August 2nd, 2024
By Michael Shulman
American Farmland Trust Announces Winners of the 16th Annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration™
(Washington, D.C. — August 2, 2024) – American Farmland Trust announces the winners of the 16th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration™, a national event honoring the role of farmers markets that ran between June 1 – July 31, 2024. Markets receiving the most public votes are declared the national winners. The celebration also recognizes top markets in five regions nationwide and in all 50 states.
More than 1,500 markets nationwide participated in the 2024 celebration with over 97,000 votes. New in 2024, AFT staffed 18 markets nationwide — see more highlights from AFT’s Midwest team at the Kansas City Farmers Market here and AFT Scientist and president of a Kentucky farmers market, Aysha Tapp Ross, here.
“America’s farmers markets serve as anchors of communities from coast to coast, providing access to fresh, healthy food and helping communities develop relationships directly with farmers,” said John Piotti, American Farmland Trust President and CEO. “Once again, this year, AFT is proud of the value the celebration lends to the nation’s farmers markets, helping them secure new sponsorships, vendors, and shoppers. On behalf of everyone at American Farmland Trust, congratulations to all the national, regional, and state winners!”
John Piotti, American Farmland Trust President and CEO
Since 2008, the celebration has highlighted the key role farmers markets play in American communities and our larger food system. Farmers markets are on the leading edge of educating consumers about where food comes from and reinforce AFT’s message of No Farms No Food®. They foster direct relationships between community members and farmers to help create a more fair, sustainable and just food system. Participating in the Celebration is a way for people to come together and support their communities and local food producers.
National Winners
National winners are awarded $5,000 for first, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth and $250 for fifth. These funds are awarded to markets for marketing, communications and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact.
FIRST: Mount Washington Farmers Market, Mount Washington, KY – Awarded $5,000
The City of Mt. Washington is extremely proud and honored for our Farmers Market to be voted #1 in the nation. Winning means the opportunity to expand our market with the help of the money and recognition we will be receiving. Our team works tirelessly to get our community involved with our Farmers Market which directly helps to support our local farmers. We are eager to see what our future holds.
Erica Mercer, Market Manager, Mount Washington Farmers Market
SECOND: McKinney Farmers Market, McKinney, TX – Awarded $2,500
The McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square Heritage Village is honored to receive the #1 Farmers Market in Texas and the Southwest as well as 2nd in the nation. We love and cherish our community and the Farmers Market is a beautiful reflection of what brings us together. Every Saturday thousands of people come together to celebrate buying locally, honoring our vendors, and showcasing that all are welcome in beautiful downtown historic McKinney. Thank you for this amazing honor, it is one we hold with tremendous pride and share with the amazing individuals who pour their hearts into making the McKinney Farmers Market a success each week.
DeAnna Stone, Executive Director of McKinney Farmers Market
THIRD: Midtown Farmers Market, Sacramento, CA – Awarded $1,500
We’re incredibly honored our community has voted the Midtown Farmers Market as No. 1 in California and No. 3 in the nation. Taking the top spot is especially rewarding for our dedicated staff who are passionate and work so hard to make it happen every week. Ever evolving, our Midtown Farmers Market has its own unique vibe due to all the amazing farmers, talented creatives, culinary artists, and imaginative and innovative vendors who show up and share their offerings with a community hungry to experience and enjoy every Saturday, year-round.
Emily Baime Michaels, Executive Director of Midtown Association (organization that runs Midtown Farmers Market
FOURTH: Brookfield Farmers Market, Brookfield, IL – Awarded $750
We are overjoyed and immensely grateful for the recognition our local market has received through your esteemed awards. This honor is not only a nod to our market’s vibrant presence but also shines a light on the incredible support we’ve garnered from our community over the past seventeen years. Our growth and success are testaments to the dedication of our local farmers, artisans, bakers, and vendors, and the unwavering support of our patrons. Thank you, American Farmland Trust for providing a platform that celebrates and uplifts our collective efforts.
Gina Sharenow, Market Manager, Brookfield Farmers Market
FIFTH: Troy Farmers Market, Troy, NY – Awarded $250
The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is excited to have received recognition in America’s Farmers Market Celebration. Now in our 25th season, the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is a producer-only market with more than 100 vendors that operates every Saturday, year round. In the summer, we create a bustling open air, car-free, urban street market that sprawls throughout six historic city blocks that you may recognize as the filming location for HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age.’ In the winter, we move indoors and continue to provide the community with fresh locally produced food. We thank our local community for supporting us and we hope this recognition will inspire even more people to come for a visit.
Melanie O’Malley, President, Troy Waterfront Farmers Market
REGIONAL WINNERS:
Midwest
Brookfield Farmers Market – Brookfield, IL
Pacific
Boise Farmers Market – Boise, ID
Northeast
Troy Waterfront Farmers Market – Troy, NY
Southeast
Mt. Washington Farmers Market – Mount Washington, KY
Southwest
McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square – McKinney, TX
STATE WINNERS: – Awarded $100 for 1st in each State
AL – City of Tuscaloosa Farmers Market | Tuscaloosa, AL
AK – Tanana Valley Farmers Market | Fairbanks, AK
AZ – Mother Road Farmers Market | Winslow, AZ
AR – Bentonville Farmers Market | Bentonville, AR
CA – Midtown Farmers Market | Sacramento, CA
CO – Louisville Farmers Market | Louisville, CO
CT – Coventry Farmers Market | Coventry, CT
DE – Historic Lewes Farmers Market | Lewes, DE
DC – Petworth Community Market | Washington, DC
FL – Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market | Lakewood Ranch, FL
GA – Cartersville Farmers Market | Cartersville, GA
HI – Plenty of Aloha Market at Windward Mall | Honolulu, HI
ID – Boise Farmers Market | Boise, ID
IL – Brookfield Farmers Market (IL) | Brookfield, IL
IN – YLNI Barr Street Market | Fort Wayne, IN
IA – Freight House Farmers Market | Davenport, IA
KS – Downtown Hays Market | Hays, KS
KY – Mt. Washington Farmers Market | Mt. Washington , KY
LA – Shreveport Farmers’ Market | Shreveport, LA
ME – Brunswick Topsham Land Trusts Crystal Springs Farmers Market | Brunswick, ME
MD – Reisterstown Farmers Market | Reisterstown, MD
MA – Billerica Community Farmers Market | Billerica, Massachusetts
MI – Mount Clemens Farmers Market | Mount Clemens, MI
MN – Eveleth Corner Market | Eveleth MN
MS – Mississippi Farmers Market | Jackson, MS
MO – De Soto Farmers MArket | De Soto, MO
MT – Livingston Farmers Market | Livingston, MT
NE – Omaha Farmers Market | Aksarben Village
NV – Riverside Farmers Market | Reno, NV
NH – Salem NH Farmers Market | Salem, NH
NJ – Burlington County Farmers Market | Moorestown, NJ
NM – Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces | Las Cruces, NM
NY – Troy Waterfront Farmers Market | Troy, NY
NC – Uptown Farmers Market | Charlotte, NC
ND – Minot Farmers Market | Minot, ND
OH – Meigs County Farmers Market | Pomeroy, OH
OK – Tahlequah Farmers’ Market | Tahlequah, OK
OR – Hollywood Farmers Market | Portland, OR
PA – Royersford Farmers Market | Royersford, PA
RI – Scituate Rotary Farmers Market | North Scituate, RI
SC – Travelers Rest Farmers Market | Travelers Rest, SC
SD – Burke Area Farmers Market | Burke, SD
TN – Clarksville Downtown Farmers Market | Clarksville, TN
TX – McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square | McKinney, Texas
UT – Farmers Market Ogden | Ogden, UT
VT – Vermont Farmers Market (Rutland) | Rutland, VT
VA – Charlottesville City Market | Charlottesville, VA
WA – Maple Valley Farmers Market | Maple Valley, WA
WV – Williamson Farmers Market | Williamson, WV
WI – Downtown West Bend Farmers Market | West Bend, WI
WY – Lander Valley Farmers Market | Lander, WY
###
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms No Food® message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.