3 Ways to Improve America's Farmers' Markets

Based on the amount of media attention and interest from consumers, it's clear that America's sustainable food movement is spreading. But that growth, while palpable, is hard to measure without some firm statistics to back it up. In honor of this week's National Farmers' Market Week, which runs from August 1st through the seventh, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to provide foodies with some cold, hard numbers.

Today, the USDA released the 2010 version of its National Farmers' Market Directory, a database of farmers' markets throughout the country that's updated yearly. According to the USDA, the past year brought some pretty significant growth in the number of markets offering up local, seasonal produce: In 2009, the U.S. boasted 5,274 farmers' markets. In 2010, that number grew by 16 percent, bringing the total to 6,132. Not too shabby, considering that in 1994, the U.S. contained a mere 1,755 markets.

The fact that the number of farmers' markets in the country is increasing by such a large percentage every year proves that folks are embracing the local food movement, stocking up on fresh fruits and veggies, supporting small farmers, and cutting back on food miles. But while these new figures illustrate growth, they also shed light on areas of the local food movement that need improvement.

For one, 10 states contain more than 46 percent of the country's farmers' markets, with California, New York, and Illinois leading the bunch. There may be growth in the number of markets popping up, but that increase is clearly uneven. To really combat food deserts and provide consumers with access to fresh, local produce, farmers' markets need to crop up throughout all 50 states.

Secondly, the vast majority of the nation's farmers' markets operate seasonally from April through October. Only 886 markets stay open during the winter season from November through March. And while it's impossible to provide fresh fruits and veggies during the winter months in some parts of the country, folks living in these states would still benefit from access to year-round farmers' markets. Farmers' markets could offer up canned fruits and veggies or grains to eat locally during the colder months. Dairy and meat production goes on all year throughout the nation. Folks in chilly locales still need milk, eggs, cheese, and sustainably raised meats, and it's much better for the environment, the local economy, and small farmers if consumers purchased these goods from farmers' markets instead of chain supermarkets.

Finally, the number of farmers' markets in the country is contingent on there being land available for farmers and ranchers. Farmers' markets may be on the rise, but every minute, two acres of U.S. farmland is lost to development. If this deterioration continues, the sustainable food movement won't be, well, sustainable. Sign our petition asking Congress to put measures in place that will protect America's irreplaceable farm and ranch lands.

Photo credit: NatalieMaynor via Flickr