Farmers Market Coalition - Resource Library

Resource Library

Welcome to the Farmers Market Coalition Resource Library, an ever-growing database of resources for farmers, market managers, market researchers, and organizations sponsoring or looking to start farmers markets. These resources were developed by a wide spectrum of organizations, agencies, and academic institutions, and we are grateful to the spirit of sharing which allows us to bring a variety of tools to your table in one searchable portal. We hope you find them useful and consider submitting resources of your own for the benefit of the farmers market community. Please rate, share, and comment on those submissions you find most helpful.

Farmers Market Management Systems, Characteristics, and Job Descriptions

Description	Short overview of paid market manager positions across the US to assist Maine Farmers Markets project. Report can be used to bolster arguments that volunteer managers should be moved to a paid position. Report done for The Opportunity Alliance in Healthy Lakes, Maine by researcher Darlene Wolnik (as a subcontractor for Farmers Market Coalition). -
	Market Manager Research_DWolnik_March 2012.doc(Size: 98 Kb \| Hits: 12)
Publisher	Farmers Market Coalition
Publisher Website	http://www.farmersmarketcoalition.org

Description	Providing safe local food at farmers means adhering to safe agricultural, processing, and display practices. This article lists potential sources of food contamination while suggesting specific ways to reduce health risks. The suggestions may be useful for both market managers and vendors in providing safe and healthy local food. -
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Publisher	Cornell University Cooperative Extension Jefferson County
Publisher Website	http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com

Description	This powerpoint gives pointed tips for marketing directly to consumers at farmers markets. The presentation includes display, packaging, and labeling suggestions helpful for any farmers market vendor. -
Publisher	University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. North Florida REC- Suwannee Valley

Description	Read the results of a 2008, Farmers Markets Canada national survey gauging the importance of farmers markets in all ten provinces. Canada has seen significant economic benefits from their farmers markets. The report includes useful charts and graphs reflecting methodology and survey results that can be applied to other market endeavors. -
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Publisher	Farmers Market Canada
Publisher Website	http://www.farmersmarketcanada.ca

Description	This extensive resource published by the Farmers Market Federation of New York offers very detailed guidelines on how to handle food safety and inspections at farmers markets, farms, and CSAs. -
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Publisher	Farmers Market Federation of New York
Publisher Website	http://nyfarmersmarket.com/

Description	With the increasing demand for local food, the US Cooperative Extension System is ideal for coordinating and organizing farmers market volunteers and leaders to better focus community resources resources. This article discusses Extension's role in developing community farmers markets and the benefits that could follow. -
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Publisher	Journal of Extension
Publisher Website	http://www.joe.org

Description	This chart, developed by the Farmers Market Coalition, shows the differences in various tax exempt designations and example qualifying market activities for each. -
	Tax Status Handout.pdf(Size: 274 Kb \| Hits: 115)

Description	Oilcloth is perfect and popular for farmers market tables. It is sturdy, wipe clean, reusable and colorful. Oilcloth International sells 12 yard rolls wholesale in a huge variety of prints and colors. A great and inexpensive way to unify your market in a functional and fashionable way! -

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	Oilcloth PDF Catalog.pdf(Size: 6 Mb \| Hits: 5)
Publisher	Cardie Molina, President
Publisher Website	http://www.oilcloth.com

Description	Urbana Illinois has constructed a strategic plan for their farmers market at the square. The plan includes a general survey of how the market operates as well as its potential economic development potential. Concerns and remedies are offered for market difficulties. This plan is a helpful example for constructing a strategic plan as the methods suggested could be applied to other farmers markets. -
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Publisher	City of Urbana, Community Development Services

Description	Australia's Victoria Farmers' Market Association provides procedure and regulation guidelines for Victoria farmers markets. VFMA verifies producers and farmers markets, providing a certification trademark for vendors operating within their best practice suggestions. This article provides the accreditation requirements and how-to instructions to meet VFMA standards. -
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Publisher	Victorian Farmers' Market Association
Publisher Website	http://www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au

Description	In rural and poor urban areas, people often live in food deserts. Without close access to a market, people are more likely to eat unhealthy foods. Food deserts correlate with obesity and diabetes and create a cycle of socio-economic problems. This article provides charts and detailed information on the causes and effects of food deserts. -
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Publisher	PBS Newshour
Publisher Website	http://www.pbs.org

Description	Through collaborative research, the USDA has compiled information and maps on farmers market locations. Location is extremely important to a markets success, and the USDA provides tools for understanding market customers and competition to develop stronger business plans, recruit appropriate vendors, and to tailor business and marketing plans. -
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Publisher	United States Department of Agriculture: USDA Blog
Publisher Website	http://blogs.usda.gov/

Description	The Union of Concerned Scientists report on recent research on local food systems, their key features, and their economic and social benefits. The report addresses challenges to be met by developing food systems and offerers suggestions on policy change to expand local endeavors. -
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Publisher	Union of Concerned Scientists
Publisher Website	http://www.ucsusa.org

Description	This article provides a detailed qualitative description of how to start a seasonal, once a week, producers-only, farmers market in a Pennsylvania medical center. Medical center campuses often represent community health, and establishing farmers markets on medical campuses might be one step towards solving national health problems. -
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Publisher	American Journal of Public Health

Description	After receiving a grant from the USDA, the City Market in Kansas City, MO opened a commercially licensed kitchen. The Farm to Table Kitchen allows a convenient and "approved" kitchen for vendors to prepare products with local ingredients. Helpful to caterers, vendors, and food artisans, this article provides ideas, logistics of kitchen use, and the rules and services provided by the kitc -
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Publisher	The City Market, MO
Publisher Website	http://www.thecitymarket.org

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Publisher	SCALE
Publisher Website	http://www.ruralscale.com/

Description	Learn about the USDA's Farmers Market Promotion Program and how it is helping farmers grow food locally. Projects can obtain from $5,000-$100,000 in funding from the FMPP to go towards marketing strategies, agri-tourism, CSA's, EBT programs, and more. The article discusses the FMPP in relation to the farm bill and its potential benefits for farmers and projects like the Farmers Market Coalition. -
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Publisher	Food Safety News
Publisher Website	http://www.foodsafetynews.com/

Description	A webinar presented by FMC and Michigan Farmers Market Association in October of 2011.The presentation explains the background of IRS 6050W and what electronic payment reporting requirements can mean for your farmers market. -

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Publisher	Farmers Market Coalition and Michigan Farmers Market Association

Description	Wholesome Wave provides an overview of the communities, farmers, and consumers using the Double Value Coupon Program in 2010. The DVCP attempts to benefit excluded urban and rural communities by allowing consumers to double the value of their SNAP and WIC funding at farmers markets. -
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Publisher	Wholesome Wave
Publisher Website	http://www.wholesomewave.org