The America’s Farmers Market Celebration — the only annual ranking of the top farmers markets in the United States as voted on by the public — has kicked off this week for its 14th year. This event highlights the important role farmers markets play in communities across the nation while celebrating the farmers, staff and volunteers that make markets possible. While they’ve long served as pillars of local food in urban centers and town squares, in recent years, farmers markets have gained the national recognition they deserve as essential businesses that power farmers and communities to thrive.
Put on by American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition, the America’s Farmers Market Celebration will run between June 20 and September 19, 2022, on this AFT page. The summer-long event is a fun competition that helps farmers markets across the country earn national recognition and local prestige. Markets can join the celebration and encourage their customers to vote, an excellent marketing tool and a pathway to winning a piece of the $10,000 prize pool.
In 2022, AFT has increased the total cash prizes to $10,000 and expanded the awards to cover the top five markets nationally (compared to the top three in past years). The breakdown of prize money is as follows: $5,000 for first, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth, and $250 for fifth. In addition to the prize money, the top markets also receive national and local press coverage, complimentary American Farmland Trust and Farmers Market Coalition memberships, I Love My Farmers Market stickers, No Farms No Food gear, a free one-year subscription to Farmers Market Metrics, and other surprises!
The celebration also identifies the top markets in each state as well as in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and Pacific regions.
“We believe that every farmers market in America is special in its own way. Big or small, in cities or rural towns, farmers markets nourish their communities while helping local farmers, food makers, and artisans thrive,” said Greg Plotkin, AFT Director of Digital Communications. “While the AFMC does rank America’s favorite markets, our intention is to lift up the vital role farmers markets play across the country.”
The AFMC database and interactive map on markets.farmland.org is one of the largest listings of farmers markets in the United States, containing more than 7,000 entries. Help us make sure our information is as current as possible. If you see a market listed that is no longer active, please email AFT at marketinfo@farmland.org and ask to have it removed.
