The USDA (rather belatedly) began tracking farmers’ markets in 1994. Although they’re still not very good at it (a check of their database shows exactly THREE in my hometown of Cincinnati which in reality hosts dozens every week) even with their limited knowledge of and connection with actual farmers (!) they’re seeing significant growth in number of farmers’ markets over the years.
Valerie Taylor
I'm a mom and writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. In trying to eat more locally and sustainably, I discovered something unexpected: looking for food locally allows me -- even forces me -- to examine very closely all aspects of feeding myself and my family. When I look nearby for food, I find a whole lot more.
6 Responses to Big Surprise: Farmers’ Markets on the Increase
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it sucks
That sounds like a good idea Valereee. I will start checking them out more too to show my support.
Carla, I agree! I just yesterday went to a brand-new-this-year farmers’ market in a lower-income neighborhood, to see how it’s doing. Establishing a new farmers’ market can be a real uphill climb for the first couple of years. They had maybe eight vendors, and there were people waiting to buy from them while they were setting up, so that’s promising. But it’s got a long way to go before it becomes a thriving market. I’m going to try to hit them a couple times a month next year, see if I can’t help them get off the ground.
The number of farmers markets has definitely increased in my area since 1994. What’s even better, they are growing in the urban and lower income neighborhoods where they don’t have the luxury of even mediocre grocery stores in their neighborhoods. The more, the better!
Pamela, it is a happy li’l chart, isn’t it? Although with the USDA’s apparent inability to find more than three farmers’ markets in my hometown when I can find dozens just by checking with localharvest.org, I do kind of wonder if there’s actually MORE farmers’ markets or if they’re just FINDING more of them as the years go by!
What a happy li’l chart! Thanks for posting this information.