The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) recently added 22 individuals to the list of certified market managers. The certification offers acknowledgement to market organizers and vendors that the market manager is a trained professional and came after managers completed MIFMA’s Farmers Market Manager Certificate Program.
As farmers markets grow and expand throughout the state, totaling more than 300 markets in Michigan in 2013, so do the needs of the individuals who run these markets and create thriving marketplaces for local food and farm products.
“MIFMA was thrilled to work with and certify these qualified farmers market managers who are committed to growing and improving their markets,” said Dru Montri, MIFMA Director.
Certificates were awarded to 21 farmers market managers from Michigan and one who travelled from Pennsylvania to complete the full program. These market managers join the 81 market managers that were certified between 2011 and 2013 for a total of 103 certified farmers market managers. MIFMA’s Farmers Market Manager Certificate Program is the only program in the nation that recognizes market managers as professionally trained.
Each certified farmers market manager had the opportunity to network with other managers over the course of the program and focus on topics such as Farmers Market Planning and Management, Preparing for Farmers Market Growth, and Marketing. A final manager-to-manager education and networking opportunity completed the program focusing on sharing experiences and lessons learned.
One certified market manager had this to say about the program: “The curriculum provides a broad overview of the key issues and challenges faced by farmers markets, and gives real world approaches to overcome these. The instruction was excellent, and the opportunity to build a network of other managers in the state is invaluable.”
MIFMA is already planning for next year’s Farmers Market Manager Certificate Program, expected to run in January and February 2015.
To learn more, visit www.mifma.org or contact Amanda Shreve at amanda@mifma.org or 517-432-3381.