The Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Farmers Markets: Recent Evidence from the US

Abstract

Farmers markets are regular, recurring gatherings at a common facility or area where farmers and ranchers directly sell a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other locally grown farm products to consumers. Markets rebuild and maintain local and regional food systems, leading to an outsized impact on the food system relative to their share of produce sales. Previous research has demonstrated the multifaceted impacts that farmers markets have on the communities, particularly economically. Recent scholarship in the United States has expanded inquiry into social impacts that markets have on communities, including improving access to fresh food products and increasing awareness of the sustainable agricultural practices adopted by producers, as well developing tools for producers and market stakeholders to measure their impact on both producers and communities. This paper reviews the recent scholarship on farmers markets to identify recent trends and synthesizes the current evidence describing the ways in which farmers markets contribute to the wellbeing of their communities, as well as identifying areas for additional future research.

Manager and vendor perceptions of farmers’ markets’ impacts on communities: evidence from Michigan

“…The rise of farmers’ markets over the last three decades is illustrative of the potential of AFNs to support a sustainable food system. Between 1994 and 2019, the number of farmers’ markets in the USA increased from 1,755 to 8,761 (USDA, 2020), and a growing body of scholarship has documented the contributions of farmers’ markets to sustainable food systems (Warsaw et al. , 2021).…”

“…The rise of farmers' markets over the last three decades is illustrative of the potential of AFNs to support a sustainable food system. Between 1994 and 2019, the number of farmers' markets in the USA increased from 1,755 to 8,761 (USDA, 2020), and a growing body of scholarship has documented the contributions of farmers' markets to sustainable food systems (Warsaw et al, 2021). Economically, farmers' markets improve livelihoods for farmers and stimulate local economic development through the creation of jobs and increased support for local businesses near the market (Hughes et al, 2008).…”

The Role of Local Food Systems in Rural Communities

“…For many communities, development of LFS is a popular strategy for sustainable and equitable economic growth and development through a range of projects such as farmers markets, community supported agriculture enterprises, urban farming/agriculture projects, food hubs, intermediated marketing channels like grocery stores. Farmers markets are social events that connect citizens as neighbours, consumers, producers, and community groups to the food system; they provide opportunities for people to learn about food, where it comes from, and how to prepare it (Warsaw et al, 2021). LFS may comprise elements of alternative and conventional food networks related to production, processing, marketing and consumption over a relatively short geographical distance, thus providing a number of economic benefits with a significant positive effect on the local economy.…”

Using a Community Farmers’ Market to Engage Students From an Alternative School

“…Agricultural Marketing Service, 2021). Partnerships between academia and organizations supporting farmers markets have stimulated the development of new tools to allow markets to engage in "citizen science" to track and communicate the impact of their markets on local communities (Warsaw, Archambault, He, & Miller, 2021).…”