Thousands of people across the country, from every state, cast their votes in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest and told American Farmland Trust about their favorite market. The organization received many positive comments from customers who really appreciate what their farmer’s market has to offer to their community.
Every one of the 860 farmers markets that enrolled in the contest helps ensure that communities are surrounded by farms that can provide delicious, fresh food everyone craves. By providing people with a place to purchase regional foods, farmers’ markets help keep farmers on the land so they can continue to provide fresh food for local tables as well as provide community economic benefits and a place for like-minded people to gather.
American Farmland Trust held the first ever America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest to raise national awareness about the importance of supporting fresh food from local farms and farmers. Winning markets received 500 No Farms No Food totebags to distribute to the customers that made it all possible.
Shopping at farmers’ markets is one of the best ways to support farms, farmers and local economies. When people buy fruit, produce and more from a local farmers’ market, consumers are making healthy and environmentally friendly choices.
American Farmland Trust (AFT) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the nation’s strategic agricultural resources. Together with farmers and ranchers, political leaders and community activists, the group has helped to permanently protect more than 1 million acres of America’s best farm and ranch land. AFT supports local farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms and food cooperatives because they are resources that local communities cannot afford to lose.
And now. . . the farmers markets with the most votes in this year’s contest are:
Large: Davis Farmers Market, Davis, California, with 3,032 votes.
Medium: Williamsburg Farmers Market, Williamsburg, Virginia, with 725 votes.
Small: Collingswood Farmers Market, Collingswood, New Jersey, with 1,027 votes.
While the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest was open for votes from June to August, American Farmland Trust offers other ways to support local farms and farmers’ markets all year long.
? Take the Keep it Local Pledge on the group’s website.
? Sign-up for Farm Fresh News to hear about fun ways to keep you and the land healthy.
? Make a donation, and ATF will put the gift to work to empower communities to protect their local farmland.
More than 800 farmers’ markets signed up to participate in the contest this year. For future contests, sign-up for ATF’s market managers e-mail list, and be the first to learn of the group’s promotional events.