Farmers Market Survey Seeking Submissions

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 22, 2011) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture is asking farmers’ markets vendors, market managers and consumers to complete an online survey, funded by USDA and done in cooperation with the University of Maryland, to help assess the economic impact of Maryland Farmer’s Markets, increase sales at farmers markets, and explore the feasibility of forming a statewide farmers market association.

“We are delighted to receive these USDA grant awards to do this research,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “These projects will enable our State to increase our ‘buy local’ initiatives and develop more efficient and market-oriented ways to benefit our agricultural sector and support our local economy to keep Maryland smart, green and growing.”

The USDA awarded grants to Maryland supporting two agricultural market research and demonstration projects in 2010. These grants, provided under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), will explore new, innovative and results-oriented approaches to marketing U.S. food and agricultural products and to improve the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.

These surveys for market managers, farmers/vendors, and consumers can be found on theMaryland’s Best website under the “Farmers Market Survey” tab or directly through these links:

•    For Market Managers: (accepting submissions until July 1)
•    For Market Farmers/Vendors: (accepting submissions until July 1)
•    For Consumers: (accepting submissions until September 1)

The results of the surveys will be available in October of 2011; please take the time to fill out this short survey and help improve our farmers markets today!