The covid-19 pandemic strongly reinforced the importance of farmers markets to virginia's food system

The Virginia Farmers Market Association (VAFMA) received a $816,175.90 Project Grant award from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program. VAFMA will establish a Virginia Certified Farmers Market Program, create an extensive online training platform, and initiate a statewide marketing and agritourism campaign to promote Virginia's certified farmers markets and the essential nature of farms and farmers markets to Virginians. The goals are to increase professionalism and profitability of farmers markets, boost sales of local food, and foster better community and government understanding of farmers markets' importance for food access. The period of performance is September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2024.

However, IT also exposed dangerous misperceptions about markets, significant issues with policy and oversight, and the serious impact of non-compliant markets. In addition, food insecurity in the state grew by 30%. During this time, the virginia farmers market association (vafma) became a hub for capacity building and information. We accelerated our support services and advocacy work on behalf of markets while fielding thousands of requests for assistance. Through this work, vafma's visibility and credibility grew as the primary liaison between farmers markets and state and local government. We will capture this momentum to put forward effective solutions that will help virginia emerge from this crisis with a more resilient food system. To do this, the virginia farmers market association proposes to 1) establish a virginia certified farmers market program,2) create an extensive online training platform, and 3) initiate a statewide marketing and agritourism campaign to promote virginia's certified farmers markets and the essential nature of farms and farmers markets to virginians. Expected outcomes include increased professionalism and profitability of farmers markets, increased sales of local food, and better community and government understanding of the essential nature of farmers markets to food access.