AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST KICKS OFF FARMERS MARKET CONTEST
News Date June 03, 2009
This summer American Farmland Trust is supporting farmers markets across the nation with a national farmers market contest. The contest is a nation-wide challenge to see which of America’s 4,685 farmers markets can rally the most support from its customers. The goal is to promote the connection between fresh local food and the local farms and farmland that supply it.
In this unique three-month campaign, Americans across the county are asked to show support for their farmers market by voting for America’s Favorite Farmers Markets. AFT wants farmers market customers in every state to have the opportunity to vote and they need to get farmers market managers in your area to enroll in the contest. At the end of the contest, one large, medium, and small farmers market will win the title of "America’s Favorite Farmers Market" for 2009. The reward will be a shipment of No Farms No Food® tote bags for the winning market managers to distribute to the shoppers that made it happen.
Many barriers stand in the way of scaling up local farm production to meet the burgeoning demand for local food. American Farmland Trust is working to support policies and programs to protect farmland, reduce barriers between farmers and consumers and encourage communities to plan for agriculture and regional food systems. "This contest is a way for consumers to show the pride they take in their local farmers’ market and by extension the local farmers and communities that support them," says AFT.
Farmers market managers can register for the contest at: www.farmland.org/marketmanager. Market shoppers will vote to support their favorite farmers’ market at www.farmland.org/vote starting in June. Results will be announced during Farmers’ Market Week August 2 – 8, 2009.
American Farmland Trust will be helping to promote the contest in your area and will be conducting outreach nationally. They are also be putting together a marketing toolbox to help market managers get the word out about the contest in their community. Please feel free to forward this message to farmers market managers in your area that might take an interest in this exciting opportunity! If you have more detailed questions, please contact Gretchen Hoffman, AFT Communications Coordinator, by email at: ghoffman@farmland.org or by phone at: 202-378-1251. Information is also available from AFT’s Jennifer Morrill by phone at:202-378-1255 or by email at: jmorrill@farmland.org.