Workshop Agenda

1. Local Food Systems – Idaho Farmers Markets Organize!Diane EggertExecutive DirectorFarmers’ Market Federation of New York Statedeggert@nyfarmersmarket.com

2. Workshop Agenda First Session: • Introductions • Case Study: Farmers Market Federation of NY Second Session: • Visioning an Idaho Farmers Market Association • SWOT analysis – Idaho specific Third Session: • Steps to Build Idaho’s Association • Process • Sustainability Fourth Session: • Next Steps

3. First Session: Farmers’ Market Federation of New York State “a case study”

4. A Farmers Market AssociationFulfilling Your Triple Bottom Line Farmers Market Federation of NY – A Case Study

5. Creation of the Farmers Market Federation of NY • Developed a board of directors • Structured a committee system • Sought member input • Developed a strategic plan

6. Developed partnerships to: • Create successful programs • Get our message out • Make our voice heard

7. Who are our partners? • State Dept of Agriculture • Land Grant University • Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators • State Health Dept • State Agency operating food stamp program • Statewide grower organizations • Consumer groups • National organizations – • Farmers Market Coalition

8. How do we benefit our state’s markets and their farmers? • Program Development • increase customer traffic at markets • Increase sales for farmers • Promote increased consumption of local foods • Create top of mind awareness of farmers markets

9. Statewide promotions • Banners • Tote bags • Bumper stickers • State Fair • Brochures

10. 2009 New York State Fair with Biz Kid$

11. NYS Farmers Market Wireless EBT Program • Makes open air markets accessible to food stamp customers • Debit and credit capability creates new wooden economy within the market • Creates retail excitement • Adds sales and profits for farmers.

12. Media kits help markets promote the program • Encourages markets to develop community partnerships

13. Incentive programs benefit everyone • Creating partnerships in the community • Creates food access for low income consumers • Builds traffic for farmers markets • Increases revenue for market farmers

14. Services offered by a statewide organization can benefit both markets and farmers … • Cost savings programs • Liability insurance programs • Market development • Working with communities to develop new farmers markets • Assisting with market infrastructure development • Creating new marketing opportunities • Market basket programs; food bank partnerships

15. Market Manager Training • Annual conference for market managers • Developing professional standards for market management • Market manager training manual • Farmers Market Information Days • Programmatic training; WIC Vegetable and Fruit Check Program, FMNP, EBT, regulatory • Market Manager Mentoring Program

16. Networking & Communications • Quarterly Newsletter • Website • NYFarmersmarket-L listserve

17. Advocacy • Keeping farmers market issues at the forefront with local, state and federal policymakers • Strengthen current programs; ie FMNP, FMPP • Promote state level programs – funding for a farmers market grants program • Safeguarding agricultural interests - food safety issues, zoning regulations targeting agriculture, labor regs, insurance regs

18. Advocacy • Advancing the industry – • Active member of the state Food Policy Council • Member of the state agricultural marketing program – Pride of NY • Advisory committees for marketing programs at land grant university • Advisory committee for legislative agricultural committees

19. Continuous Member Input - keeps the organization relevant • Round table discussions at conferences and workshops • Visioning sessions • Member surveys • Member inclusion in committees Keep the membership informed and involved.

20. A statewide Farmers Market Association can … • Bring markets together to share information and resources • Provide cost saving benefits • Provide services to promote markets, increasing customer traffic and farmers sales and profitability • Advocate on behalf of farmers markets • Educate and inform

21. Helping markets fulfill their triple bottom line … • Serving farmers with marketing opportunities • Serving consumers with access to fresh, nutritious local foods • Serving host communities with programs and services that make the market an economic, social, and nutritional benefit to the community

22. Second Session: Visioning an Idaho Farmers’ Market Association S.W.O.T. Analysis – Idaho Specific

23. Idaho Farmers Market Association: Weaknesses 1. Short growing season 2. No WIC or Senior FMNP program 3. Few markets accept EBT 4. Size of state vs number of markets 5. Confusing food safety regulations 6. Food markets vs craft markets 7. 8.

24. Idaho Farmers Market Association: Strengths • Number of markets is increasing

25. Idaho Farmers Market Association: Opportunities 1. Statewide voice for food safety regulation 2. Statewide push for WIC and Senior FMNP 3. 4. 5. 6.

26. Internal: 1. Funding 2. manpower 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. External: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Idaho Farmers Market Association: Threats

27. Third Session: Steps to Building an Idaho Farmers’ Market Association

28. Steps to Build an Idaho Farmers Market Association • Process: 1. 2. 3. • Funding sources 1. 2. 3.

29. Fourth Session:“Next Steps for Idaho” • Planning committees • Time line

30. Diane Eggert Farmers Market Federation of NY deggert@nyfarmersmarket.com 315-637-4690