InTents: The Farmers Market Conference 2024 Schedule

Multiple Speakers and Breakout Groups: Join the conversation.

How many farmers make a farmers market? How often do they have to occur? Is “online farmers market” an oxymoron? Is there a place for community markets where the produce isn’t sold by farmers? What about food hubs and mobile markets that aggregate farmers’ produce and food makers’ products?

What if not just farm produce had to be grown locally, but every vendor had to use local ingredients? Is a higher level of local sourcing right for your market?

Maya O'Brien McLeod and Sarah Holle, Mill City Farmers Market Minneapolis, MN

When a market relies on aggregation instead of direct farmer to consumer contact, should we reconsider what we call it? Are we creating the farmers market habit and growing in to it?

Liz Abunaw, Austin City Town Hall Market, Chicago

With no farmers present, are mobile markets, food hubs and online markets farmers markets, or are they resellers?

Brian Heyward, Forsyth Farmers Market Farm Truck 912

Join the group discussing the version of farmers market that lights you up.

Round Tables and Facilitators: Limited to Local: Sarah Holle & Maya O'Brien, Mill City Farmers Market, Minneapolis, MN Can Produce Resellers Seed a Farmers Market? Liz Abunaw and Veah Larde, Austin Town Hall City Market, Chicago, IL Is Online Farmers Market an Oxymoron? Tamara Cameron, Astoria Sunday Market, Astoria, OR Are Mobile Markets Direct to Consumer? Facilitator TBA Do Market Farmers Benefit from Wholesaling? Facilitator TBA

Speed Dating: Find your camp friend, your market bestie, your mentor or mentee in this quick paced session.

Facilitated by Cara Mae Wooledge, Napa Farmer Market, California and Robbi Mixon, Alaska Famers Market Association

What can we answer to make the conference better for you?

We’ve all been faced with unexpected challenges, twists and turns at markets in recent years. Perspective and teamwork can turn those bumps in the road into opportunities to ask for a lift.

Anna Depaoli and Melonie McKee, Millarville Farmers Market, Alberta, Canada

Develop a plan to secure and retain corporate sponsorships from $100 to $10,000, staying true to your market’s mission as you increase its longterm financial sustainability.
Jessica Mullen, Travelers Rest Farmers Market, South Carolina

There can be no real food justice without keeping small farming sustainable and viable. How do we protect and improve both food access and farmers’ livelihoods?

Dr. Deidre Grim, Forsythe Farmers Market

Beyond the Anti-Racists Famers Market Toolkit: how thriving farmers market communities in Savannah and Portland, and the Farmers Market Coalition, are creating spaces of belonging and moving closer to achieving the beloved community.

Sagdrina Brown Jalal, SageD Consulting, Lead Facilitator Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit

This presentation from Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) and Vermont Law School, creators of the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit will help you navigate current labor law. With essential legal knowledge around volunteers, independent contractors and employees you can protect yourself and your market from liability and financial penalties.
Wendy Chen, Vermont Law School; Cameron Briggs Ramos, Vermont Law School; Andrew Graham, Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Vermont

As food safety, employment and public space becomes more regulated, and marketing and operations more complicated, how can associations and organizations better support market managers? Will manager certification increase our recognition as professionals and help leverage our economic impact?

Kim Hutchinson, Executive Director Virginia Farmers Market Association, Farmers Market University

This panel discussion will focus on recent changes in job descriptions and compensation throughout our industry, from executive directors to operations managers and on site market managers and staff. Join us for stories of successful and disappoinitng negotiations, and tips for using data, comparables and other tools to establish value in the workplace and increase team performance, satisfaction and retention. Elizabeth Bowman, Sarah Dylan Jensen

Get ready to explore employee handbooks, inclusive job descriptions, hiring processes, compensation philosophies and how to think and act strategically about all things Human Resources.
Mandy Moody, Green City Market, Chicago, IL

Case studies of workforce unionization recently completed and still underway at two large East coast farmers market organizations may provide a glimpse of the future. Discover what these two leaders are learning about managing both the process and the outcome, and the various costs involved.

Hugo Mogollon, FRESHFARM Markets, Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia; Marcel Van Ooyen, GROWNYC, New York

Federal grants can be an excellent source of resources for farmers markets, yet without care and attention grantees run the risk of leaving funds on the table or even losing money on implementing the grant. Learn about common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Ben Feldman, Indirect Rates Consulting

Tips for posting, recruiting and interviewing for jobs and retaining staff members at all levels, to ease your workload and grow your market.
Natalie Labejof, Farm Habit Markets, Long Beach, CA

What are the secrets to creating a market map that minimizes drama and maximizes sales? Learn to balanc and place various categories of farmers and vendors, and use the right tools to format maps to make life easier for farmers and vendors, marke staff and shoppers.

Chris Quinlan, MarketWurks, Whistler, BC and friends

You know by now that consistent markets build shoppers’ trust and confidence. Often newer markets work with brand new vendors, still juggling business and family obligations. Learn to maintain a vibrant market while scheduling to balance both your customers’ and your vendors’ needs.

Veah Larde, Austin Town Hall City Market, Chicago

Data about your market’s attendance, income and economic impact can help attract marketing partners, sponsors, grants and community support. But how do you collect and organize that information with little to no staff or financial resources? Learn low tech methods to make your numbers sing.

Tracy Herner and Lizzy Rekate, Williamsburg Farmers Market, Virginia

Take the essential steps to tackle food waste problems head on. From consumer education to vendor training, children’s programming to gleaning and upcycling initiatives, establish a culture of learning and build vendor comfort, relationships and retention. Zero waste practices have a profound impact on our own spheres of influence and future generations

Rachelle Richard-Collette, Bouctouche Farmers' Market, New Brunswick, Canada

Who doesn’t have a love hate relationship with social media? It’s an effective and relatively simple way to get noticed, stand out, and build virtual relationships with real live market shoppers. Learn easy ways to recognize common social media mistakes and solve them for nearly foolproof success.

Larry McClements, Old Town Newhall Farmers Market, Santa Clarita, California

Reflecting and remembering following the untimely passing in January of Charisse McGill, market manager, food entrepreneur, mentor, and recent Executive Director of the national Farmers Market Coalition.

Taylor Choy, Green City Market, Chicago, IL

Produce Prescription (PPR) programs are food access interventions under the Food Is Medicine umbrella. With a long standing relationship with food access, farmers markets can support Produce Prescription initiatives in partnerships with healthcare organizations. Learn key ways to determine capacity, secure and maintain a relationship with partners, identify funding and training considerations, and address some common challenges.

Ashley Wenger and Bella Pagogna, Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA)

A report from the National Farmers Market Coalition with case studies from recent communities of practice and FMC toolkit implementations. Join FMC leaders to learn how to use the tools they provide to advocate for your markets and the wider farmers market culture.

Facilitated by Nino Budabin McQuown, Famers Market Coalition. Panelists: Allen Moy, Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association and FMC Board President; Claire Marshalek and Meghan Hargis, Alaska Farmers Market Association

Explore what farmers market managers, growers, advocates and consumers mean when they say “local” and what additional criteria matter as we imagine and cultivate healthier, more sustainable food systems. How do geography, place, and space intersect with issues like race and racism, labor, and growing methods when we focus mainly on where food is grown? Gain facilitation tools to conduct similar reflections with your own farmers market communities.

Hilary Brooks King, Emory University and Community Farmers Markets, Atlanta, Georgia; Dr. Andrea Rising, Arizona State University School of Sustainability, Tempe, Arizona