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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 6th 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
Mean1. Suggestions on how to gain community support and fundraising
4.53
2. Creative marketing techniques 4.513. Identify and establish grant programs 4.484. Sharing information in general 4.475. Advocate farmer's markets at the state and/or regional level 4.38
6. Recruiting vendors 4.367. Recruiting anchor vendors 4.288. Advocate farmer's market on issues, e.g., small farms, local foods, environmental concerns, etc.
4.22
9. Promotional information and special events to your market, e.g., music, kid's activities, etc.
4.18
10. Association manages Illinois Farmer's Market website, e.g., directory, standards, search engine, etc.
4.15
Top 10 Benefits for a Statewide Farmer's Market Association
Are you in favor of an Illinois Farmers Market Association?
Preferred Communication for a Farmer’s Market Association
Communication MeanEmail/listserv messages 4.34
4.34
Quarterly newsletter 4.11
Annual meetings 3.62
Monthly newsletter 3.52
Conference calls 3.03
Online chat groups 2.98
2.87
Website
Phone callsLikert scale 1-5, where 1= not at all likely and 5 = extremely likely
S eas onality S easonal 95.0%Y ears of Operation
1-5 years 44.0%6-10 years 17.4%
11-15 years 9.3%16-20 years 10.5%
21+ years 18.6%Number of Vendors
<10 18.9%10-20 vendors 54.4%21-40 vendors 16.7%
41+ 10.0%G ros s R evenues
$10-50,000 26.0%$51-150,000 7.0%
$251-500,000 3.0%Don't K now 55.0%
F orms of P aymentsC ash only 22.0%
C ash/check 57.0%C redit card 2.0%
W IC /S enior F MNP C hecks 12.0%n=91
Illinois F armer's Market C harac teris tic s
IL Farmer’s Market Characteristics
Does Market offer E B T-L ink P ayment? Y es 4.1%No 95.9%
Time as F M Manag er <1 year 22.1%2-5 years 48.8%
6-10 years 18.6%11+ years 10.5%
P aid No 58.3%P art-T ime 25.0%F ull-T ime 16.7%
S upport S taff Y es 52.8%No 47.2%
S upport S taff P aid Y es 34.9%No 65.1%
Hours a Week 0-10 hours 67.9%11-20 hours 17.9%21-30 hours 6.0%31-40 hours 1.2%
40+ hours 7.10%R eport to B oard Y es 48.4%
No 51.6%P roduc er/Vendor, As Well Y es 24.2%
No 75.8%G ender F emale 71.1%
Male 28.9%n=91
Illinois Market Manag er C harac teris tic s
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., CHESouthern Illinois University Carbondale
MC 4317, Quigley Hall Rm 209BCarbondale, IL 62901
Pat StierenPStieren Consulting
Springfield, IL. 62703217-522-4274
