The Farmers Market Federation of NY has developed a comprehensive “Farmers Market Managers Training Manual” with funding from the NE SARE Professional Development Program.
The “Farmers Market Manager Training Manual” was developed using a mix of classroom style training, market experiences and research, to incorporate into the written document.
The manual offers a series of chapters that provide in-depth descriptions of a managers role, along with corresponding appendices providing more hands-on details such as checklists, samples, worksheets and policies. The manual is divided into sections of increasing skill sets, beginning with Basic Market Manager Roles, followed by Building a Farmers Market Community and finally, Building Systems for Sustainable Farmers Markets.
While a few of the appendices are geared toward New York farmers markets, the chapters, and most appendices, are relevant to markets all across the country. Those appendices that apply only to New York will serve as an example to those beyond NY to use in their own states and regions and as such will be useful tools.
The training manual is a resource for market managers, management teams such as boards of directors and management committees, and market sponsors all across the country. It was developed as a response to the spiraling number of market start-ups that were happening across New York State, as well as across the country. New farmers markets were experiencing a 50% success rate due to management inexperience, lack of training and inadequate support systems. The manual, delivered not only to managers to increase their skill level, but to county Extension Educators, will help to increase the local support for farmers market managers. The goal of the training manual is to increase the professionalism of the market management and increase the success rate of farmers markets.
The manual is available for download here, in PDF format. A CD-Rom of the manual, in Word Document and PDF format, can be obtained by e-mailing the Federation office at diane.eggert@verizon.net. A small fee to cover postage and handling may apply.
Please note that web links within the manual may be changed over time. Please report any broken links to the Farmers Market Federation of NY at diane.eggert@verizon.net. You will be directed to the correct link and we will take the opportunity to make updates.
