Benefits of a Farmers Market Association Working to

Benefits of a Farmers Market Association “Working to Grow Your Market!”

Laying the Groundwork • • • Support Local Farmers Markets Better Informed Managers Training Opportunities Expand Programs & Partnerships Provide ongoing Resources Provide Networking across the state and nation

Training Opportunities • 2009 Illinois Farmers Market Conferences For Market Managers and Vendors. Springfield, Dekalb and Mt Vernon • November 17, 2009 - Webinar “Roadside Advertising in a Digital Age”

Training Opportunities, cont. • January 6 th Workshop –"Grow Your Market: Creating a Memorable Customer Experience” • Feb/March 2010 Farmers Market Workshops TBD

Training workshops for 2010 – Comments from 2009 conference attendees • Provide more information about vendors • Outreach to farmers through market managers • Earlier and broader advertising for event • More information on regulations

Comments, cont. • Include a focus on smaller markets • Provide meetings earlier in the year • Always put speaker contact and website references in overheads • Would like more time to network, break out into smaller groups.

SIUC Survey of Farmers Market Managers – February/March 2009 • Goal: identify benefits and interest for an Illinois Farmer’s Market Association • Survey dates: Feb. 25 - March 14, 2009 • 226 Emails of Il Farmer’s Market Managers • 91 responses or a 40% response rate • Study was approved by SIUC Human Subjects • 68 questions

Top 10 Benefits for an Illinois Farmer’s Market Association Likert scale 1 -5, where 1= not at all important and 5 = extremely important

Are you in favor of an Illinois Farmers Market Association?

Preferred Communication for a Farmer’s Market Association Likert scale 1 -5, where 1= not at all likely and 5 = extremely likely

IL Farmer’s Market Characteristics

IL Market Manager Characteristics

2010 USDA Grant Proposal • Illinois Farmer’s Market Association • Request for proposals January/February • Funding to be used to: – Support educational workshops – Website – EBT education and support

Contact Information Sylvia Smith, Ph. D. , CHE Southern Illinois University Carbondale MC 4317, Quigley Hall Rm 209 B Carbondale, IL 62901 618 -536 -7567 ssmith 8@siu. edu Pat Stieren PStieren Consulting Springfield, IL. 62703 217 -522 -4274 pstieren@gmail. com