2023 Alliance Year-In-Review
There are so many Alliance accomplishments to celebrate from 2023! In addition to the accomplishments listed here, we also had a few highlights in promotion, including:
- 50,883 click-thrus to FMFinder.org
- Published 4 promotional videos translated to Spanish and Chinese
- Reached over 8,000 organic views on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).
Thank you to all the leaders in the food and farming industry, here’s to a great 2023 and an even better 2024!
FMC’s Anti-Racist Farmers’ Market Toolkit
The Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit was developed by a group of Black food systems leaders and market managers like Shiny Flanary of Come Thru Market (pictured), to help offer ways for managers to put the concepts of anti-racism into practice and action within farmers markets.
The work is intended to improve market experiences for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and BIPOC communities; however, the authors’ lens explicitly centers Black people and Black communities
These resources are available to support your markets. Please check our resources frequently for more updates.
The California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets is a member-based coalition of farmers’ markets and affiliate partners from around the state, committed to working together for the betterment of the industry. The Alliance is dedicated to promoting the direct farmer-to-consumer relationship, supporting small independent farmers, increasing the integrity and securing the future of Certified Farmers’ Markets throughout California.
Learn More About The Alliance:
Our Members
The Alliance represents over 180 certified farmers’ markets across the state of California. We welcome market managers, operators, farmers, vendors and affiliate organizations to join as members. Membership benefits include: connection to a professional network; trainings and resources; promotion materials, and more..
Training & Professional Development
Build the skills and knowledge you need to handle industry-regulation requirements, to develop successful community partnerships, and identify best practices and tools for a thriving farmers’ market. Find out more about upcoming training and webinars…
Access & Equity
The Alliance works to identify new ways to ensure farmers’ markets are accessible and affordable to all – such as, Market Match, Fruit and Vegetable Rx, and increased EBT and WIC access. For more information on adding CalFresh EBT access to your market, visit the Ecology Center’s Farmers’ Market EBT Simple Guide.
Integrity
“We Grow What We Sell” – Farmers’ Markets are at the heart of the local food movement, where consumers can purchase food direct from the farmers that grew it. The trust that consumers place in farmers selling at farmers’ markets is vital to the industry. The California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets is dedicated to preserving and improving the integrity of farmers’ markets throughout the state. We do this by providing training and outreach on the updated AB 1871 regulations.
Marketing & Consumer Education
The Alliance wants shoppers to understand how purchasing directly from farmers is fundamentally different and inherently better than buying from large retailers. Developing a clear brand, value proposition, and media strategy is critical to the long-term success of the sector. In 2017, the Ecology Center in partnership with the Alliance, was awarded a Farmers’ Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant to implement a statewide promotion campaign to bring new shoppers to farmers’ markets and increase repeat shopper frequency. Find out more about our Farmers Market Promotion Campaign and how you can benefit…
Policy & Advocacy
It’s fundamentally important that the farmers’ market industry has a voice in policy debates, both in Sacramento and Washington, DC. As the Alliance was forming, our members were engaged in the process of revising California’s Direct Marketing regulations; gathering input from market managers across the state and providing recommendations for CDFA. The Alliance keeps members updated and informed of policy issues and provides representation at the agency and legislative level. Find out more on our policy page.
