Farmers markets vary greatly, and most challenges that a market faces must be met by local people and in uniquely local ways. At the same time, these local challenges are remarkably similar in large markets and small markets, urban markets and rural markets, established markets and start-up markets. The Arkansas Farmers Market Association provides a way for us to share information and solutions market-to-market, and to speak as one voice on statewide issues. There are efforts underway to bring those same elements of sharing and common voice to a national level.

Beginning in 2006 and continuing through much of 2007, on behalf of the Arkansas Farmers’ Market Association, I participated in a national project designed to help local farmers markets. The project was organized and managed by the Henry Wallace Center at Winrock International, and the Northeast Midwest Institute – two nonprofit organizations with their offices in Washington, DC. The project was funded through a partnership agreement with the USDA Risk Management Agency, and focused on the needs of farmers on the fringe.

But this project also had another agenda that may prove to be even more valuable for our markets here in Arkansas. The project organizers hope to build an enduring “working group” that represents the wide variety of farmers markets across the country. This project was the first step toward that goal.

Two tangible products – publications – were produced through this project. I have copies available today. These publications are also available online. Additional print copies may be available in the future through the Arkansas Agriculture Department. Contact Tim Ellison to inquire.

A second national project, again organized by the Wallace Center and the Northeast/Midwest Institute is currently underway. This project involves the same partners across the country plus a number of new farmers market organizations. This project will hold three regional 2-day conferences – one in California in March, a second in New Mexico in early May, and a third in Mississippi in late summer. In addition, the project will collect the good examples of farmers market management tools from markets around the country, and publish them as “Risk Management Tool Kit for Farmers Markets.

At the same time as the efforts to create an enduring national farmers market working group, the national Farmers Market Coalition has also been working to become real. An outgrowth of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association, the Farmers Market Coalition is reorganized as a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization. The two efforts – the Farmers Market Working Group and the Farmers Market Coalition – have similar approaches and goals, and they are interconnected. I believe and hope that they will merge at some point.

Planning is currently underway for a third Farmers Market Working Group project in 2009 that will encourage a merging of efforts. For a 2009 project, the Northeast/Midwest Institute will step aside as a project organizer, and the Farmers Market Coalition will join the Wallace Center as a full partner.

I see this as a very positive step. I hope that the Arkansas Farmers Market Association will continue to participate in and support these national efforts.