Number of Farmers’ Markets across US & Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA) Continues to Grow
Concord, CA (PRWEB) August 09, 2013 -- Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA) celebrates National Farmers’ Market Week this week, August 4-10, 2013. Numbers released earlier this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate that the number of farmers’ markets across the US has increased 3.6%, from 7,864 in 2012 to the current number of 8,144. In 1994, the number of farmers’ markets in the directory for the US was 1,755!
California is currently listed as the state with the highest number of markets at 759. PCFMA operates more than 70 farmers’ markets in northern California and continues to add farmers’ markets in the area. In 2012, seven farmers’ markets were added and four farmers’ markets have been added so far in 2013.
Sunvalley Farmers' Market in Concord, California is one of those markets that was added this year and opened July 2013. PCFMA has operated two markets in Concord for years – one on Tuesdays (since 1992) and one on Thursdays (since 1996), but customers had been asking for a Saturday market. The Sunvalley Farmers’ Market is now open Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm and offers a convenient location for those shopping at Sunvalley mall, which is the largest regional shopping center in Contra Costa County. “The Sunvalley Farmer’s Market is off to a nice start and we have a good mix of producers and customers who have already started to become regulars,” said Keith Wall, Sunvalley Market Manager.
In honor of National Farmers’ Market Week, PCFMA is conducting a “Love My Market” photo contest during the entire month of August asking people to submit photos of what they love about their favorite PCFMA farmers’ market. For more information, go to http://www.pcfma.com/lovemymarket.php.
The Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2013. It is the state’s largest operator of certified farmers’ markets with over 70 weekly markets in the Bay Area. Certified farmers’ markets offer only California-grown products sold directly to consumers by the farmers that grew, nurtured and harvested the crops. All PCFMA markets accept WIC FMNP (Woman Infant and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons) and CalFresh EBT (the Golden State advantage food stamp cards). For more information, contact the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at (800) 949-FARM or go to http://www.pcfma.com.
Maureen McCloskey, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, http://www.pcfma.com/, +1 9258259090 950, [email protected]
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