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Retail Farm Market Benchmark Project 2025

The result from this survey tells us that Retail Farm Markets generate a conservative figure of over $200 million in economic activity in Pennsylvania.

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Updated:

April 21, 2025

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In the winter of 2025, Penn State Extension conducted a benchmark survey of retail farm markets in Pennsylvania. The goal was to determine how these markets are performing and their economic impact on the Commonwealth.

There are close to 700 Retail Farm Markets in Pennsylvania. Anything from a self-serve wagon at the end of a farm lane to a large, several thousand square foot building with multiple employees.

These markets have an important economic impact on their communities and the Commonwealth. The result from this survey tells us that Retail Farm Markets generate a conservative figure of over $200 million in economic activity in Pennsylvania annually. These markets are an essential supply chain of local food and often carry products from other local businesses and farms.

The survey was launched in December 2024 and was closed at the end of March 2025. 167 markets responded to the survey.

Type of Retail Farm Market

We asked markets to select a range of their annual gross sales.

Given the 700 farm markets in Pennsylvania, we can estimate the economic impact by scaling up the survey results. Assuming the surveyed markets are representative, the estimated economic impact of farm markets in Pennsylvania is approximately $203,125,000.

Average Market Size (Inside): The average size of the inside sales area is approximately 1790.81 square feet.

The outside sales area is just as important as the inside sales area. Good outdoor displays not only generate sales, they also invite customers into the market.

Average Outside Sales Space: The average size of the outside sales area is approximately 9214.10 square feet.

The survey data indicates a wide range of outside sales spaces, with some markets having minimal areas while others have significantly larger spaces. The average outside sales space provides a useful benchmark for understanding the typical scale of retail farm markets in Pennsylvania.

Access to Storage and Processing

Items for Sale

Number of full-time employees this past year?

The average number of full-time employees working in retail farm markets = 4.

Number of Responses (167)

Number of part-time employees this past year?

The average number of part-time employees working in retail farm markets = 10

Number of Responses (167)

Sales per Square Foot

The sales per square foot for retail farm markets in Pennsylvania, calculated at approximately $174.45, can be compared to industry standards to understand its performance.

Industry Standards for Sales per Square Foot

Small Grocery Retail: The target figure for small grocery retail is around $500 per square foot.
General Retail: The average sales per square foot across the US retail market is approximately $325 per square foot*.
High-End Retail: Examples include Apple at $5500 per square foot and Tiffany & Co. at $3000 per square foot*.

Comparison

The sales per square foot for Pennsylvania farm markets ($174.45) is below the average for small grocery retail ($500 per square foot) and general retail ($325 per square foot).
This indicates that farm markets may have lower sales efficiency compared to traditional retail spaces, which could be due to various factors such as seasonal variations, product types, and customer demographics.
Unique Factors: Farm markets often serve as community hubs and offer fresh, local produce, which may not directly compete with traditional retail metrics but provide other valuable benefits to the community.

Gross Sales Percentage Change from the Previous Year

On average, markets reported that gross sales were 10% higher than the previous year.

Estimated Change in the Number of Customers at your Market from the Previous Year

On average, markets reported a 14% increase in the number of customers visiting their market.

Farm markets support local economies, provide fresh produce, and foster community engagement. While their economic impact may be smaller than major sectors like manufacturing, education, and health services, they are vital for sustainable agriculture and local business growth.