Neighborhood Farmers Markets Programs
Within our mission, the Neighborhood Farmers Markets:
Support Farmers
- Provides direct market opportunities to over 100 Washington farms and 50 food artisans
- Grants emergency relief funds through the Good Farmer Fund
- Preserves just under 10,000 acres of farmland from development
- Advocates for farmers, farmers markets, and food access
- Ensures food dollars go to farmers, not middlemen
- Includes farmers in our governance, with 4 vendor-elected representatives sitting on our Board of Directors
- Supports rural economies by retaining farm jobs, facilitating farm to chef and other wholesale sales, and other direct sales avenues (like CSA boxes)
- Build community and provide community meeting spaces
- Offers consumer education about crops—what’s in season, how to prepare it, recipes, and tasting events where shoppers can learn about a dynamic range of products unavailable in grocery stores
- Provides free entertainment at our markets: kids’ events, holiday celebrations, live music
- Creates a modern day town square for communities, including supporting local nonprofits by granting space in the markets
- Supports urban local economies by creating seasonal jobs, providing a multiplier effect for businesses adjacent to the markets, and incubating new businesses
Provides Equal Food Access
- Promote equal access to farm fresh food by providing advocacy, support, outreach, and incentives to EBT— food stamps — WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon customers
- Donates over 50,000 pounds of high quality, fresh produce annually to local food banks
- Brings local, seasonal food into all kinds of Seattle neighborhoods
- Builds consumer and farm relationships, which allow bulk buying discounts
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
One of our proudest accomplishments in 2012 was our Fresh Bucks Bonus Program. The Neighborhood Farmers Markets helped thousands of low-income families access more fresh local produce by providing customers using SNAP (EBT, formerly food stamps) with a $10 bonus at the market each week to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. The program was a huge success, bringing healthy food to the tables of Seattle residents living on low incomes, as well as giving our farmers new revenue and new shoppers. The Fresh Bucks Bonus Program also won the 2012 Sustainability Leadership Award from Sustainable Seattle.
Last season we were able to leverage our Give BIG funds with funds from a corporate foundation in order to extend our Bonus Program from August- December 31. This year, the funds raised in Give BIG to go towards another Fresh Bucks Bonus Program, and to customer education around cooking healthy meals from the Farmers Market on a budget
In July 2012, the Taylor Bridge Fire ravished 27,000 acres in Eastern Washington. The fire was a devastating for many farmers. Liz and Eric from River Farm lost their home in the fire. Fortunately, our Good Farmer Fund was able to help three farms this year facing natural disasters, one of which was River Farm, and Liz and Eric. Because of this grant Liz and Eric were able to start rebuilding their home right away and still made it to the markets each week!