National Farmers Market Week is August 7-13, 2016. In celebration, the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) is pleased to share in the continued success of farmers markets statewide.
Farmers markets are more than just an outlet for fresh produce and friendly farmers. According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics, these grassroots venues have increased in number nationally by over 60% since 2009 to more than 8,500 today. These markets preserve farmland, stimulate local economies, increase access to fresh nutritious food, improve community health, and promote sustainability. For example, growers selling locally create thirteen full-time farm operator jobs per $1 million in revenue earned while those that do not sell locally only create three. Michigan is home to over 300 farmers markets.
MIFMA’s mission is to advance farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products. The organization began serving Michigan farmers markets ten years ago by focusing on: professional development and educational opportunities, increasing food access, promoting Michigan farmers and farmers markets, and policy advocacy.
- Professional Development: MIFMA works to professionalize the role of the farmers market managers. In 2011, MIFMA created the first program in the nation to recognize farmers market managers as professionally trained. To date, 186 farmers markets managers have been certified through the Market Manager Certificate Program.
- Food Access: In 2006 there were just 3 farmers markets in Michigan that accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, a food assistance program more than 1.4 Michiganders rely on to feed their families. By 2016, MIFMA has helped grow that number to 159 farmers markets in Michigan that are accessible to SNAP recipients.
- Promoting Farmers Markets: MIFMA maintains a complete, regularly updated, easy to search directory of Michigan farmers markets. Find a farmers market near you at www.mifma.org/findafarmersmarket
- Policy Advocacy: MIFMA continually researches, documents, and reports on the impacts farmers markets have in their local communities. MIFMA currently leads projects exploring the compensation of farmers market managers, the economic impact farmers markets have on their local communities, and the barriers preventing farmers markets from accepting food assistance benefits.
“Farmers markets across the country thrive when they are a reflection of the community in which they are based,” explains Amanda Shreve, MIFMA’s Program Director. “Our association thrives, in part, because we are part of a nationwide community of organizations and individuals who support local food systems and the multitude of benefits they can have for the health and wellbeing of families, the community, and the economy. We are happy to join with this community to celebrate National Farmers Market Week!”
MIFMA has been sharing in the national celebration through social media collaborations with a variety of farmers markets in Michigan. Check out MIFMA’s Instagram www.instagram.com/farmersmarketmi to see what markets are participating in the “Instagram Takeover”. Or visit MIFMA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michiganfarmersmarketassociation to see what’s new!
###
MIFMA was developed in 2006 to promote and grow farmers markets across the state and increase their visibility to both producers and consumers. This membership-based organization offers information, sharing and resources to farmers markets, farmers and vendors and friends of Michigan food and agriculture.
The MIFMA mission is to advance farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products and to place farmers markets at the forefront of the local food movement, working to ensure all residents have access to healthy, locally grown food and that Michigan farmers markets receive policy support. To learn more, please visit www.mifma.org or call (517) 432-3381.