Farmers markets are a great way for consumers to make direct connections to local food producers. These local markets also are a way to stabilize farm revenue, preserve biodiversity, respect seasonality, and have a lowered environmental impact. Farmers markets are also important to local and rural economies, enabling a richer perspective of community-supported agriculture.
Short food supply chains – like farmers markets – enable beginning, small-scale growers, veteran- and women-owned operations, and historically disadvantaged farming entrepreneurs. Local markets are natural incubators for new food businesses with examples across Kentucky of successful restaurants, food businesses, and farms launched at farmers markets.
KHC and other state and national organizations will be celebrating the 23rd National Farmers Market Week from Aug. 7-13. Since the mid-1990s, when the USDA started tracking the number of farmers markets in the US, the number of markets in the U.S. has increased from 2,000 to more than 8,720. Total annual sales at US markets are estimated at over $1 Billion.
Kentucky agriculture is extremely diverse and unique, with high producer participation in farmers markets. According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, there are more than 170 farmers markets across the Commonwealth, located in 112 counties and having about 3,000 unique vendors. A very high number of specialty crop growers and value-added producers sell their products through farmers markets and the market value continues to increase each year.
Each market has a unique personality and it is really interesting to see the different activities and offerings at markets across Kentucky. Many urban and rural year-round and seasonal markets offer live music, featured produce activities, educational events, and special events for children, and in 2021, 49 Kentucky farmers markets offered a Double Dollars program, which provides a financial incentive to purchase fresh, nutritious, locally-grown produce to participants in SNAP and WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. One strategy farmers use to encourage purchase of locally grown produce is offering samples for customers to try different products.
Farmers markets can be a profitable market channel for Kentucky horticulture operations. Generally, there are low barriers to entry, the primary expenses being market registration fees and a booth set up. KHC works with partner organizations and agencies to make resources and training available to growers interested in selling through farmers markets. Two excellent resources for farmers market vendors are the Kentucky Farmers Market Manual & Resource Guide (KY Department of Ag) and the Kentucky Farmers Market Price Reports (University of KY Center for Crop Diversification).
Community-based farmers markets provide an important alternative to the industrialized food system and KHC is happy to promote, support, and strengthen farmers markets across Kentucky. We encourage you to visit a local farmers market and celebrate the summer bounty of Kentucky farms!
