Farmers' Market Tours can be a great way to introduce new customers to a great source of fresh, local food! Whether they're part of a class or on their own, there are a lot of resources available to help you guide new consumers through a market and think about how to budget and prepare fresh food. Remember that it's also important to form a relationship with the market manager and vendors, and to work with them to create a welcoming market environment!
Photo by Justin Moore
General Information
- What's in Season? North Carolina Fruit and Vegetable Availability (NC Department of Agriculture)
- USDA/nutrition.gov Farmers' Markets: Fresh, Nutritious, Local (video)
Recipes
Food safety
- Asking Food Safety Questions at the Farmers' Market (N.C. Cooperative Extension)
- NC Fresh Produce Safety: Farmers Market Resources (N.C. Cooperative Extension)
- Farm Food Safety: Keep Fresh Produce Safe Using Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) (Penn State University Extension; for farmers' market vendors)
- Food Safety & Selection at the Farmers’ Market (University of Nebraska Extension)
Budgeting
- How Can I Get Fresh Produce on a Budget?
- Farmers Market Prices Cheaper Than Stores (Farmers Market Coalition)
- How much should I buy: A Guide to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Home Cooking (Michigan State University Extension)
Cooking demo tips
- Demonstration Tips (University of Massachusetts Extension)
- Cooking Demonstrations: Providing the Perfect Ingredients to Season Your Farmers' Market (Kansas Rural Center)
Working with Markets to Improve Accessibility
- Sharing the Harvest: A guide to Bridging the Divide between Farmers' Markets and Low-Income Shoppers (ASAP- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)
- Farmers' Markets and Food Access (N.C. Cooperative Extension Local Food Portal)
