Farmers Markets are Booming—And Growing Their Role as an Essential Food Fource

August 18, 2021

For many Americans, buying fresh local food at one of the estimated 9,000 farmers markets across the U.S. is one of summer’s pleasures. But farmers markets aren’t just nice amenities. Over the past 18 months, many have filled food supply gaps caused by COVID-19 shutdowns.

While numerous farmers markets shut down at the start of the pandemic, many soon reopened under state or local guidelines that mandated masks, social distancing and other precautions.

When grocery store supply chains were disrupted, consumer interest in local foods spiked, along with concerns about exposure to the coronavirus while shopping. Farmers market managers adapted swiftly, experimenting with options like prepackaged goods and drive-thru pickup.

In fact, many farmers markets enjoyed their strongest-ever sales in 2020. Affluent shoppers became more interested in buying local food, while lower-income buyers were able to use federal benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Stepping into this expanded role was no mean feat – but we know from our research in city planning and urban food systems that with adequate support, marketplaces respond vigorously to crises and opportunities.

From the Blog Archives

Farm-To-School: 4 Things I Learned Buying Local Food for a School District

October 25, 2018

Sourcing local food for school lunches is, presumably, a win-win: students get fresh, local food and area farmers have new, consistent marketing options. "If only it were that simple!" writes local food system advocate Brandi Janssen. Here she shares some of the lessons learned when she helped start a farm to school program in an Iowa school district. Despite a slow start, that program has grown tenfold in seven years.