Welcoming in 2024

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

Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and Farmers Markets

As the number of Emotional Support Animals – or ESAs – rises, so too do the questions of the legality of what businesses can do to prevent non-service animals from entering their businesses, and whether they have the right to be in public places, such as Farmers’ Markets. Service Animals are certified working dogs that have the right to go anywhere that the public can go, including areas that sell or prepare food. ESAs do not have that same legal protection under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Before we get started, however, we want to make some definitions clear:

  • ADA:

    • The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, or ADA, protects the rights of American citizens with a disability from facing discrimination.

  • Service Animal:

    • Service animals are defined as dogs (and rarely, miniature horses) that are individually trained to work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.

  • Emotional Support Animal or Therapy Dog:

    • Any domesticated animal whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support by being present, though doesn’t perform a specific job or task, and is prescribed by a mental health professional. The only requirement of an ESA is that the animal is well-behaved in public.

It’s important to note that service animals are considered working animals, and not pets, and are limited to canines and miniature horses. ESAs, however, are simply considered pets and can be any domesticated animal. An easier way to think about it is this: both types of animals replace the positions of humans. A service animal is dutybound to prevent injury or illness, the same as a doctor, nurse, or other professional may. An emotional support animal is just that – support, such as a friend or family member might provide.

Telling the Difference

The difficulty is telling the service animals apart from the ESAs. Service animals usually – but not always – wear a vest or some sort of identification marking them as a service animal. Vests and ID are not required by the ADA, the only requirements are that the animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animals work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices; for example, a dog serving an individual with PTSD may be off-tether, in order to better control the perimeter around their handler. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.

Where Service Animals Can Go

By law under the ADA, a service animal would be allowed anywhere the public is normally allowed to go, such as businesses, public spaces with a “no dogs allowed” policy, and medical facilities, including hospitals and EMS transport.

Where Emotional Support Animals Can Go

An ESA can be denied entry to any public or private space, just like any other pet, including places that sell and prepare food. The only rights protected by law for ESAs are the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act, which allows them to qualify for no-pet housing without a fee, and the Air Carrier Access Act, which dictates the accessibility requirements for aircraft.

What You Can Do

The ADA allows establishment owners to ask only two questions, and only if it is not obvious what service the animal provides. The two questions one can legally ask are:

  • Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

  • What work or task has this animal been trained to perform?

Therefore, a business can ask if the animal is required due to a disability and can ask what specific tasks they’ve been trained to perform. The handler’s duty is to answer the questions; if they decline to specify the animal’s tasks, or if the task is to simply provide emotional support, the animal can be denied entry.

There is one condition on which a business owner can expel even a service animal from their business. The handler is still responsible for the behavior of their animal, and if the dog is barking uncontrollably, growling, jumping on people, running away, etc., then the handler can be requested (and is required) to get their animal back under control. If they cannot or will not, the business owner has the right to ask them to leave if the animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of people in the establishment.

What You Can’t Do

While the ADA allows businesses to ask the above two questions, the business owner cannot ask these questions if the need for the service animal is obvious. Examples include when a dog is guiding an individual who is blind or pulling a person’s wheelchair. They cannot ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability, request the animal wear an identifying vest or tag or show that the animal has been certified trained or licensed as a service animal, and cannot ask that the animal demonstrate its ability to perform the task or work. Business owners also may not deny access or service to a service animal or their handler based on allergies or fear of dogs.

The ADA defines a service animal as an extension of its handler, and so businesses cannot treat them as two separate entities, nor any different from any other person. This means that they cannot be charged any extra fees or costs in relation to the animal. For example, they are permitted to stay in non-pet-friendly hotel rooms, in addition to not being charged a pet fee. However, if a business normally charges people for the damages they cause, they can charge the handler of the service animal for any damages that occur as a result of the animal’s being in the shop.

The laws that apply to where assistance animals are permitted to go do not actually require special licensing or registration of the animal. It is, however, violation of the ADA if someone misrepresents an animal as a service animal. This is a crime in New York State and is punishable by a $250 fine and up to one year in jail.

What to Do If an Issue Arises

If you suspect an animal in your business is not a service animal, you can ask the two questions. If they cannot or will not answer them, and you ask them to leave, they may be upset for being called out on their taking advantage of a loophole and threaten you or your business for being in breach of ADA. This becomes a case of being sure you’ve done your homework. The ADA website has a link to a PDF brochure of the rights and responsibilities of business owners and service animal handlers, which can be found below. A suggestion from an ADA spokesperson suggests printing out a couple of those and keeping them on hand for situations such as this. 

When the person cannot nor will not answer which tasks the animal performs and you deny them entry, hand them a pamphlet and explain that you reserve the right to deny entry to any animal if they cannot specify the work or tasks the animal performs.

Resources

ADA | Service Animal Booklet
ADA | Frequently Asked Questions
ADA | Small Business Primer
Northeast ADA | Easy Fact Sheet

Northeast ADA

1-800-949-4232
www.northeastada.org

New York State Department of Labor Finalized Farm Worker Overtime Regulations

Contact: Press Office
Email: pressoffice@labor.ny.gov
www.dol.ny.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2023 

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) today announced the adoption of the final farm labor overtime regulations, codifying Commissioner Reardon’s order that accepted the Farm Laborers Wage Board’s report and recommendations in September. The phased-in, gradual reduction in the overtime pay threshold will begin on January 1, 2024, with the threshold set at 56 hours. The process will continue with the overtime threshold limit reducing by 4 hours every other year until reaching 40 hours in 2032.

“These new regulations ensure equity for farm workers, who are the very backbone of our agriculture sector,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “By implementing a gradual transition, we are giving farmers time to make the appropriate adjustments. These new regulations advance New York State’s continued commitment to workers while protecting our farms.”

Beginning in 2020, the Farm Laborers Wage Board held public hearings to gather testimony from farm owners, workers, advocacy groups, and academic researchers. Recordings of these hearings and additional materials are available on the NYSDOL’s webpage.

In her State of the State Address, Governor Hochul announced a series of new initiatives designed to bolster demand for New York State foods, increase the purchasing of local farm products, and encourage investments to modernize New York’s farms. The Governor and the New York State Legislature also recently enacted new tax credits to assist farm employers to ease the implementation of the lower overtime standard. 

  • The Investment Tax Credit was increased from 4 percent to 20 percent for farm businesses, providing an encouragement for potential automation of farm production.

  • The Farm Workforce Retention Tax Credit was increased to $1,200 per employee to provide near-term relief to farmers.

  • A refundable tax credit was established for overtime hours paid by farm employers at the level established by the new regulation up to 60 hours.

For more information about the new regulations, visit the Farm Laborers Wage Board webpage.

New Market Matters Series: FAQ’s for the Field!

We’ve had the pleasure of visiting over 30 Farmers markets from all over the state this season and you’ve shared important questions with us.  In this series we strive to provide best answers to some of those FAQs and bust some market myths as well. 

FAQ: Are Plastic Bags banned from use at farmers markets?

This one currently has us all confused.  The official word is that the thin plastic bags that come on a roll are acceptable, the handle plastic bags are not.  The guidance says that a plastic bag can be used for “bulk” produce, but we cannot find a definition for what constitutes bulk. We realize that paper bags and damp produce are not a good combination.  So for now, we are going with plastic roll bags being ok for holding produce, and using paper bags is encouraged for all other items.  Although because the rule is vague, many produce vendors continue to use handle bags. A good practice is for markets to continue promoting re-useable bags and totes for customers.

Some markets/vendors say they’re producer only, and that may not be truthful

Myth: NYSDAM checks on vendors and markets throughout the season to make sure they are what they say they are regarding producer vs reseller.

FACT:  NYSDAM only does periodic inspections for the FMNP program. They will not inspect farmers for compliance with your market rules. Each market must do their own inspections, or contract with someone to do inspections on their behalf.

It is up to each market what their policy for each vendor and the market as-a-whole will be.  Some strive to be a producer-only market or a certain percentage of producer, so it is up to the market manager how this will be determined by each vendor/farmer.  Market integrity is important to a market’s success in a community. Clearly stating and sticking to what your OWN market policy is, will uphold a reputation of honesty for your market and is the best thing to do.

SNAP Info Corner

What farmers market products are considered SNAP eligible? It can be confusing to remember them all.  We recommend keeping a list handy at your market table and a copy for vendors so they may keep their customers informed:

Vendors that ARE allowed to accept SNAP:

  • Fruits and Vegetables 

  • Breads

  • Meat, Fish, Poultry

  • Dairy Products

  • Maple and Honey Products

  • Seeds and Plants that Produce Foods (many people are surprised to learn this!)

  • Baked Goods: must be wrapped, labeled and intended for home consumption

  • Prepared foods: eg. Jams, Sauces, Soups, Dressings, Oils, Vinegars, pickled products, etc..

  • Coffee, Teas, Juices (not prepared for drinking on-site, but for home preparation and consumption only)

These products are NOT allowed to be purchased with SNAP:

  • Beer, Wine, or Liquor

  • Tobacco Products

  • Nonfood Items

  • Food Meant to be Eaten On-Site

  • Hot Foods

  • Vitamins and Medicines

  • CBD products

Submit your market or update your listing!

Farmers and farmers market vendors are being given membership to the Farmers Market Federation of New York at no cost. We simply ask that you complete this form. The information gathered will help us to create a local food map across the state to be hosted on our website to assist consumers to find our farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, and other direct-to-consumer outlets.

While we don't ask for a membership fee, we do welcome donations. These donations allow us to continue our work to improve and build upon the programs and services of the Farmers Market Federation of New York that support the farms market and direct-to-consumer industry across New York State.

Join a community of people who share your interests, seek out one another for support and information, and are drawn to a place where they can find answers, explore opportunities and learn from one another’s triumphs and challenges. You will find it on our website, in our listserve, throughout our communications, and at our meetings. We design and run programs to train market managers, vendors, and farmers in subjects as wide-ranging as food safety and marketing their products, all while focusing on the need to build business and expand the opportunity for every market.

If this intrigues you, whether as a vendor, a consumer, or most certainly as a market manager, administrator, or even board member, please join this organization today to bring you in contact with dozens of managers and vendors, hundreds of professionals from varied walks of life and backgrounds and thousands of people whose love for local, fresh foods is expressed most clearly through their participation in, and support of local farmers markets.

It's that time of year again... coupons are here!

It's that time of year again. Markets are brimming with fresh, seasonal produce and customers are anxious to bring home the best food produced by our farmers.

It also means that coupon programs are well underway and farmers will be sending them off to the Federation for reimbursement. Here are some thoughts on how you can make the redemption process go quickly and shorten the time it takes for farmers to receive their payments.

  1. Make sure all coupons are facing the same direction. If we have to organize the coupons for processing, it slows the work down. It may also mean that the coupons will be set aside until all others are done.

  2. Band coupons together. Putting organized coupons loose in a large envelope or box will not keep them organized! They are bounced around the mail trucks, thrown across the mail sorting process and the coupons become a jumbled mess. Again, if we need to organize the coupons for processing, the coupons will be set aside until we have the time to deal with them.

  3. Segregate different coupons from one another. Each coupon type is processed on its own.

  4. Be sure all coupons are stamped (signed if you have no stamp). BUT be sure the stamp is in the proper location and NOT on the bar codes. That means the bar codes cannot be read and slows the process down when the coupons need to be hand entered.

  5. Let the ink dry before they are packed tightly into a box. Wet ink causes the coupons to stick together and can cause miscounts.

  6. Remove all staples. While we ask that staples not be used when distributing coupons, they are often used. But staples damage the processing machinery, so we have to remove all staples to prevent damage. This slows processing down and may cause the coupons to be set aside and dealt with once others are done.

  7. Be sure to include all information necessary to allow for a check to be cut. Include the redemption form and completely fill it out. Checks will be cut to the name indicated on the redemption form. Be sure the correct address is on the form for mailing your check. If nothing is included or the form is not complete, we cannot make payment. You can find the form here.

  8. The more frequent you send coupons for redemption, the faster you get money. We always encourage frequent mailings. Waiting until the end of the season means a pile up of coupons and takes us longer to get through everyone’s coupons.

  9. Be sure you use a secure envelope or packaging. We sometimes get envelopes that have been ripped open by postal sorting machinery. Coupons fall out and are lost.

  10. We do our best to accurately process everyone’s coupons in a timely manner and get checks out. We appreciate your patience and your willingness to accept coupons as payment for your farm products! Have a great market season!

Become a Farmers Market Federation "Featured Market of the Week"!

We would like to feature a farmers market each week on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We’ll share your pictures and stories for all our followers to see and hopefully drive some customer traffic your way.

Apply now to become the Federation’s Featured Market of the Week! Send us your market story, the information you would like shared and up to 3 photos to accompany the story. We’ll choose a market each week to showcase. Don’t forget that you need to include the days and times your market is open!

Send your information and request to be our Featured Market of the Week to Britni at admin@nyfarmersmarket.com.

Building Customer Sales is a SNAP

Right now, there are more people using SNAP benefits in New York than ever before. And they have more benefit dollars to spend! Make sure you're ready to get your share - join us for "Building Customer Sales is a SNAP", a Town Hall Zoom meeting sponsored by the Farmers Market Federation of NY. Tell your experience and hear from our customer service experts Deve Bellso and Rochelle Cassella in this engaging opportunity to learn how you can make SNAP recipients regular customers so you get your share of the SNAP pie!

Wednesday, June 16th, from 7:30pm to 8:30pm on Zoom

There is no fee but seats are limited, so don't wait to register!

Register at rochelle.cassella48@gmail.com and use "Keep 'Em Coming" in the subject line and provide your name, phone number (in case of technical problems), and your email.

"Keep 'Em Coming" with their SNAP benefits to your Farmers Market stand!

Basic CBD and Hemp Product guidelines

CBD oil and its products are becoming a growing industry in New York State. Its popularity has made it to farmers markets and it is now a growing product line for farmers markets. But the process and regulations around the sale of CBD products is unclear to many of us.

The regulation of CBD and hemp products comes under the NYS Department of Health. They have issued some early documents and have plans to issue a more clearly defined guidance in the near future. That means that future guidelines and regulations may be more or less stringent than they currently are. This is a new field and is changing rapidly.

But in the meantime, the following highlights are clear:

  1. The sale of all hemp products, including CBD oil requires an annual sellers license before any products can be legally sold. The cost is $300 annually per sales location. The license application can be found at https://health.ny.gov/regulations/hemp/licensing_application.htm. The application requires that you provide a brief description of each product to be sold and identify the source of the products.

  2. CBD products cannot contain any alcohol, tobacco or nicotine

  3. No inhalables can be sold to anyone under 21.

  4. Promotions, signage cannot make any medical claims

Other concerns were about the sale of hemp flowers and their related products. They will be permitted but are subject to future regulations.

To learn more, visit the Cannabinoid Hemp Program at the NYS Dept of Health website: https://health.ny.gov/regulations/hemp/. 

Open Forum: Market Guidelines Update with NYSDAM Deputy Commissioner Kevin King

The Federation’s March 31st Zoom forum drew 100 participants anxious to hear what new changes to guidelines for Famers Markets we would see this Spring.  Although the written update has yet to receive official approval, it will certainly maintain the importance of social distancing and mask-wearing. Here is the new information we learned:

  • Sampling is allowed now but samples must be taken to designated seating areas away from market traffic to be consumed. 

  • Customers are now allowed to touch, choose produce and other items.

  • Mask wearing and social distancing of 6 ft remain mandatory at Markets. (If a customer claims a medical reason for not wearing a mask, then either a face shield can be offered or an alternative shopping method for that customer: e.g. staff shops for customer, online order ability, curbside pick-up or delivery option)

  • Kids and adult programs are okay, but mask-wearing and social distancing have to be enforced as per all the market.  Crowd gathering of any kind is not allowed.

  • Recipe Demonstrations at market are ok, as long as attendance is limited and participants remain properly distanced at all times. No crowding near table. 

  • Markets are not under capacity limits, but market goers and vendor booths must be able to stay 6 feet apart, which may restrict number of shoppers/vendors in the market at one time. 

  • One way flow, one-entrance/exit, and handwashing stations are still recommended but not mandatory. Hand sanitizer should be provided for customer/vendor use.

  • Local Health Departments (region, county) have the ultimate say over what can be safely allowed at your market. However, if they are blatantly prohibiting a NY Forward/NYSDAM allowable market activity, then it should be addressed with the local entity.   

  • Background music at the market is okay, as per NY Forward guidelines for outdoor markets put out last year. But no musical or other form of "entertainment" which could inspire a group or crowd to gather is currently allowed.

  • Expect updates and some changes to restrictions, as more folks are vaccinated and the environment feels safer. The Federation will distribute any new information as soon as we receive it!


Announcing “Keep Markets Growing”

A Fund Drive for the Farmers Market Federation of NY


What is it:

“Keep Markets Growing” is a one-week virtual fund drive over Facebook. Our goal is to create an engaging online fundraiser, which will help build awareness of the Federation and its mission of support for farmers markets, direct market farmers/vendors and the diverse communities they serve. During the event drive, we will be asking for tax-deductible donations of any size to help support the Federation’s programs and services. We will also use this opportunity to create awareness of who we are and what we do by promoting the work of the Federation, including short stories/testimonials from market managers, as well as photos and messages highlighting the network of managers and marketplaces that benefit from the Federation’s work including: SNAP and nutrition-focused coupon programs encouraging food access and local farm support, trainings, resources, networking forums, advocacy, annual conferences, market - producer directory and the FMM PRO Manager Certification Course.

When will the fund drive take place?
Monday, April 19 – Sunday, April 25 

With Spring blooming, the opening of outdoor farmers markets coming soon puts the idea of farmers markets and local food at the forefront of peoples’ minds. This makes April the perfect time to promote the work of our amazing markets and the Federation that helps support their success.

How will it work:

We will create a “Keep Markets Growing” event page over Facebook for the fund drive. Each day of the drive, the Federation’s Facebook page will feature 2-3 posts including videos, photos and text highlighting our story, markets and mission.   Each day will feature a program or function of the Federation. We will post video testimonies from market managers, partners and sponsors that speak to the value of the program. Then text and photo posts will follow up the video testimonials. Each post will feature a donation button and encourage followers to donate their support for the Federation, farmers markets and local food! 

How can Market managers and partners assist us with this effort:

We are asking you to help us spread the word! The first step is to LIKE the Federation's Facebook page.  As our Fund drive posts are made during the week of April 19 – 25, we ask you to please share those posts on your own market/organization social media pages to help us reach out to a wider audience of NY market enthusiasts. By supporting our efforts and helping us to reach market consumers, potential donors will know they are helping their favorite local market- as well as markets, vendors and farmers across NY State- continue to grow and thrive for local farmers, customers and communities.   

Why are we hosting a fund drive:

This is the first time the Federation has done a major fundraiser. The Federation no longer charges a membership fee for markets. By hosting a fundraiser, we can continue to offer a no-fee membership to markets in the state, strengthening the Federation and New York’s farmers markets, and ensuring we will “Keep Markets Growing!”

Open Forum for Farmers Markets & COVID Guidelines

COVID is still with us, although we may finally be starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! But we are certain that, for at least the next few months, we will be under COVID restrictions for operating our farmers markets. Questions on those restrictions are surfacing, not the least of which are: will we see new guidelines, and is there any clarity on past guidelines regulations?

To respond to everyone’s questions and concerns, the Farmers Market Federation of NY will be sponsoring an Open Forum on March 31 at 10am. We will be joined by Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Kevin King. Deputy Commissioner King will be offering insights into COVID guidance for farmers markets, providing clarity on current guidelines, as well as any possible updates. Once he has given his comments, the forum will open to allow farmers market managers and direct marketing farmers to ask any further or follow-up questions. We want this to be your opportunity to have all your questions heard and answered.

View the recording here

Farmers Market Federation of NY — 2021 Webinar Schedule: SNAP for Farmers and Farmers Markets

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There are a lot of advantages to joining the SNAP program. As a farm, you are able to add new customers for your products, increasing sales and profits. Farmers markets will be able to make their markets more accessible to a wider segment of their community, as well as bringing more sales opportunities to your participating farmers and vendors. Joining SNAP is not hard to do, and New York State makes it easy and affordable for you! Learn how to join by participating in these free workshops offered by the Farmers Market Federation of NY via zoom.

Each topic will be repeated twice to allow you to participate in the date most convenient to you. These will also be recorded and posted on the Farmers Market Federation of NY’s website for future reference and referrals.

There will also be ample opportunity in each session for you to ask questions to help you make the decision to join the SNAP program and earn more customers and sales!

Enrolling in SNAP: Is It the Right Move for You?

The SNAP program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) holds the potential for farmers to increase their customer base and their farm revenues. This workshop will focus on enrolling SNAP for farmers markets; why you should participate and how you can apply to be a farmer SNAP retailer.

View the Webinar

Operating SNAP at a NY Farmers Market

Farmers Markets all across NYS have stepped up to operate a SNAP program in the markets, bringing new customers to the market and adding revenue to their farmers. This system operates on a central terminal system with one terminal in the market and tokens used as SNAP currency. This workshop will provide key information on operating the central terminal system and tokens in the marketplace. Learn what your rights and responsibilities are, what NYS can provide to help you with your program, and some basic promotions for your SNAP program.

Tuesday, May 4: Noon — 1:30pm

Attend the Webinar

Farmers Market Federation of New York’s 2021 Annual Meeting

The Farmers Market Federation of New York announces that its Annual Meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, from 2pm to 4pm, via zoom.

The Annual Meeting is your opportunity to learn more about what the Farmers Market Federation of NY has been doing on behalf of New York’s farmers markets. It is also your opportunity to have a say in who will represent you on the Federation’ Board of Directors.

The Annual Meeting will feature Phil Blalock and Amy Crone from MarketLink to discuss the future direction of SNAP, Novo Dia and TotilPay Go.  MarketLink is our pathway to the USDA’s SNAP program for farmers markets direct marketing farmers. They have worked hand in hand with Novo Dia creating the opportunity to accept SNAP through a smartphone app, have worked with USDA FNS to further the understanding of SNAP usage at farmers markets, and have a hand in developing further uses of the Novo Dia processing. You will learn, firsthand of the program, as well as hear about the future of this program.

Following the keynote address, Margaret O’Neill, President of the Farmers Market Federation of NY, will present the “Federation in Review: A look back at 2020”. The Review will highlight the Federation’s work and accomplishments for the past year with a glimpse ahead for 2021.

The meeting will conclude with the election of board members and an introduction to the online voting process.

Join us for the Farmers Market Federation of NY’s Annual Meeting and see how, together, we are advancing the farmers markets in New York State and keeping farmers markets as a leader in the local food economy.

Join us on Tuesday, March 23 at 2pm using the link here. Registration is free and all are welcome.

Agenda

2:00pm  Welcome

Introduction of Board Members, Staff
Speaker: Margaret O’Neill, President

2:10pm  Keynote Address: Updates to SNAP and USDA Nutrition

Speaker: Phil Blalock, Amy Crone, MarketLink

3:15pm   Federation in Review: A Look Back at 2020

Speaker: Margaret O’Neill, President

3:30pm  Financial Report

Speaker: Steve Hadcock, Treasurer

3:45pm  Election of Board Members

Margaret O’Neill: Western Region
Jessica Douglas: Metro Region
Beth Bainbridge: At-Large

Our Mission: To support and promote the viability of farmers markets through innovative services, programs, and partnerships that maximize the benefits of markets to sellers, buyers, and communities.

The meeting will be held via zoom. There is no fee to attend, all are welcome. Join us by clicking here.

 

We Are HERE for YOU: Market Managers Virtual Conference, March 1-4, 2021

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Bottom line, that is what the Farmers Market Federation is all about, and why we do what we do: provide resources to advance the professionalism among farmers market management, help to build experiences around local food, work to make markets accessible to everyone in their community, and support creating markets that can become a vital piece of their community fabric.

The year 2020 was incredibly challenging. You showed us how resilient Farmers Markets could be: restructuring, redesigning, and renovating in order to safely provide delivery of locally grown food for our customers and community.  In addition, you made room for “Giving Back” to help families in need and meeting people where they are with projects such as Barryville’s “Victory Garden” and Aurora Farmers Market’s “Sharing the Bounty.”

We applaud you! It was no easy feat. But we know you, and you will not spend any time relishing your accomplishments, for a Farmers Market Manager’s work is never done.  Here we are in February once again. It’s time to sow the seeds for a new market season, requiring tireless planning, sweat, and tears.  Plus, with the pandemic still to consider, everyone’s resilience, patience, and energy are wearing thin.  Challenges remain, but much progress is being made, and we can see light at the end of the tunnel. 

We want Conference 2021 to help you reboot, recharge, refocus and realize how valuable what you do is for all of us.

So please join the many in the Market community who have already registered and click here to Sign up for Conference today!  Take advantage of this unique opportunity to attend a Conference from the comfort of your own home or office space, without hotel beds, travel hassle, or dress code, and with 11 educational topic sessions, built-in fatigue breaks, networking opportunities, a virtual farm tour and Happy Hour! All for the reasonable price of $50.

Added Conference Bonus: If you aren’t able to attend one, some, or even any of the live sessions, by registering you will have access to all of what our Conference offers: presentation power points, session recordings, resource materials, and a list of other attendees to build your contacts. All these will be the ‘gifts that keep on giving’ for your Market as you plan for a new season. 

Remember, The Farmers Market Federation of NY is here for you, and providing all that our Market Managers Conference ‘21 offers is what we do.

We thank you for being there for us and for all our Market communities around NY State.

Cheers!

An Investment in Your Market's Success that Makes Good Sense

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What’s the best $50 investment you can make for your Market’s success in 2021? 

It just might be participating in the 2021 Virtual Farmers Market Managers Conference March 1-4. A little goes a long way when receiving a variety of diverse, stimulating, and timely topics for sessions led by experienced Market leaders in the field– (Check out the Conference Agenda here)

However, equally, if not more important than experiencing the sessions, attending conference provides golden opportunities for networking and “roundtable” discussions with your market peers.  While attendees of our conferences have told us that they appreciate the educational sessions, they have found the networking opportunities to be an important draw of the event. This past year of quarantine and isolation has shown us the value of connections with one another, even more so because of the barriers to do so.  Examples of this were the Open Forums with market operators hosted by the Federation over the Spring and Summer. Managers and staff from all over the state came together to share ideas for redesigning marketplaces ensuring safety mitigation measures could be followed. An enormous learning from each other took place by being able to discuss and share new and effective planning strategies. Many of you let us know that contacts made then, continue today.

The Federation feels fortunate to be a part of facilitating that coming together, and we look forward to a meeting of hearts and minds again at our 2021 conference.  Being a Market Manager is a unique job, whether paid or volunteer. The ability to participate, network and learn with managers from all around the state, and sometimes beyond our borders, gives you the opportunity to directly discuss issues with others who share your concerns, hear about successes in other markets that you can put to use, and add friends and colleagues to your contact list that you can call on outside of the conference when the need arises.

Don’t miss out on this great educational and connection opportunity for farmers market managers that not only makes good Sense, but could very well be worth its weight in Market gold.  Register here today!

Coupons, Coupons... Here, There, and Everywhere!

While nutrition coupons come in regularly through the season, beginning in early Fall and through the Winter, the Farmers Market Federation offices are receiving nutrition program coupons by the truckloads! We’re testing our athletic skills by a daily routine of lifting, sorting, opening, stacking, and eventually as the boxes pile up, practicing hurdling in order to get to our desks and start the scanners humming. (So far, Britni is the best at this one!)

Because of this incredible volume and our desire to redeem your coupons accurately and send a check out as soon as possible, you can imagine what a delight it is to open a package in which the coupons are:

  1. accompanied by a clearly legible redemption form (which can be found here), so we know the count you came up with and how to contact you to send you your check.

  2. neatly bundled, not loosely strewn about like a can of Confetti.

  3. all facing the same way – important because the bar code is on one side of the coupon and must be put in the scanner bar code side down to be readable.

  4. devoid of staples that can damage scanners and cause bleeding fingers trying to remove them.

  5. stamped with the FMNP number in the designated spot and not covering the bar code (please).

  6. free from sticky rice with soy sauce, gum, sitting in dirt, dark liquid stains, urine odor, big tears, and deep folds that make it difficult to feed flatly into our scanners. (These are all taken from real-life coupon encounters!)

  7. received by the dates printed on the coupons. Please note the dates and send them to us in time, so the funding will still be available for redemption. And unfortunately, we are not able to accept found coupons from previous years.

We really are doing our very best to scan the coupons we receive in a timely manner because we know you would like to receive the funds as quickly as possible. So please keep in mind that the more orderly we receive your coupons, the faster we can process them. Yes, we are only human, and some errors will be made just by virtue of the extraordinary number of coupons the three of us are handling and the thousands of checks that need to be written out. We appreciate your patience when hearing from you and will be happy to correct discovered errors. Keeping these coupon programs running smoothly will ensure they will be there to support our farmers, markets, and customers for years to come.

Sincerely yours,
DIANE, BRITNI, AND BETH

2021 Farmers Markets Managers Virtual Conference

Reimagining Markets for a Brand New World:
Adapting Markets in our Newly Changed Environment

Farmers Market Managers Virtual Conference March 1-4, 2021 

2020 showed us the dynamic resilience of Farmers Markets and their operators to restructure, redesign, and renovate for safely providing delivery of locally grown nutritious food for their customers.  The 2021 Market Managers Conference will highlight lessons learned through the 2020 season by looking at best practices, expanding upon how markets can be reimagined as agents of change for future challenges while continuing to ensure we meet the needs of our communities, customers, farmers, and vendors in our newly changed environment.  

Here is a description of three of our featured conference sessions to look forward to:

Renovating your Market when Change is Needed

We welcome Chereese Jervis-Hill and Deb Wagoner, managers of markets in both downstate and the Western region. They will share their experiences as new managers, how they implemented measures that helped to transform their markets, and what promotions and strategies they used for rebuilding and creating smart business planning.

Building your Database of Market Knowledge

Darlene Wolnik, Training and Technical Assistance Director for the Farmers Market Coalition will lead this session about collecting data and analyzing the numbers to build your market story and narrate the impact your market is making in the community, which in turn can expand outreach opportunities that will help grow our markets.

The How-To of Building SNAP Programs Now and for the Future

We are joined by Mallory Burnham of Cornell Cooperative Extension and Margaret O’Neill of the Rochester Public Market for a discussion of fortifying SNAP at your market and getting the most out of participating by targeting promotion efforts and creating strategies for outreach to customers and community partnerships.

The conference will also feature interactive networking opportunities to allow managers to share experiences, ideas, and challenges; a virtual tour of the Kriemhild Dairy farm, built-in fatigue breaks, and a virtual Happy Hour hosted by Jim Farr of the Rochester Public Market and featuring John Urlaub, owner of the Rohrbach Brewing Company in Rochester, NY. Together they will lead us to celebrate farmers markets and a successful conference.

You can view the full agenda here

The conference registration fee of $50 per person will cover the full conference, including access to presentation documents and recordings. Register now for the 2021 Farmers Market Managers Conference: “Reimagining Markets for a Brand New World”. All registrations and payments will be done online through Eventbrite. Once registered, you will receive an email with your unique links to all conference sessions.

Register for Conference 2021

For more information, contact the Farmers Market Federation of NY at deggert@nyfarmersmarket.com or call 315-400-1447.