Farmers’ Markets
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Collapse ▲This page links to information and resources that may be of interest to farmers’ market managers, farmers’ market vendors, and engaged consumers developing their local and community-based food systems. Resources are organized by roles at the farmers’ market.
The Durham Farmers’ Market in downtown Durham.
On This Page
| Find Farmers’ Markets Near You | Farmers’ Market Manager Resources |
| Vendor Resources | Consumer Resources |
Find Farmers’ Markets Near You
Market stand with peaches and blueberries
- Search for NC Farmers’ Market Statewide, Got to Be NC, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
- USDA Local Food Directories: National Farmers Market Directory
- Triangle Area “Growers Only” Farmers’ Markets
- Tailgate Markets in the Southern Appalachians Region
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project Local Food Guide - For local / county lists, check the Local Foods page of your County NC State Extension website located under Agriculture & Food on the left-hand sidebar of the county Extension web page.
:Vendor Resources
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| New Entry Sustainable Farming Project’s Plain Language Guide to Selling at Farmers’ Markets | This document provides information for new farmers on how to choose a farmers market, sell at a farmers’ market, design a market stand, set prices, and sell products. The discussion of the concepts in the document is relatively basic but because the document uses “plain language” it should be more accessible to an audience that has difficulty reading English. | Farm Business & Marketing |
| California Farmers’ Market Association’s Selling the Whole Truckload | A quick guide developed by Gail Hayden of California Farmers’ Market Association for farmers to market their products which includes strategies to increase sales, stall merchandising, and the basics of customer service. | Farm Business & Marketing |
| University of Missouri’s Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers | How you present yourself and interact with customers can have a big impact on market sales. This guide provides advice on how vendors can present themselves, their products, and engage the customer to boost sales, with some great tips on nonverbal communication. | Farm Business & Marketing |
| Portland Farmers’ Market’s Tips for First Time Vendors | This excerpt from the Portland Farmers Market vendor policy guidebook includes some good tips for producers new to farmers markets, and may serve as a good template for other markets to offer guidance to new vendors. | Farm Business & Marketing |
| FMC’s Vendor Evaluation Form | A sample form used by the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York to evaluate their vendors on market day in terms of topics such as image, display, product, pricing, and customer service. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| Farmers’ Market Coalition (FMC) | Get connected with colleagues in the farmers’ market field through their listserv and find out more about their Statewide Leader Network. | National FM Resource |
| Marketumbrella.org | A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New Orleans with a mission to cultivate the field of public markets for public good. Market Umbrella has operated the Crescent City Farmers Markets (CCFM) since 1995. | National FM Resource |
| Growing for Market Magazine | Growing for Market is the magazine for local food and flower producers. GFM keeps you informed about the business of growing and selling vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, plants, herbs, and other food products. | Operational Tools |
| Local Food Listservs | A list of listservs related to farmers’ markets and local food in North Carolina. | Operational Tools |
| FMC’s Market Growth, Outreach, Evaluation | Visit this page for FAQs related to social media, targeted campaigns, tips for farmers, and more. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| Food Safety at Farmers’ Markets | The NC Fresh Produce Safety Portal offers a running list of resources for farmers’ markets. This list includes Good Farmers’ Market Practices, fresh produce safety considerations at market, along with NC specific guidelines. | Operational Tools |
:Farmers’ Market Manager Resources
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| FMC’s Market Manager Frequently Asked Questions | This is a starting place for current and prospective farmers market managers and organizers looking to develop, expand, and improve their organizations. This FAQ is broken into seven categories, in which you will find links to specific entries in the FMC Resource Library. Additional Market Manager FAQs share more detail on certain topics. | Organizational Structure |
| Washington State Farmers’ Market Management Toolkit | This toolkit has information, tips, and templates to help build your market organization. It includes information on human resources, finances, fundraising, business management and more. | Operational Tools |
| Oregon Small Farm Technical Report: Tools for Rapid Market Assessment | Discover three simple, low-cost methods that will help farmers’ markets make effective changes and improvements. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| Market Portrait | Create a Market Umbrella account then click on “Market Portrait” under tools. This tool allows you to assess your market’s abilities and capacities. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| FMC’s Vendor Evaluation Form | A sample form used by the Farmers’ Market Federation of New York to evaluate their vendors on market day in terms of topics such as image, display, product, pricing, and customer service. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| Market, Growth, Outreach, Evaluation: Marketing the Market webinar | This video is part of FMC and Wallace Center at Winrock International’s Market Management FAQ Series, launched in celebration of National Farmers Market Week 2010, and funded by USDA’s Risk Management Agency. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| Webinar: Measuring Success: Market Record-Keeping and Evaluation | This video is part of FMC and Wallace Center at Winrock International’s Market Management FAQ Series. Speakers, Chris Curtis from Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, Bernie Prince from FreshFarm Markets, and Darlene Wolnik from marketumbrella.org discuss how to measure your market’s success. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| Farmers’ Market Coalition (FMC) | Get connected with colleagues in the farmers’ market field through their listserv and find out more about their Statewide Leader Network. | National FM Resource |
| Marketumbrella.org | A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New Orleans with a mission to cultivate the field of public markets for public good. Market Umbrella has operated the Crescent City Farmers Markets (CCFM) since 1995. | National FM Resource |
| Manage My Market | This website offers a proven solution that eliminates paperwork, streamlines all your management tasks, and includes unique features for helping to grow and sustain your market. | Operational Tools |
| Local Food Listservs | A list of listservs related to farmers’ markets and local food in North Carolina. | Operational Tools |
| NCDA&CS Marketing for Farmers’ Markets | Find the market closest to you then explore workshops, training and information related to that area. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| Farmers’ Market Tour Resources | Farmers’ Market Tours can be a great way to introduce new customers to a great source of fresh, local food. Explore this list of resources to help you guide new consumers through a market and think about how to budget and prepare fresh food. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| Farmers’ Market Promotion Program (FMPP) | FMPP is a competitive grants program intended to increase and strengthen direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| FMC’s Market Growth, Outreach, Evaluation | Visit this page for FAQs related to social media, targeted campaigns, tips for farmers, and more. | Marketing, Education & Outreach |
| SEED, NEED, FEED | Create a Market Umbrella account then click on “SEED,” “NEED,” or “FEED” under tools for multiplier tools that measure economic, social, and human impact. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| NMFMA’s Market Growth Data | The New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association has information on why and how to collect data from your farmers’ market. There are examples of market evaluations and templates and suggestions for collecting information about your market. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| Food Safety at Farmers’ Markets | The NC Fresh Produce Safety Portal offers a running list of resources for farmers’ markets. This list includes Good Farmers’ Market Practices, fresh produce safety considerations at market, along with NC specific guidelines. | Operational Tools |
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| Rodale Institute: Starting a Farmers’ Market the Right Way | If you are trying to start or turn around a farmers’ market, it’s easy to get distracted by all the possibilities of signage and events and promotions. Before you order your banners, though, make sure you’ve mastered the basics. Each step should set the foundation for the next to make sure things unfold as planned on opening day—and finish strong at the closing. Published February 2006 by Andy King with the Rodale Institute. | Operational Tools |
| Oregon Small Farm Technical Reports: Qualitative Results from Five Rapid Market Assessments | Published by Oregon State University Extension Service and the Oregon Farmers’ Market Association in July 2001. | Evaluation & Measurement |
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| FMC’s Advocacy Toolkit | Learn the tools and gain the confidence to communicate what your market does and what your policy priorities are to decision-makers. FMC’s Advocacy Toolkit provides guidance in communicating to local, state and federal legislators the importance of farmers markets. | Advocacy |
| Green Papers | Create a Market Umbrella account then click on “Green Papers” under resources for documents about specific public market topics, policies and practices. | Organizational Structure |
| Resource | Description | Resource Type |
| Farmers’ Market Coalition (FMC) | Get connected with colleagues in the farmers’ market field through their listserv and find out more about their Statewide Leader Network. | National FM Resource |
| Marketumbrella.org | A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New Orleans with a mission to cultivate the field of public markets for public good. They provide services, tools and programs that can assist consumers with better supporting their local farmers’ market. | National FM Resource |