Dear Farmers Market Family & Friends,
As we bid farewell to another bountiful year, we find ourselves reflecting not just on the delicious and fresh New York produce and products that graced our stalls, but on the incredible community that we have here in our New York Farmers Markets. We want to take a moment to thank you all for your continued support of our hard work, and we’re looking forward to what 2024 can bring.
A highlight of our year has been our 2023 NYS Farmers Market Manager’s Conference, held at the Delta Hotel in Utica in March. The exciting event brought us face-to-face for the first time since the pandemic and was a reunion filled with warmth, friendship, and the joy of being in each other’s company once again. Or, in the case of Britni, finally being able to put faces to names and shake the hands of these incredible people she’s been working with for all these years!
But the Conference was more than just a gathering; it was a celebration of growth, dedication, and the unwavering spirit that defines our farmers market families, perfectly embodied by the Market Managers that joined us. We thank them all again for their support and friendship. Conference also provided amazing networking opportunities, informative sessions, and insights to help illuminate our path through 2024.
This year, we helped Keep Markets Growing with our campaigns, including “Keep Markets Growing” - a call to action to support our local farmers markets by our communities, and our Farmers Market Week campaign. “Farmers Markets Bring People Together”, highlighting and recognizing not only the hard work put in by our Market Managers, vendors, and staff, but also the amazing positivity, inclusion, and support that our New York Farmers Markets provide their communities.
We’re also incredibly proud to have played our part in helping SNAP customers connect with their local Farmers Markets to ensure that we get fresh, healthy, local food into even more hands. Through nutrition coupon programs that all you amazing markets have accepted, you’ve helped make a positive impact, fostering a healthier and happier community, and we thank you for that.
Finally, as we embrace a new year, so too do we embrace the dawn of a new chapter for The Farmers Market Federation of New York. We extend our deepest gratitude, appreciation, and well wishes to our beloved Diane Eggert as she retires after 25+ years of hard work and dedication. Her experience, drive, and passion have been the roots that anchored us through seasons of growth, struggles, and change. With a bittersweet farewell, we pass the baton of her leadership to our new and promising steward, Jack Riffle. Some of you have already met him through his travels to visit markets this past summer! But, if you don’t know him yet, Jack brings a wealth of dedication, knowledge, and experience to our Federation, and most importantly his vision that promises to elevate our New York Farmers Markets to new heights.
So, as we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, let us continue cultivating the seeds of goodwill, compassion, and community. May the coming year bring even more abundance, joy, and growth at our beloved New York State Farmers Markets.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year,
The Farmers Market Federation Staff
Jack, Britni, and Brenda