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Farmers' Market Managers/Promoters

Exploring This Job

The best way to learn more about the farmers' market management field is to directly talk to a manager. You can find a market near you by visiting the USDA's Farmers' Market Directory (https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets) and typing in your zip code. Most farmers' markets have their own Web sites, so be sure to browse through them and find the hours of operation. When you visit the market, be sure to talk with farmers and market employees. Ask them what their work entails, what's involved in participating in the farmers' market, and if the market manager is onsite and available to chat. Trade publications and books about the farmers' market business will give you further insight and understanding of the various facets of this type of work. For example, the Farmers Market Coalition's digital newsletter, The Market Beet, provides information on best practices and the industry in general. Visit https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/education/newsletter to read past issues. You can also find numerous books targeted at farmers' marketing by visiting the Books for Farmers' Markets Web site, http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/a/farmersmarketbooks.htm.

You can also learn a great deal about farmers' markets and see if this work interests you by reading the University of California's Farmers' Market Management Series publications, which are published through the school's Small Farm Program. Titles include Starting a New Farmers' MarketManagement Skills for Market Managers, and Growing Your Farmers' Market. Visit http://sfp.ucdavis.edu/farmers_market for more information.