Are You Ready to Celebrate National Farmers Market Week (Aug 4-10)?

It’s the perfect week to support your local farmers! 

by Marin Lissy

This time of year, tons of delicious produce is in season: tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, and peppers, to name a few. But farmers markets are more than just a place to purchase food. They serve several roles in our communities: increasing access to fresh, nutritious produce; encouraging sustainable farming; and providing an important outlet for producer-to-consumer sales. 

Farmer Foodshare works to remove the barriers that farmers — especially small and mid-scale farmers — face in trying to make a healthy living. According to the Farmers Market Coalition, “Farmers and ranchers receive only 15 cents of every food dollar that consumers spend at traditional food outlets.” In order to have its produce sold at traditional food outlet, small farms must produce at a capacity that does not justly correlate with the amount of money they receive. 

At a farmers market, farmers receive 100% of your food dollar. Plus, you can meet and interact with the person who grew the food you are purchasing. It’s a win-win! 

Our farming communities are also strengthened by farmers markets. In 2015 survey, 81% of farmers selling at a market said they incorporated sustainable agriculture in their farming, between reducing tillage, and using cover crops and natural pesticides. The income that farmers receive from markets helps them preserve their rural livelihood and maintain farmland for farming.  

Farmers markets are an incredible resource right here at home, and they help lift the communities that they’re located in. Look for opportunities to learn more about your food and support your local growers this National Farmers Market Week!

Want to get involved?

Visit your local farmers market and chat with the farmers while you shop. They love to talk about the food they’ve grown. Or you can donate or volunteer at a Donation Station near you! Your participation helps increase farmer sales and push more fresh produce into your community.

Read more:

Marin’s experience as a teen volunteer

Longtime Donation Station volunteer Tom Melton on why farmers markets rock

Whole Foods Raises Nearly $30,000 for Farmer Foodshare on 5% Day

Farmer Foodshare’s Executive Director Gini Bell (left, behind check) and Director of Development and Communications Kate Rugani (right, behind check) were thrilled to accept a HUGE check (pun intended!) at the Chapel Hill Whole Foods Market.

Shoppers who came out on Whole Foods’ 5% Day on April 18 raised nearly $30,000 — $29,927.70, to be exact — to extend Farmer Foodshare’s mission of fresh local food for all!

The whopping sum was collected as part of Whole Foods’ 5% Day program, through which Whole Foods donates 5% of the day’s net sales to an organization nominated and voted on by Whole Foods team members. Farmer Foodshare was honored to be chosen as this quarter’s recipient for the six stores in the Triangle area.

Farmer Foodshare Development Associate, Deb Boxill (left) and volunteer Erika Williamson at the Durham Whole Foods on April 18.

We had a blast that day connecting with people, handing out swag, and enticing shoppers to learn more about the local food system with a huge tower of Chapel Hill Toffee. HUGE shoutouts to the managers and team members from each of the six Triangle stores in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Cary for being such gracious hosts.

And of course, thanks to ALL of you who came out and shopped. You created more opportunities to support local farmers and help our entire community - particularly kids - access fresh food!

From Seed to Store

The afternoon of Sunday, April 14, was rainy and dreary, but the energy inside the Durham Co-op cafe was bright and lively! To celebrate its fourth anniversary, the Durham Co-op invited some of the most innovative local community partners working to improve our food system for a panel discussion entitled “Seed to Store.” Each participant talked about the role they play in the journey that starts at the farm and ends on the grocery store shelf…and on our plates at home. Farmer Foodshare was honored to be part of the conversation!

Shep Stearns of Farmer Foodshare’s Wholesale Market (second from left) joined Jacob Rutz, Executive Director of The People’s Seed, Jennifer Curtis, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Firsthand Foods, Sandi Kronick, CEO of Eastern Carolina Organics, and Kamal Bell, CEO of Sankofa Farms.

Durham Co-op Community Outreach Coordinator Raafe Purnsley (far right) organized the event and moderated the lively discussion.

The group told stories, swapped ideas, shared plans for the future, and answered questions from the audience. “We have a really vibrant local food system,” said Shep. “It was just so exciting to have all these great minds in the same room!”

It was an enlightening afternoon, and Farmer Foodshare is grateful to all the panelists, attendees, and the Durham Co-op for making it happen.