A week of Farmer's Market conferences...

You may wonder what we do during the off season, beyond catching up on sleep-in Saturday mornings. The truth? We do a lot of planning. A lot. From long-range goal-setting sessions with our wonderful board of directors to contacting vendors, musicians, and community groups, updating our website and materials, repainting our beloved old signs, and scheduling special events...the work of a farmer's market never ends!

This week, managers Liz O'Leary and Kathryn Andrews, and board member extraordinaire Cathy Wintermyer are busy at county and state conferences. On Tuesday, the three attended the Prince George's County Farmer's Market Conference in Upper Marlboro. Many thanks to Janna Howley of the University of Maryland Extension for conducting this great meeting. We got to hear from other market managers, farmers, and permitting authorities, and got updates on new processes and opportunities, as well as clarification on standing laws. On Thursday, Kathryn and Liz will be presenting two talks at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Farmer's Market Conference -- one session on engaging community (and thank you for being an engaged community!) and one on promotion. We'll be sharing everything we've learned -- and lots of terrific resources for vendors -- on our website in the coming weeks.

Farmer's Markets are alive and well -- and growing -- here in Prince George's County. We're thrilled to be part of the push for local, fresh, healthy, sustainable food!

Help us celebrate National Farmer's Market Week this Saturday!

Join us at Cheverly Community Market as we celebrate National Farmer's Market Week! Farmer's Markets are becoming an important source of healthy food for customers and income for farmers across the nation, and we share these important goals.

FARMERS MARKETS GROW WHOLESOME FOOD AND HEALTHY PEOPLE  Farmers Market Coalition Celebrates Health and Wellness  During National Farmers Market Week There is surprising good news amidst rising concerns about the increasing incidence of obesity and associated chronic conditions.  Every day, more communities are converging at farmers markets to begin building healthful relationships with food. United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack proclaimed August 5-11, 2012 as National Farmers Market Week.  Since 2000, the number of farmers markets has grown approximately 170%, from 2,863 markets in 2000 to more than 7,800 in 2012.  Vilsack says "farmers markets across the country offer consumers affordable, convenient, and healthful products sold directly from the farm in their freshest possible state, increasing consumer access to fresh fruits and vegetables and thus promoting child health and potentially reducing childhood obesity." As consumers seek more meaningful relationships with their food, with local farms, and with their neighbors, farmers markets are improving community health, and bring diverse groups of people together through a shared social space.  On August 6th, the Farmers Market Coalition, a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening farmers markets, is celebrating nutrition promotion and healthful habits as part of National Farmers Market Week. An abundance of nutritionally-dense, low-calorie fresh fruits and vegetables is not the only asset farmers markets bring to communities.  Most farmers markets also conduct demonstrations that teach people how to prepare fresh produce at home, and provide them with recipes to take advantage of what's in season. *    Preliminary findings from a survey of Baltimore SNAP participants at farmers markets found that less than one-third of low-income market shoppers believed that high quality produce was available and affordable in their neighborhoods outside the market; the majority agreed or strongly agreed that the amount of fruits and vegetables they are able to purchase at the farmers market makes a difference in their or their family's diet. "As part of our long term efforts to measure SNAP usage at several Baltimore farmer's markets, we were encouraged that farmers markets are making a difference in families diets," says Anne Palmer, Program Director for the Center for Livable Future at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. "Increasing fruit and vegetable purchases is a critical means of changing diets and improving health outcomes." *    Researchers at East Carolina University found that proximity to farmers markets was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) among North Carolina youth, while density of fast-food and pizza venues was associated with higher BMI. *    The Hub City Farmers Market in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where only 19% of adults eat five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, instituted a mobile farmers market with three delivery sites, as well as 'Hub Cycle' a free bicycle rental program to help encourage biking to and from the market. *    According to psychologist Robert Sommer, people who shop at farmers markets have four-and-a-half times more social interactions per visit than they would have per visit to a grocery store. *    About 60% of shoppers at the Crossroads Farmers Market in Takoma Park, MD walk or bike to the market. *    Over 90% of participants in Wholesome Wave's Double Value Coupon Program agreed or strongly agreed that the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables that they purchased at the market made a big difference in their or their family's diet. *    92% of farmers markets have vendors that sell fresh fruits and vegetables. In a 2006 survey, market managers reported that 45% of the produce sold at farmers markets is organic, and more than 30% is chemical-free and pesticide-free. "Farmers markets create a public space for everyone to build relationships: farmer to farmer; farmer to consumer; and neighbor to neighbor", says Copper Alvarez , Vice President of the Farmers Market Coalition. "We stand in line with one another, exchange ideas about the food we eat, and we are nourished by the relationships as well as the food. Every time we gather at a farmers market, we become part of a unique experience that celebrates the diversity and wellness of our community." For links to each day's National Farmers Market Week press release, farmers market talking points, and other National Farmers Market Week resources, please visit 'Markets are Up'. Seven Days, Seven Ways to Celebrate Farmers Market Impacts *    Sunday, August 5th: Farmers markets and community education Innovative partnerships that allow markets to serve as hubs of information *    Monday, August 6th:  Farmers markets and public health Promoting good nutrition and healthful habits *    Tuesday, August 7th: Farmers markets as economic engines Business incubation, job development, and local spending *    Wednesday, August 8th: Farmers at the center of the system Governance and policies that put farmers first  *    Thursday, August 9th: Farmers markets and food equity Improving access to healthful foods in underserved neighborhoods   *    Friday, August 10th: Farmers markets and civic engagement Growing social capital and engaging volunteers *    Saturday, August 11th: Farmers markets and rural renewal Supporting agricultural diversity and farm viability, while inspiring a new generation of producers ### The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to strengthening farmers markets for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and communities.  Learn more at FarmersMarketCoalition.org. Farmers markets are good for everyone. Join us to make them even better. farmers ●  consumers ● communities P.O. Box 504 ● Charlottesville, VA ● 22902 info@farmersmarketcoalition.org ● 434-984-0175 ● 877-FMC-0553 ● www.farmersmarketcoalition.org