10 Things Your Farmer's Market Won't Tell You

Farmer’s markets aren’t just quaint hallmarks of rural America; they’ve become de rigueur resources for many consumers of fresh produce. Over the past decade, the number of farmer’s markets in the U.S. has more than doubled, to 3,700, as consumer demand for local and seasonally fresh food—as well as the push for new outlets for struggling farmers—has stoked growth. So have your tax dollars.

Since the early 1990s, the Agricultural Marketing Services division of the USDA has been actively spawning new markets, providing feasibility studies, architectural designs, and marketing gewgaws such as farmer’s market coloring books. The support comes out of the government’s desire to assist smaller farms.

While it’s tough to pin down exactly how much tax revenue goes to farmer’s markets, many do receive some federal, state, or municipal support in the form of grants, subsidized administrators, or marketing, according to the USDA. One perk for consumers: As part of its promotion of farmer’s markets nationwide, the USDA keeps a detailed, state-by-state listing of them at www.ams .usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm.