Farmers markets are usually seen as places where creations are shared: market visitors come to buy the produce, crafts, and food products which have already been produced by the vendors. But as any market manager knows, farmers markets are places where creation happens. Farmers markets are like “local gardens”, small plots of land which grow […]
Farm 2 Facts is thrilled to announce that we’re currently developing a new metric to represent LGBTQ+ vendors at farmers markets. LGBTQ+ farmers are an underrecognized but essential part of agriculture, especially sustainable agriculture. We spoke with University of Wisconsin sociology PhD candidate Jaclyn Wypler, who studies queer and transgender sustainable farmers in conservative rural […]
“Is my farmers market really for everyone??” “What kinds of barriers stop people from getting fresh, healthy produce?” As a market manager or someone who is passionate about local food, these questions have probably passed through your mind. Previous Farm 2 Facts team member Chloe Green sought to answer them, and her project is far from […]
Farmers market managers job descriptions include a long list of responsibilities that continue to grow and become more complex every year. As a market manager you know a lot about your market. But, how do you convey that information, to whom, and why? Knowledge about your market is very important for you and for organizations […]
Congratulations on starting your farmers market! You are a providing a great resource for your community. We know that managing your own market can feel overwhelming and risky, especially in the beginning. We want to support your efforts and see you grow, so we’ve put together five practices for you to focus on that will […]
Markets have long played a vital role in connecting local producers to consumers while contributing directly to other goals. However, there are few market-operated, easy-to-use data collection protocols that markets can utilize to collect, measure, and analyze data. As Richard McCarthy put it, “In order to address these measures of balance, markets and their investors […]
News sections of newspapers around the world portray street markets as sources of corruption, while in the metro, travel, or food sections, those same markets are celebrated as sources of sociability, economic mobility and local character and are yet notably absent from the business pages. Markets and merchants are intimately woven into human history, and […]
According to the USDA, there are more than 8,100 registered farmers markets in the United States–an estimate that is steadily growing each year (Farmers Market Directory, 2013). My student Anne Roybal, found that undercounted markets in Wisconsin, but the point is simple, no matter how many markets, we know that markets connect producers and consumers […]
