Obtaining Nonprofit Status for your Farmers Market

This four page document from the Minnesota Farmers Market Association (MFMA) provides an overview of all the steps required to achieving nonprofit status. Note: Agency contact information is specific to Minnesota.

Opening a Farmers Market on Federal Property

This guide for market operators and building managers, this resource discusses how market operators and building managers can establish and operate farmer markets on Federal properties. Because most Federal buildings are prominently positioned in central business districts, they’re great places to open a farmers market, and sites may be available for use at minimal or no cost. Developed by AMS and GSA, the agency that operates most Federal properties.

Locating Farmers Markets: Site Selection Tool

An interactive tool designed by Matthew Peters to evaluate potential sites for a farmers market. Refer to Locating Farmers Markets: An Evaluation Methodology to Inform Site Selection for Farmers Markets (also in the Resource Library) for additional guidance.

Locating Farmers Markets: An Evaluation Methodology to Inform Site Selection for Farmers Markets

This details Matthew Peters’ professional project creating a tool to evaluate possible sites for a relocating market. Using a multi-criterion approach, this project establishes criteria, appropriate weights for stakeholders, and evaluates potential sites for the relocation of the Columbia City Farmers Market.  The Site Selection Tool is available in the FMC library as well.

Farmers Market Guide to Nonprofit Incorporation

Published by  the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York, this guide is designed to provide an overview for farmers markets which may be considering becoming a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 entity, providing step by step guide for market managers and boards that are contemplating non-profit tax exempt status.

Guide to Developing a Community Farmers Market

This comprehensive 60 page guide from the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York steers market organizers to create a strong foundationfor a successful, long term farmers market that will be a community asset and a valuable resource for both consumers and farmers.

New Mexico Farmers’ Market Manager Resource Guide

This guide covers all the basics of manager responsibilities, vendor rules, market promotion, and other logistics for farmers markets, of particular relevance to markets in New Mexico.

Farmers Markets in Tribal Communities: Starting Up and Sustaining Success

This six page guide from the New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association is the product of stories told and lessons learned from farmers markets in tribal communities in New Mexico and Arizona.

Idaho Farmers Market Manual

This guide offers detailed advice on how to start and develop a farmers’ market. The major topics covered include getting started, permits, licenses, registrations, market management, and vendor best practices.

Organizing and Maintaining your Farmers Market, 2nd Edition (Vermont)

Published by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, this is a complete guide to farmers market start-up and maintenance is an essential resource for market managers and organizers, including particular details for agencies and regulations in Vermont.

Organizing and Maintaining your Farmers Market, 2nd Edition PDF