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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began tracking farmers’ markets in 1994 and published the National Directory of Farmers Markets, listing all operating markets in the United States. The directory-updated every two years-indicates the number of farmers’ markets in operation has more than doubled in the last 12 years, increasing from 1,755 markets in 1994 to 4,385 in 2006. Those numbers are expected to continue climbing when the list is updated this year.

Blossoming Markets

Farmers’ markets are ideal avenues for hobby- and small-farm operations to market their products directly to consumers. These markets bypass the middleman and allow farmers to:

 
sell produce at retail prices  receive payment at the time of sale  open up opportunities to enhance a community’s economy  increase nutritional and environmental awareness

Consumers also benefit from these markets by gaining access to locally grown produce fresh off the farm. They can interact fact-to-face with producers to gain insight into the farming practices and principles used to grow the products they’re purchasing. Many look at it as more than another purchasing outlet: They see them as a social experience.