There are many reasons collecting information about your farmers' market or farm stand is a good idea, and the NMFMA requires annual market data submissions from all member markets.
With market data, you can:
Track your market's progress over time
Measure your promotional efforts and make changes based on what works and what doesn't
Use sales and customer information to attract vendors
Show the local community, businesses, and government the impact of your market to garner their support
Evaluate your market schedule based on customer counts to determine if your market season should be shortened or extended, or if your market days should change
Every year, the NMFMA collects and compiles information from farmers' markets and farm stands about customer and vendor counts, sales, fees, etc. from all member markets. This information is critical for showing the growth of markets and the impact they have on their communities and local agriculture. We share this information with member outlets to help them self-evaluate and improve, as well as with legislators to garner support for markets around the state. Collecting data about your farmers' market or farm stand is an excellent exercise in evaluating your market and measuring its growth over time.
Note: These surveys are required to be completed by all NMFMA member farmers' markets, mobile markets, farm stands, and CSAs that receive grant funding (including promotional funds) from the NMFMA and/or those who participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program.
Resources for Member Markets:
Starting & Sustaining Farmers' Markets
We created "How-To" Guides to make it easy for farmers' market managers, mobile market managers, and farm stand owners to collect data throughout the season in preparation for filling out the market data form by December 31, 2024. The "How-To" Guides can be viewed and downloaded below:
Submit the Market Data Form
Please select the proper form depending upon if you are a farmers' market, a farm stand, or a CSA.
Farmers' Markets & Mobile Markets
Farm Stands & CSAs