These sources collectively present findings from a two-year research project (October 2022 - September 2024) by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in collaboration with Emory and Arizona State Universities, aiming to enhance understanding of farmers market organizations in the United States.
The research highlights that farmers markets are more than just events; they are complex organizations with diverse structures, funding models, and activities, often operating as non-profits and focusing on community engagement and food access.
The studies also investigate how market managers define success, often prioritizing vendor outcomes and customer satisfaction, and emphasize the critical need for capacity building and professionalization within these organizations to ensure their sustainability and impact.
The collected data underscores the importance of flexible typologies and robust data collection to better capture the sector's diversity and support its growth.
