Farmers
markets across Tennessee will be celebrating the week of August 2–8 as
National Farmers Market Week. Farmers markets play an important role in
our local food economies as a source of fresh, local and organic food
and this week recognizes the farmers who bring this food to market.
The
number of farms with direct sales to consumers has increased steadily
since 1997 says Hal Pepper, a specialist at the
University of Tennessee Extension Center for Profitable Agriculture.
Census of Agriculture data reports that overall, from 1997 to 2012 the
number of Tennessee farms with direct sales to consumers increased from
2,694 to 3,679, a 36.6 percent increase. And the value of agriculture
products sold directly to consumers increased by 128.9 percent, from
$8.4 million to $19.2 million. The average value of direct sales per
farm in Tennessee has also steadily increased and in 2012, the latest
year data are available, was $5,214.
Amy
Tavalin, farmers market specialist with Tennessee Department of
Agriculture, notes that Tennessee was number one in the nation in 2014
for farmers market growth. There are 154 farmers markets listed on the
department’s Pick Tennessee Products website.
The new Pick Tennessee Mobile App makes it easy to find farmers markets
with location, hours and days of operation and contact information.
Many
farmers markets increasingly accept credit and debit cards and offer
EBT technology for use by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) recipients. Farmers markets are important outlets for
agricultural producers and consumers, as they offer increased
opportunities for farmers to meet the demand for fresh, affordable,
convenient and healthy products sold directly from the farm.
USDA’s
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo will
kick-off National Farmers Market Week on Saturday, August 1, 2015, at
the Santa Fe Farmers Market in New Mexico. AMS will also host a special
event the USDA Farmers Market on Friday, August 7, just outside the USDA
headquarters in Washington, DC.
The
UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and outreach
through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,
the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its
system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in
every county in the state.
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Contact:
Hal Pepper, UT Center for Profitable Agriculture, 931-486-2777, hal.pepper@utk.edu