The North Tonawanda City Market in New York has been voted the winner of the 15th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration, a national event honoring the role of farmers markets that ran between June 21 and September 18, 2023. The year-round market outside of Buffalo is known for its fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, cheese, and sausages.
More than 2,000 markets nationwide participated in the 2023 celebration , which is put on by American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition. The event leads to the selection of the Top 5 national markets, as well as regional and state honoree. There were over 10 million supporters engaged through voting, visiting the celebration website, and engaging with the celebration on social media.
“America’s Farmers Market Celebration continues to be a great opportunity for markets to engage with their communities, spotlight their vendors and grant market goers the chance to illustrate their love and appreciation for all the benefits and joy their local farmers markets provide,” said Ben Sloane, Farmers Market Coalition Communications Manager.
Since 2008, the celebration has highlighted the important role farmers markets play in American communities and our larger food system. Farmers markets are on the leading edge of educating consumers about where food comes from and reinforce AFT’s message of No Farms, No Food. They foster direct relationships between community members and farmers to help create a more fair, sustainable and just food system.
National Winners
National winners are awarded $5,000 for first, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth and $250 for fifth. These funds are awarded to markets for marketing, communications and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact.
FIRST: North Tonawanda City Market | North Tonawanda, New York
“The excitement that this competition created was something like I have never seen before at our farmers market. From the farmers, vendors, media, community, businesses, and people both young and old, everyone was all on board. As the Market Manager, for me it was all about the creation of a tremendous marketing opportunity that would generate great exposure for the market. It was such a beautiful thing to see how people came together to support our market. Thanks to the American Farmers Trust for providing us with a platform to showcase all the incredible happenings at the North Tonawanda City Market. The exposure from this has brought in shoppers from all over the Western New York region that have never been to our market.” — Chris Delprince, Market Manager
SECOND: Meigs County Farmers Market | Pomeroy, Ohio
“As a five-year-old market we already knew the importance of our community choosing to support local. Their support has allowed us to grow and give back to the community through classes, social service programs, donations, young entrepreneur spaces and free activities. To have a space where local farmers, makers and bakers can give their best and be supported has been wonderful. We knew the market had become a business incubator, but it has been amazing to watch the community make it a “community” incubator as well. We are very thankful to American Farmland Trust for allowing us to be a part of this year’s competition and igniting the love of our little market with a heart within the whole County and beyond. This market belongs to the community, and they showed it this past month like never before. We are excited to see this love for all things local carry through our whole county, because when a small town unites, nothing is impossible.” — Stephanie Rife, Market Manager, Meigs County Farmers Market
THIRD: Mount Washington Farmers Market | Mount Washington, Kentucky
“Mount Washington Farmers Market is a family-oriented place of gathering, consisting of 25 local farmers and vendors, held twice weekly. It draws its support from a strong small-town community in Kentucky. The market provides crafts and activities for the whole family including instruction on gardening and scavenger hunts around the market. Special weekly events like Jeep Night, Family Safety, Local Superheroes, Dog Days of Summer, and local high school football tailgating help the market engage a wide variety of organizations from throughout our community. We have big plans for continuing this tradition, and enlarging its scope next year. The prize money will help us expand our market area and help us increase our community outreach programs. Mt Washington Farmers Market wishes to express gratitude to America’s Farmers Market Celebration, American Farmland Trust, and Farmers Market Coalition for this award.” — Michelle Walsh, Market Manager, Mt. Washington Farmers Market
FOURTH: Brookfield Farmers Market | Brookfield, Illinois
“Each component of our market brings our community and surrounding communities together week in and week out to have a place to buy local produce and goods, interact with local artisans and enjoy music while catching up with friends. This incredible recognition is shared but our Village, our amazing Police Department, the market committee, our sponsors and our volunteers who we couldn’t do this without and is an inspiration for all of us to continue to grow the market for ourselves and the local communities to enjoy in 2024 and beyond.” — Gina Sharenow, Market Manager, Brookfield Farmers Market
FIFTH: Kershaw County Farmers Market | Camden, South Carolina
“First and foremost, this is so exciting. We are such a small farmers market in an extremely rural area that to be among the winners is almost surreal. Fifth in the nation, first in the state of South Carolina!!! Words can’t express how elated we are. We are truly a hidden gem in a rural area with the heart of gold. Our community is supportive of our vendors who are made up of local farmers, ranchers, artisans, soap/candle makers, unique one-of-a-kind vendors like chair caning, dog treats, food trucks, Girl Scouts, church’s, plants, fresh flowers, henna artists, jewelers, the list goes on. We support one another and look forward to market days. We only have one staff person and a few volunteers so the work that goes into the market is truly from the heart.” — Dorothy Butterson Davis, Market Manager, Kershaw County Farmers Market
Regional Winners
Midwest: Meigs County Farmers Market, Pomeroy, Ohio
Northeast: North Tonawanda City Market, North Tonawanda, New York
Pacific: Nampa Farmers Market, Nampa, Idaho
Southeast: Mount Washington Farmers Market, Mount Washington, Kentucky
Southwest: McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square, McKinney, Texas
State Winners
Each was awarded $100.
AL – Farmers Market at the Tuscaloosa River Market | Tuscaloosa
AK – Tanana Valley Farmers Market | Fairbanks
AZ – Prescott Farmers Market | Prescott
AR – Bentonville Farmers Market | Bentonville
CA – Diablo Valley Farmers Market
CO – Louisville Farmers Market | Louisville
CT – Monroe Farmers Market | Monroe
DE – Historic Lewes Farmers Market | Lewes
DC – Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
FL – Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market | Lakewood Ranch
GA – Cartersville Farmers Market | Cartersville
HI – Kaka’ako Farmers’ Market | Honolulu
ID – Nampa Farmers Market | Nampa
IL – Brookfield Farmers Market | Brookfield
IN – YLNI Barr Street Market | Fort Wayne
IA – Freight House Farmers Market | Davenport
KS – Downtown Hays Market | Hays
KY – Mt. Washington Farmers Market | Mt. Washington
LA – Bossier City Farmers Market
ME – Brunswick Topsham Land Trusts Crystal Springs Farmers Market | Brunswick
MD – 32nd Street/Waverly Farmers Market | Baltimore
MA – Billerica Community Farmers Market
MI – Mount Clemens Farmers Market | Mount Clemens
MN – Rochester MN Farmers Market | Rochester
MS – Cleveland, MS Farmers Market | Cleveland
MO – Ash Grove Farmers Market | Ash Grove
MT – WSE’s Livingston Farmers Market | Livingston
NE – Omaha Farmers Market | Aksarben Village
NV – Prevail Marketplace | Las Vegas
NH – Salem NH Farmers Market | Salem
NJ – Collingswood Farmers Market | Collingswood
NM – Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces | Las Cruces
NY – North Tonawanda City Market | North Tonawanda
NC – Matthews Community Farmers’ Market
ND – Town Square Farmers Market | Grand Forks
OH – Meigs County Farmers Market | Pomeroy
OK – Norman Farmers Market | Norman
OR – St. Johns Farmers Market | St. Johns
PA – Lancaster Central Market | Lancaster
RI – Scituate Rotary Farmers Market | North Scituate
SC – Kershaw County Farmers Market | Camden
SD – Burke Area Farmers Market | Burke
TN – Clarksville Downtown Farmers Market | Clarksville
TX – McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square | McKinney
UT – Farmers Market Ogden | Ogden
VT – Vermont Farmers Market (Rutland) | Rutland
VA – Charlottesville City Market | Charlottesville
WA – Maple Valley Farmers Market | Maple Valley
WV – Fayette County Farmers Market | Fayetteville
WI – Downtown West Bend Farmers Market | West Bend
WY – Lander Valley Farmers Market | Lander
