First, a Thank You to USDA

This week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins signed a proclamation formally recognizing National Farmers Market Week, August 2–8, calling on Americans across the country to visit and support their local farmers markets. We want to start by thanking Secretary Rollins and the entire U.S. Department of Agriculture for that recognition.

It matters. A proclamation from the Secretary of Agriculture tells every farmer loading a truck before dawn, and every market manager wrestling with permits and logistics, that their work is seen at the highest level of American agriculture. Secretary Rollins framed the week as a celebration of the farmers and ranchers who produce the highest-quality food in the world, and as an opportunity for Americans to support them directly. We could not agree more.

At Florida Organic Growers, we are proud to answer that call — and here in Florida, we have a lot to celebrate.

Why Farmers Markets Are Infrastructure, Not Nostalgia

Every Saturday morning, in towns and cities across our state, something remarkable happens. Farmers rise before dawn, load their trucks with fresh-picked produce, and drive to their local market. Families arrive with their reusable bags. Neighbors greet neighbors. Children taste a sun-ripened tomato for the first time. And dollar by dollar, handshake by handshake, a stronger American local food system is built.

This is not nostalgia. This is infrastructure. Farmers markets are where local food economies take root, where small farms find their footing, and where communities reclaim their connection to the people who feed them.

Florida's Farmers Markets: A Growing Force

The numbers tell a powerful story:

• Florida is home to roughly 250 farmers markets — up about 10% from pre-pandemic levels — serving communities from Pensacola to Key West.
• Our state's 47,000 farms and more than 9 million acres of farmland don't just feed Florida; they help feed the nation and the world.
• Farmers markets deliver real economic power. Studies of just two Sarasota County markets — Venice and Englewood — found a combined annual economic impact of more than $28 million, including millions in vendor sales, local business revenue, and tax dollars that stay right here in our communities.
• Many Florida markets accept SNAP/EBT benefits, making fresh, healthy, local food accessible to families who need it most. FOG first brought the Fresh Access Bucks program to Florida — doubling the value of SNAP/EBT benefits at participating markets. Consumers gain access to nutritious food, and vendors gain new customers and better business.

Behind every one of these numbers is a farmer, a family, a vendor with a dream — and a community that shows up for them.

How FOG Shows Up for Farmers Markets

We believe farmers markets play an essential role in building a strong American local food system. That belief drives everything we do — and this year, our work has reached farther than ever.

Educating farmers and consumers. Through our podcast series, we've brought practical knowledge and inspiring stories to both the people who grow our food and the people who buy it — because a thriving local food system needs informed participants on both sides of the market table. Listen at: Fresh Take Podcast

Empowering vendors to succeed. We developed a comprehensive curriculum covering everything a vendor needs to know, from setting up at market to navigating regulatory requirements with confidence. And because passion alone doesn't pay the bills, we built a companion entrepreneurship curriculum on running a sustainable business. Available at: How to Start, Organize & Run a Farmers Market Business in Florida

Setting the standard for organic compliance. Our curriculum helping organic producers stay compliant has been so well received across the industry that USDA now hosts it in its Organic Learning Center — national recognition of Florida-grown expertise, and a partnership we are genuinely proud of.

Innovating market access. When farmers needed new ways to reach customers, FOG launched a successful virtual farmers market in Florida, expanding opportunities beyond the physical market stall.

Strengthening markets statewide. FOG proudly operates the Florida Farmers Market Association, now roughly 75 members strong, providing technical assistance and answering the regulatory questions that keep market managers up at night — so they can focus on what they do best: connecting farmers with their communities.

This Week and Every Week, Farmers Markets Need You

National Farmers Market Week is a celebration, but it's also a call to action. Farmers markets don't sustain themselves. They are sustained by people — by shoppers who choose local, by volunteers who show up, and by supporters who invest in the organizations working behind the scenes.

Visit your local market. Shake a farmer's hand. Taste what Florida grows. And know that together, we are building something that matters.

USDA announcement: Secretary Rollins Proclaims National Farmers Market Week, August 5, 2026 — usda.gov