Celebrating National Farmers Market Week: Strengthening Communities, Supporting Farmers, Expanding Access
- Chase Barnes
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
This week marks National Farmers Market Week, a time to recognize the essential role that farmers markets play in strengthening our food system, supporting local economies, and improving food access. For 26 years, this national celebration has highlighted not just the markets themselves, but the tireless work behind the scenes—the market managers, volunteers, vendors, and partners who bring these spaces to life each week.
In New Jersey, where agriculture is central to our state identity, farmers markets serve as a powerful bridge between local farmers and the communities they nourish. These markets may appear and disappear within a few hours, but the logistics behind them are anything but simple. Coordinating vendors, maintaining relationships with municipalities, securing operating spaces, and ensuring a welcoming, efficient market experience takes year-round dedication.
Yet their value goes far beyond logistics. Farmers markets are a cornerstone of local food systems—offering opportunities for small farmers to sell directly to consumers, keeping dollars in local economies, and creating public spaces where neighbors gather
and communities grow stronger.
However, access to these markets is not equitable for all New Jersey residents. That’s why programs like Good Food Bucks—a SNAP nutrition incentive program run by City Green—are critical.
Good Food Bucks addresses two core challenges at once:
Food insecurity by making fresh, local produce more affordable for SNAP users
Farmer sustainability by increasing direct sales to growers
The program offers a 50% discount or dollar-for-dollar match on fresh produce for SNAP customers at over 120 participating farms and farmers market locations across all 21 counties in New Jersey. This effectively doubles a family's purchasing power while driving more revenue to local farmers.
At its core, Good Food Bucks transforms farmers markets into more inclusive, equitable spaces—places where everyone can access the bounty grown right here in the Garden State. Markets participating in the program aren’t just selling food; they’re demonstrating a commitment to food justice and community well-being.
As we celebrate National Farmers Market Week, we invite you to recognize the people behind the markets and the value they bring to our food system. Investing in programs like Good Food Bucks is an investment in the health, economy, and future of New Jersey.
This week, August 3rd – 9th, is National Farmers Market Week! Here is a reminder of a few ways you can celebrate this special event!
Celebrate in your Community: Celebrate your local farmers market by:
🍅 Shopping at the Market! Keep your dollars circulating locally in your community by getting your fruits and vegetables, value-added goods, and other unique items from your local farmers market!
😊 Donating! Farmers Markets rely on the support of volunteers and community members to make local food available. Make a donation to the market or to the Good Food Bucks program to support – every dollar counts!
🗣 Spreading the word! Like the market’s social media pages and farmers market week posts, share it to your story, and tag some of your friends. Let everyone know why you support #localfood and #NationalFarmersMarketWeek. Use tags: #NationalFarmersMarketWeek #LoveMyMarket #GoodFoodBucksNJ @goodfoodbucksNJ @fmcorg
📄 Advocating! Tell your local, county, and state representatives that you support legislation that promotes farmers markets, urban agriculture, and nutrition incentive programs like Good Food Bucks!
This work is supported by the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, project award no. 2024-70415-43708, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.