Interest in Local Food and Farmers Markets Booming

Farmers markets have nearly doubled in the past 10 years according to USDA’s numbers.

Head of USDA’s Marketing Service Elanor Starmer says sales have increased from $5 billion to $12 billion from 2008 to 2014 with projects pushing that to $20 billion by 2020.

“So we’re talking about a huge interest among consumers in buying local and knowing more about where their food comes from and connecting with the folks who grow and raise it.”

Secretary Tom Vilsack says that this is also allowing opportunities for more people to get into farming, or work in agriculture.

Starmer says this boom is opening the door on opportunities.

“Particularly for some of our newer farmers who can find an opportunity to get in the game starting up small and selling at the farmers market.”