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Market Manager Resource Center

Getting Started
Funding Sources
Regulations & Food Safety
Pricing
Promoting the Market
Tracking the Market’s Success
Low-Income Customers
Direct Marketing Organizations
General Resources

Getting Started

National Directory of Farmers Markets
A clickable map leads you to farmers markets by state. Also has links to farmers markets websites. Farmers markets listed at this site often are willing to share information on their by-laws, guidelines or mission statements.

Direct Marketing Business Management
From ATTRA, this Guide covers everything from Pricing to Publicity

Establishing & Operating a Community Farmers’ Market
(from the University of Kentucky)

Leadership Development and Community Organizing
From USDA Rural Development, these Technotes provide practical advice on Leadership development, organizing, how to write grant proposals, and applying for 501©(3) status.

Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook
(from the University of Arizona)

Farmers’ Market Development Manual
(from Iowa State University)

Recipes for Market Success
(from USDA’s Small Farm Digest, Spring/Summer 2003)

Missouri Alternatives Center
Extensive list of Extension publications on farmers markets including:

Food Safety for Farmers Markets
A Guide to Starting, Operating, and Selling in Farmers Markets
Weights and Measures Guidelines for Sales at Farmers Markets, Roadside Stands and Other Commercial Outlets (Click on ‘F’ for Farmers’ Market)

Starting a Business in West Virginia
This booklet acts as a guide to starting a business in West Virginia, complete with forms necessary to register with the Tax Department and receive your business registration certificate.

Applying for IRS 501(c)(3) Status (PDF)

West Virginia Business Forms
Forms for registering as an LLC or Non-profit with the WV Secretary of State

“Analyze the habits and needs of your potential customers.”

Funding Sources

Funding for Direct Marketing
A comprehensive list of potential funding sources for developing and improving a farmers market

Food and Society
As an initiative of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Food & Society offers grants for programs dealing with food systems and rural development.

Grant Writing Resources
From the USDA’s Rural Development Agency

Public Markets and Community Revitalization
From the Ford Foundation, this site includes potential funding sources for markets, with a guidebook covering all aspects of the market development process. Includes sample budgets, staffing requirements, tenant mix plans, marketing strategies, cash flow analysis and cost projections.

“With sales figures a manager can analyze whether a marketing campaign is effective. Trying advertising or promotional ideas with a cost is necessary, but if you can only rely on farmers’ anecdotal responses about sales going up, it is difficult to determine whether your expenditure paid off…”

Pricing

Grassroots Pricing Index
Search by product or by state to find prices for items sold at farmers’ markets throughout the United States. Become a reporter and list the prices charged for products at your market for the benefit of other farmers in West Virginia and beyond!

Organic Price Index
Published by the Rodale Institute

Today’s Market Prices
Up-to-date price listings for wholesale Herbs, Fruit, and Vegetables. Requires subscription.

Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Wholesale Prices
Courtesy of USDA

“The challenge is to be sensitive to both groups, farmers and consumers, without letting either side demand too much. Some farmers want monopolies but customer numbers will suffer generally if you listen. At least two vendors selling the same item in numerous categories is a good idea to start. You need to distinguish your farmers’ market from local supermarket competition.”

Regulations & food Safety

Temporary Food Service Concession Guidelines (PDF)
from the WV Department of Health & Human Resources

Food Safety for Farmers’ Markets
(From Kansas State University)

Safe Handling of Food at Open Markets
(From Kansas State University)

Local Health Department Contacts
To find regulations specific to your county

Promoting the Market

How to Write a Press Release
(From USDA Rural Development)

Food Routes
Great reminders on the importance of supporting local farmers

Local Harvest
A free database on which to list your farmers market. Individual farms can also add themselves to the online database, frequently searched by the public.

West Virginia Cookbooks
From the WVDA, these printed booklets on preparing vegetables, meats, honey and more can be ordered free of charge for handing out at your market.

5-A-Day
Brochures, posters, educational programs, and many resources for promoting fruits and vegetables.

Farmers Market Coloring Book
from USDA, in Word or PDF format

About Produce
Detailed nutritional information and recipes for fresh produce, published by the Produce Marketing Association and Produce for Better Health Foundation.

Seasonal Recipes
from seasonalchef.com

Community Food Security Coalition

The Northeast Regional Food Guide
Consists of a full-color regional food pyramid, a seasonal produce guide, and a set of eight fact sheets providing additional nutrition information and tips on using seasonal produce.

“A Press release is one of our most useful and powerful marketing tools. The press release serves two purposes. First, it gets the information of our market before the public. Secondly, because a press release is a news story and not an advertisement, it gives the story, and therefore your market, credibility.”

Tracking your Market’s Success

Market Effects on Neighboring Businesses
From Oregon State University

Surveying Your Customers
From Oregon State University, the Rapid Market Assessment Survey method offers a fun way to survey your customers and strengthen the market.

Low-Income Customers

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
Details about this federal program for low-income women and their children, with information on how to accept the vouchers and contacts for application in West Virginia.

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
Details about this federal voucher program and how apply to accept SFMNP vouchers.

Direct Marketing Organizations

North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association
Non-profit association dedicated to the needs of the farm direct marketing industry. Projects and benefits are targeted for farmers, market managers, Extension and other government agencies.

West Virginia Direct Marketing Association

Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
Value-added agriculture resources

Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets
Provides free downloads of: