By Americo Vega-Labiosa, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

USDA’s Local Food Directories make it easy for customers to find fresh local foods through four local outlets. Recent updates have made the directories easier to use on the go, on your phone or computer. We’ve also launched a new directory for agritourism. As the platform continues to grow, here are a few tips on how to navigate this resource. We especially hope you’ll use it during National Farmers Market Week, when supporting local markets can be a few clicks away.

1. Use it on the go. This website is convenient to use on a phone or tablet. The new technology behind USDA’s Local Food Directories gives you seamless access on your phone and pulls map locations so that you can navigate to a location with a single click. Take advantage of this feature when you are out with friends and need to convince them that a local market is closer than they think!
2. Know what to search for. Looking for “apples” or “bread” can guide you to several farmers markets and CSAs that include the item you need. You can also search terms like “no pesticides,” “women-owned,” or “minority-owned” to find businesses that qualify under these definitions. By selecting one of the individual directories and slowly zooming out on the map, you can reveal all locations available under that directory. Zooming out to the full country shows nationwide results.
3. Report new markets. If you frequent a neighborhood market or CSA that is not listed on the webpage, ask your market manager if they would be interested in participating. With over 3,800 listings, the directory continues to grow. With your help, future listings can be more extensive. If interested, they can email directoryupdates@usda.gov to get information on adding their market to the directory!

By Ed Ragland, Economist, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

The 2019 National Farmers Market Survey conducted by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS) collected data regarding the market practices of managers in 2019 from 10,000 farmers markets. Using trends and statistics found from these efforts, AMS and Wheaton College created five research briefs highlighting results from this survey and sharing insights into the trajectory for farmers markets into the future.

Here is a snapshot of some top statistics that were identified across all national regions:

1. Farmers markets differ substantially across the U.S. by geographic location and proximity to urban centers. Managers revealed considerable diversity in the number of vendors, types of products, and federal nutrition programs available at each location.
2. Nearly 22% of vendors sold products that were either new or novel, like tofu and meat and dairy substitutes, nuts, mushrooms, wild foraged foods, prepared foods, seeds, fermented foods, crafts, soaps, pet food, or a service. 77% of farmers markets had at least one product in this category, revealing the prevalence of items beyond typical produce or dairy.
3. Farmers market managers are often volunteers (34%), rather than paid employees of the market (29%).
4. Half of the respondents, representing over 3,000 farmers markets, reported that their markets accepted at least one Food and Nutrition Service benefit as payment in 2019. A higher percentage of markets in the West (64%) and in urban spaces (54%) accepted these benefits.
5. About one-third of farmers markets offered or engaged in at least one food waste and/or conservation program in 2019. The most common programs were donating to food banks, recycling, and composting.

For a full list of the National Farmers Market Managers Survey briefs and more information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/research-publications/fmms

To access this data and other projects, visit the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistical Service and follow @usda_nass and @usda_ams on Twitter for updates.