October 2, 2008

Number of farmers’ markets growing nationwide

WASHINGTON—There were nearly 4,700 farmers’ markets in the United States as of August—6.8 percent more than were counted in the summer of 2006.

That’s according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which counted 4,685 markets this summer.

“More and more consumers are discovering the wide array of fresh, locally grown produce available at farmers' markets,” said AMS Administrator Lloyd Day. “Another reason for their popularity is food buyers like the opportunity to interact with the producers.”

He noted that since AMS began tracking farmers’ markets in 1994, the number of locations has grown by nearly 3,000. The agency’s database of markets can be found online at http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets. Virginia Farm Bureau maintains a searchable directory of farmers’ markets at SaveOurFood.org.

At a series of news conferences Farm Bureau held this summer, a Virginia Cooperative Extension representative noted that the commonwealth has at least 134 farmers’ markets. Fairfax County has the most with 17 venues, 35 counties have one market each and 37 localities have none.

“There is a huge market potential for fresh fruits and vegetables, and many Virginia consumers are already taking advantage of those opportunities,” said Matt Benson, a Cooperative Extension community viability specialist.

According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, the most recently released census of its kind, Virginia farmers sold $16.8 million worth of products directly to consumers in that year. An Extension study determined that if each Virginia household spent $10 a week on Virginia-grown foods and other farm products it would currently add $1.65 billion to the state’s economy.

“As you can tell by these numbers, expanding the sale of locally grown foods in Virginia has tremendous potential to boost local farm income and thereby help more of our hard-pressed farmers stay on their land and remain profitable,” Benson said.

Contact Joan Shaffer, 202-720-8998, or Billy Cox, 202-720-8998, AMS; or Benson at 540-341-7961.