"Farmers markets are an integral part of the urban/farm linkage and have continued to rise in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. Farmers markets allow consumers to have access to locally grown, farm fresh produce, enables farmers the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with their customers, and cultivate consumer loyalty with the farmers who grows the produce. Direct marketing of farm products through farmers markets continues to be an important sales outlet for agricultural producers nationwide. As of mid-2009, there were 6,132 farmers markets operating throughout the U.S. This is a 16 percent increase from 2009." ~taken from the USDA page on Farmer's Markets in the U.S.
Food for Thought
Since 1999, I have been growing produce and attending farmer's markets in my area/community. Over the last decade, I have been an integral part of my own local food community, operating the first certified organic produce farm in my area of North Carolina. When we were first certified, there were less than 80 certified organic farms in the whole state. Our main market was the one run by the NC Dept. of Agriculture but we also attended the tiny parking lot market just down the road from our farm. There were less that 10 vendors at that one but we participated in it until it was moved to an inconvenient location several years ago. By that time, we were no longer using only farmer's markets. We formed a CSA in 2002 and that eventually became our primary outlet for marketing our produce, although we continue to be vendors at one excellent market in our area.
I have watched the local food movement rise and begin to swell over that last 5 years. Most of that movement has been all good. People now have better access to fresh, locally grown produce than they have had in the last 40+ years. Instead of supporting corporate farms 3000 miles away, they are supporting growers in their own neighborhoods. Communities are establishing their own farmer's markets and promoting them within their demographic. This growing trend has given rise to involvement at the state level which hopefully will give both growers and consumers better tools with which to support this burgeoning movement. There are many new growers establishing themselves, even if they only have a tiny plot of land on which to grow.
Producers of goods other than produce are also starting to be represented at these local markets. Baked goods, soap, cheese, meat, eggs, poultry and other items are now readily available from many sources. Most of this type of product is superior to supermarket versions because it is made fresh, generally with healthier ingredients and no preservatives. Plus when you buy products like this you are helping to sustain and support you friends and neighbors. Real people, people you can actually shake hands with, not a faceless corporation interested only in their bottom line.
Buy local and support your community.
