Sustainable Farms & Communities

Why support local and sustainable agriculture? - In short, buying locally-sourced food provides consumers with fresher, higher-quality products; reduces the amount of energy needed to grow, process, and transport food; supports the small farms and businesses that contribute to our economy; and helps preserve our rural environment. Read more:
Eating Locally - A Matter of Integrity (John Ikerd)
About Sustainable Agriculture - For Consumers (SARE)
Why Buy Local? (LocalHarvest.org)

About Farmers Markets - Farmers markets provide a location for local farmers, craftspeople, and producers to market their goods directly to the consumer, thus helping assure the customer of quality product and the producer of a good price and reliable income. The USDA's National Farmers Market Directory lists 4,385 farmers markets in the United States as of 2006, a significant rise from the 1,755 listed in 1994. These markets produced a total sales volume of around $1 billion, according to a December 5, 2006 press release (PDF file) from the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (credit for pointing out these statistics goes to a January 2007 article in Growing For Market magazine, entitled "What's ahead for farmers markets?", not available online). In Missouri, the USDA lists over 100 farmers markets including Boonville, Columbia, Fayette, Fulton, Jefferson City, and Moberly in mid-Missouri. A new market opened in Hallsville in August 2007.

Farmers Markets with Pavilions/Structures - Many farmers markets have undertaken building projects similar to Columbia's Farmers Market Community Center proposal. Below are links to some examples; this is far from a comprehensive list, and we will keep updating it as we learn about more projects. In the meantime, one of the most comprehensive sources for locating and learning about farmers markets is www.localharvest.org.

Anderson County (SC) Farmers Market - Scroll to the bottom to see their beautiful building
Harrisonburg (VA) Farmers Market - This market is working toward a similar, though smaller, project
Santa Fe (NM) Farmers Market - This market is also working toward a pavilion at their site
Eau Claire (WI) Downtown Farmers Market - This market recently completed a building project similar to the Farmers Market Community Center under discussion in Columbia. Read more about it here.
Durham (NC) Farmers Market - This market of around 50 vendors completed a permanent structure in 2007.
Sioux City (IA) Downtown Farmers Market is open year-round within their structure!
Kansas City Market
Olympia (WA) Farmers Market
Ithaca (NY) Farmers Market
Bloomington (IN) Farmers Market
Minneapolis (MN) Farmers Market

If you know of a farmers market with a permanent home that should be listed here, please contact the webmaster

Selling at Market - Interested in growing or producing something for market, or curious what it takes to be a market vendor in mid-Missouri? The following links provide a starting point for learning more:
Columbia Farmers Market Rules & Bylaws
Sales by Farmers at Farmers Markets (Missouri Department of Revenue)
Business Tax F.A.Q. (Missouri Department of Revenue)
Resources for Agricultural Small Businesses (Missouri Business Development Program)
How to Start a Business in Missouri (PDF file, Missouri Business Development Program)
Small Business Advocacy Center (Missouri Secretary of State) Very useful for small start-up businesses!

Resources for small farmers & home growers:
Small Farm Today magazine (Clark, MO) publishes a useful magazine for small farmers and landowners, and coordinates a national small farm conference & trade show every fall in Columbia, MO.
Growing For Market magazine (Lawrence, KS) publishes a monthly magazine aimed primarily at market growers, full of useful information on the agricultural and economic aspects of small farms & markets.
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) offers a wide variety of free, "in-depth publications on production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, organic certification, and highlights of local, regional, USDA and other federal sustainable ag activities." (from the front page).
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) "Provides Grants and Information to Improve Profitability, Stewardship and Quality of Life" (from front page). A useful source of information and inspiration.
Direct Marketing Options for Missouri Farmers A brochure/web site giving a good overview of marketing options for Missouri small farmers, including a discussion of CSAs versus farmers markets, and many links to good resources for more information. Produced by the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute in Columbia, MO.

Community Supported Agriculture - CSAs are a new model for local food supplies in which citizens subscribe to a specific farm in return for regular deliveries of produce or other food throughout the growing season. The CSA model benefits both ends of the system, as farmers know in advance how much product they need to produce and receive the payment early in the season when it is needed, while consumers are guaranteed a steady supply of produce from a known source. Read more:
What is Community Supported Agriculture and How Does It Work? (LocalHarvest.org)
Community Supported Agriculture links, information, and publications (USDA)
About Community Supported Agriculture (SARE)