The distribution, sale, and consumption of local and healthy foods in florida is challenging for many farmers and consumers in our state

The Florida Certified Organic Growers & Consumers, Inc. (FOG) received a $415,412.81 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) to develop and implement a virtual farmers market platform. FOG will use the three-year grant funding period ending September 2024 to empower farmers and consumers in Florida through an online marketplace that enables flexible and efficient local food sales. The virtual platform aims to address challenges in accessing healthy, local foods, particularly for residents of food deserts and those unable to regularly attend physical farmers markets due to scheduling or other constraints. In addition to facilitating farmer-consumer connections online, the project seeks to maintain the social experience of traditional markets and engage stakeholders in collaborative problem-solving around food system issues impacting Florida communities.

Florida organic growers and consumers INC. (FOG) started the florida farmers market association (FFMA) to bring together farmers market managers, vendors, consumers, and organizations to find solutions to these problems. The covid-19 pandemic provided more evidence of the urgent need to develop and implement systems that provide opportunities for farmers and consumers to work together to help make our current food distribution system more efficient and equitable. Our project uses a virtual farmers market platform to empower producers and consumers and provide opportunities to build strong, dynamic, and interactive exchanges that enables them to sell and purchase food with flexibility and efficiency. We are confident that our project addresses future problems that citizens may face during adverse circumstances like pandemics or existing ones such as residing in food deserts or personal schedules to travel and visit physical farmers markets when IT is not feasible. Our project is not limited to farmers and consumers who buy and sell at farmers markets nor is meant to replace the existing farmers market system. Rather, the goal is to provide new opportunities for farmers to market and sell their products, while still maintaining the ability to make connections with consumers similar to those made in a physical location and together share their food related experiences and be part of an effort to find solutions to problem that affects numerous people in our communities every day.