to set up a farmers’ market website.
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/
Guide for Farmers Markets on Military Installations
Guide for Farmers Markets on Military Installations (PDF)
As we take time this week to honor America’s veterans, we are also thinking about how we can improve the health and welfare of military communities across the country. That’s why we are so proud to release the first-ever Guide for Farmers Markets on Military Installations. By assisting military installations in establishing farmers markets, the guide will help increase access to fresh, local food for soldiers on military installations. On-base farmers markets also connect members of the military with their surrounding communities and offer family-friendly gathering places where children can learn where their food comes from.
In a truly collaborative effort, my agency, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), created this detailed manual with the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Healthy Base Initiative (HBI), and in partnership with Wholesome Wave. It explains how commanders can establish and successfully operate farmers markets on military installations.
The guide is filled with effective strategies to bring the benefits of farmers markets to service members and their families stationed at installations across the country. It also highlights success stories, showcasing existing farmers markets on military installations in Fort Bragg, NC; Fort Meade, MD; Fort Belvoir, VA; Camp Lejuene, NC; and Quantico, VA.
We know that farmers markets play an important role in communities and in American agriculture. Today, more than 8,400 farmers markets are at the heart of towns and cities throughout the nation. Farmers markets bring people together, putting customers face-to-face with the farmers and ranchers who produce fresh, local foods, while also creating jobs and marketing opportunities for these producers.
That’s why supporting farmers markets is a key part of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s commitment to strengthening local food systems, which he identified as one of four pillars of the Department’s efforts to revitalize rural economies. The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative coordinates the department’s policy, resources and outreach efforts related to local and regional food systems. At AMS, we have a long history of supporting local and regional food systems, such as farmers markets, through grants, research, technical assistance and market information.
We’re honored to have worked with the DoD and Wholesome Wave on this new guide, and we look forward to helping service members, their families and their communities enjoy the benefits of farmers markets.
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.
Farmers Market Vendor Booth Guide
Download this resource for checklists and tips on creating the best farmers market booth.
Strategic Planning in the Real World: how to Put No Staff, No Money, and Big Dreams to Work for Your Organization
Presenters: Nicole de Beaufort, Fourth Sector Consulting and Karen Wagner, Oregon Farmers’ Market Association.
- Download the powerpoint (PDF)
Planning and Developing a Farmers Market: Marketing, Organizational and Regulatory Issues to Consider (Agribusiness Marketing Report)
This fact sheet outlines a number of planning issues, including the development of market rules and management approaches that should be considered during the establishment (or redevelopment) phase of a market.
