As multifunctional hubs of local food economies and public activity, farmers markets impart diverse impacts on their surrounding communities. In response to new research on farmers markets, as well as desires of market managers to better use data to inform business decisions, the Farm 2 Facts data collection toolkit was created by University of Wisconsin–Madison […]
As farmers market managers, food business owners, and other creatives who are passionate about food, you are no stranger to the limitations COVID-19 has imposed on the distribution and consumption of food products. In particular, restaurants have had to deal with capacity limitations and decreased demand as customers have stayed at home. Many restaurants and […]
Every five years, the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services are required by law to produce a new publication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), which translates nutrient needs into dietary patterns. The DGAs are then used to create graphics like the infamous food pyramid and MyPlate, SNAP education programs, and other […]
Taking reusable bags to the grocery store, turning off the lights when you leave a room, recycling; these types of simple environmental actions are built into many people’s everyday routines. They’re small steps we take to effectively leave a smaller carbon footprint as individuals. However, farmers have the opportunity to make environmental change on a […]
Managing a market means balancing a lot of different responsibilities, from finding vendors to working with the city. So, it’s not just during market season that managers are busy as can be- it’s 24/7, 365 days a year. What’s the problem? Market managers, vendors, and their stakeholders play important roles in communities around the country. […]
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a program which helps low-income individuals purchase eligible food items including fresh, local produce from farmers markets. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased food insecurity and made it harder for many people to access fresh foods, especially those who may have lost their jobs. These economic effects have […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of our food systems – and it has shown us the true power of farmers markets. When the virus hit in early 2020, mainstream food supply chains struggled to adapt. Grocery stores ran low or ran out of food, restaurants shut their […]
Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT, is a food assistance program that is similar to a debit card issued by the government. EBT helps low income individuals gain access to fresh, locally grown produce. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the DHS website, “FoodShare has been a crucial lifeline to safe and nutritious food for […]
Addie Stone, who studied agribusiness at Clemson University, interned for the Dallas Farmers Market (DFM) in the summer of 2018. Addie enjoyed going on farm visits where she got to pet cows and pick watermelons, delivering fresh produce to chefs around downtown, and getting to know the farmers and vendors that came to the market […]
“Diversity is our strength” is Brown Deer Farmers Market’s slogan. Unfortunately, farmers markets are not always thought of as hosting a diverse patronage. A large part of this is due to the perception of farmers markets as unaffordable or non-welcoming to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2018, Farm 2 Facts began our project to […]
