Washington, D.C. —American Farmland Trust (AFT) has opened the voting to select “America’s Favorite Farmers Markets” at www.farmland.org/vote. The on-line contest is a nation-wide challenge to see which four farmers markets across America can rally the most support from their customers. The goal is to promote the connection between fresh local food and the local farms and farmland that supply it.
Voting is open until midnight on August 31, 2010. People can vote for as many participating farmers markets as they choose, but can only vote for each market once. At the end of the contest, one small, medium, large, and a new category, boutique, farmers market will win the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2010. The four categories are based on the number of vendors the local farmers market has. The reward for the winning market in each category will be a shipment of No Farms No Food® tote bags, along with other prizes including free printing services from igreenprint and free graphic design services from Virginia based design firm, SQN Communications.
“Voting for your favorite farmers market is more fun and local than voting for TV entertainment,” says Jane Kirchner, AFT Senior Director of Marketing. “This is a contest where people can vote for all of their favorite farmers markets—but just one vote for each market. Markets are places where people in towns gather for good food, to meet the producers of their food, to buy good ingredients and have good times!”
“Farmers markets are one of the best ways for consumers to support local farms and farmers, to keep farm and ranch land in agriculture, and add to the economic health of our communities,” adds Kirchner.
The 2007 U.S. Agricultural Census reports a 49% growth in sales from farms directly to consumers since 2002—representing $1.2 billon that stayed in local communities. But at the same time, more than one million acres of farmland are developed each year – most around cities where there is greatest demand for local food. “We need to make the connection: there’s no local food without local farms and farmland,” Kirchner says.
Many barriers stand in the way of scaling up local farm production to meet the burgeoning demand for local food. AFT is working to support policies and programs to protect farmland, reduce barriers between farmers and consumers and encourage communities to plan for agriculture and regional food systems.
Farmers market managers can register their market to participate in the contest by visiting www.farmland.org/marketmanager. Shoppers can vote online for their support their favorite farmers’ market at www.farmland.org/vote until midnight on August 31, 2010.
Source: American Farmland Trust
