CATCH THE BUZZ - Farm Market Registration

CATCH THE BUZZ

REGISTER YOUR FARMERS MARKET WITH THE 2010 USDA NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET DIRECTORY
According to the 2009 USDA National Farmers Market Directory, the United States boasted an impressive 5,274 operational farmers markets. That is a stunning growth of over 300 percent in the past 15 years. Now it's time to count again for 2010. The USDA National Farmers Market Directory is widely used by members of the general public, government officials and policymakers. Consumers use it to find farmers markets in their areas, while researchers, non-profits, and academics use it to analyze the farmers market industry. The USDA uses the Directory to chart growth, allocate resources and anchor part of the Know Your Farmer Know Your Food initiative, which is dedicated to building stronger local and regional food systems. Congress uses it when considering policy that impacts farmers markets. The press uses it when talking about the growth of farmers markets. The Directory is a major source of data for the innovative Food Environmental Atlas, a remarkable tool that charts the relationship between healthy food access and public health outcomes county by county. To keep the USDA National Farmers Market Directory accurate for 2010, please register your market today! State Departments of Agriculture or State Based Farmers Market Associations If you represent a State Department of Agriculture, or a State based farmers market association, you may have already received an email with a dedicated password allowing you to review farmers markets in your State and make appropriate updates for the 2010 count. Using that password, you can review and update your State's listing here. No password? No problem. You can request one at farmmkt@msu.edu (be sure to include your state in your request if you are from a farmers market association or a state department of agriculture, or the name of one of your markets if you yourself manage several). Market Managers (manage less than 5 markets) or New to the Directory If you are a market manager who manages less than 5 markets, or new to the Directory, you won't need a password. Just click here, and you can easily and quickly add your market(s) to the 2010 count. The 2010 USDA National Farmers Market Directory will be released in late summer/early fall 2010. Register your market by May 14, 2010 to make sure yours is included! Questions? Contact us at: directoryupdates@ams.usda.gov.