Community Farmers Markets is a non-profit organization that increases the efficiency and sustainability of local farmers markets by:
- Providing educational programming to vendors, customers, and the community around sustainability, nutrition, and wellness.
- Creating a unified marketing strategy to increase access to and awareness of farmers markets, especially in at-need neighborhoods.
- Influencing state and local policy through advocacy.
- Offering management and start-up consulting services to member organizations.
- Creating economies of scale by aggregating resources.
- Fundraising for start-up costs, expansion, advocacy, and educational programming.
The mission of Community Farmers Markets is to develop and strengthen farmers markets for long term sustainability and meaningful community impact. Our vision is to increase access to community-based farmers markets – providing neighborhoods and individuals a safe community space and access to fresh healthy food.
The pillars of CFM are:
- Community
- Education
- Nutrition
- Sustainability
Background:
Community Farmers Markets (CFM) was formed out of a demand for more efficiently-managed, community-based, sustainable farmers markets in Atlanta. Building upon the success of the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market (EAVFM), CFM will replicate the EAVFM model and expand to additional sites around the city. In 2011 CFM will manage three community famers markets in the metro area and will collaborate with at least four other established markets. CFM is designed to aggregate resources, creating economies of scale for these markets. By pooling resources and expertise, CFM will have the capacity to expand the services offered by these markets, specifically around health education and community building. In 2011, EAVFM will serve as a pilot for a more extensive educational outreach and community building model. Once the new CFM markets are established and viable, the tested expanded model will be replicated in these communities (2012-2013).