Farmers Markets Key Sales Outlook in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Jun 10/04 - SNS -- Farmers markets remain one of the most important sales outlets for producers of organic agricultural products in the United States according to a recent review of economic studies by the USDA.

Noting that farmers' markets have, in general, been growing in number and popularity over the past decade, the USDA said as a group, organic producers make more use of these sales outlets to market their crops.

Although the marketing channels for organic food have expanded in recent years, farmers' markets remain an accessible, low-cost, and flexible sales outlet for many organic producers. Insufficient infrastructure—a lack of established purchasing, storage, and distribution channels, for example—may still hinder growers interested in expanding or coordinating their production to serve other local market outlets (Slama, Birkerts).

Several market managers interviewed for the USDA study indicated that organic farmers routinely play a significant role in creating farmers' markets, and often serve as manager or board member.

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