Introduction to City Farms Markets

A typical Farmers Market includes several farmers and food vendors who gather together in public or private spaces to sell fresh, locally-grown or produced food directly to customers. In New York City, most farmers markets sell only local food and many require that the producer sells his/her products directly to customers.

In addition to supplying fresh, high quality producer, farmers markets also support local businesses, provide a source of income to farmers, connect farmers to the people who eat their food, link shoppers to the farmers who grow their food, and inspire a sense of community.

Community-based farmers markets usually exist because a community wants to bring fresh, locally grown food into their neighborhood. These farmers markets are run by community groups to inspire better health, pride, and a sense of neighborly unity while encouraging community development and empowerment.

Thousands of community gardeners and urban farmers grow food around NYC. Some of those gardeners and farmers also sell their food at local farmers markets. The City Farms Markets of Just Food are farmers markets that are run and supported by community gardeners and urban farmers. They are community-based and sell products that are grown in New York City as well as products from regional farmers from outside the City.

Just Food’s City Farms program is committed to increasing the amount of food grown, donated, and sold in NYC. Just Food supports City Farms markets by offering assistance in starting and running community-based farmers markets. Just Food offers the markets on-site cooking demonstrations, assistance recruiting farmers, gardeners, volunteers, and interns, discounted market insurance options, networking opportunities, and workshop-based technical assistance and trainings.

Just Food can support regional, rural farmers by:

• Finding farmers marketing opportunities in the network
• Helping the markets create flexible options for farmers
• Holding networking events for farmers to meet potential markets
• Offering farmers support throughout the season as needed

The City Farms program at Just Food connects and fosters relationships between farmers and community-based farmers markets where everyone benefits.