Connecting the local #FarmersMarket to a New World of Opportunities

Useful information here for farmers markets, managers, local growers and market supporters ~ vendors and shoppers ~ as well as anyone concerned with local development and sustainability. I linked in my last market related post but decided the information re-posted here from the USDA blog merits its very own post. Given the general skimpiness of information on the Mountainair Farm & Garden Market page, the Mountainair Online network (e.g. webpage, community blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter stream and other social media) is expanding farmers market coverage. Just look for the Farmers Market and Everybody Eats labels and tags. Questions, guest posts, market or gardening news/updates and ideas for stories and features are invited. I'd love to run a series on local growers and vendors but was unable get market input or cooperation. Post to comments or email vanessa.vaile@yahoo.com 

A young boy looks over the fresh fruits and veggies with his mother at a farmers market in Mississippi. By listing their market in the National Farmers Market Directory, market managers open their market up new customers. Photo courtesy Natalie Maynor

Spring is in the air and it’s time to gear up for the outdoor market season. People are looking for fresh fruits, veggies and other goodies from their local farmers markets, and with a couple clicks of the mouse, the USDA National Farmers Market Directory makes the search easy.

While the directory holds obvious value for market customers, it is just as valuable to the farmers markets themselves.  Getting listed in the directory is a great way to increase a market’s visibility.  If your market is already listed, you can use the same link to make sure the information we have online is accurate and up-to-date.


In an age where smartphone applications and websites are created using datasets like the geocodes from our directory, having a listing in the directory can put your market information right at a customer’s fingertips.

Several application developers use our directory datasets in their farmers market apps. For example, Real Time Farms meshes our data with their own listings of farms and restaurants, painting a detailed picture of local farmers and farmers markets.  We can’t wait to see what will be developed next!

Besides being a marketing tool that displays market locations, operating hours and products offered, the USDA National Farmers Market Directory is the go-to resource for decision makers,   researchers and community planners.  With over two million page views last year, the directory is used on a regular basis to better understand the size and scope of the farmers market sector. With a few easy clicks, market managers can add their farmers market to the more than 7,000 markets already listed in the directory.

Because the directory relies on self-reporting by the farmers market, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) tries to reach out to market managers at least once a year to get updated information.  This year’s directory update is open to new and existing farmers markets through June 5^th. Updates submitted during this month-long solicitation will be visible in the online directory by June 26^th.

Markets with several locations should list each location separately.  If market managers include an email address, we’ll send them a link to an easy update form when it’s time to update their information again next year.

Getting listed in the directory is very easy.  Market managers should visit our site to start the simple process of adding their market to the directory, and in just a few minutes, they’ll be opening themselves up to a whole new world of potential customers.

Connecting Farmers Markets to a New World of Opportunities