Toolkit Empowers Farmers Markets to Measure Their Impact
The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) has launched a powerful new resource for farmers market operators and support organizations: the Farmers Market Evaluation Site. This comprehensive online toolkit is designed to help markets across the country measure, track, and communicate their impact more effectively.
Developed with support from the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), the site offers a step-by-step framework for market evaluation, including guides on planning, data collection, tracking, analysis, and sharing results. Whether you're just beginning your evaluation journey or looking to refine existing efforts, the site provides accessible tools tailored to every stage of the process.
Highlights include:
- Evaluation Planning and Metric Selection: Learn how to choose meaningful metrics that reflect your market's goals.
- Data Collection Tools: Access a standardized question bank and downloadable templates for surveys and forms.
- Data Management and Analysis: Discover best practices for organizing and interpreting your data.
- Communication Strategies: Get tips on how to share your findings with stakeholders, funders, and the public.
The site also features a growing resource library, showcasing examples from markets nationwide and offering insights into the evolving "culture of data" in the farmers market sector.
This initiative reflects FMC's commitment to strengthening local food systems by equipping markets with the tools they need to demonstrate their value—economically, socially, and environmentally.
Pennsylvania farmers markets are encouraged to explore the site and integrate its tools into their operations. By doing so, they can better advocate for their role in community health, food access, and local economies.
Visit the Farmers Market Evaluation Site to get started.
