Metrics in Action
Farmers Market Metrics is helping markets across the U.S. to showcase their impacts and tell their story. Browse this page to get ideas for your market, and be sure to submit your own Metrics in Action.
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“The fact that we bring an average of 4,000-5,000 people to the area is astounding in a city with a population of just under 50,000.”
Visitor attendance was shared with and favorably received by the Director of Parks & Recreation, Economic Development, the City Manager’s office, and market vendors at their 2018 Annual Meeting.
Pepper Place Farmers Market
http://www.pepperplacemarket.com
In 2020, FMC worked with a small group of innovative market organizations to highlight adaptations during COVID-19. These reports can be used to demonstrate the flexibility implemented by an organization in response to any emergency in their community.
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Independence Farmers Market (VA)
VIRGINIA – Independence Farmers Market Manager Michelle Pridgen shared an exciting success story with FMC about the market’s use of Metrics summary reports.
“I had always tracked sales and customer #s because I started off with a USDA grant and I needed to document things. However the metrics program got me collecting more data and the graphics put that information into an amzing package that is immediately obvious to the general public, funders and grantors. I’ve included a statement from a recent grant that the Town of Independence received for a market building. Part of the the tracking and definitely the spiffy graphics they refer to were because of you!”
“In the town of Independence’s continued efforts to create partnerships for the construction of the Independence Farmers Market and to begin the development of the first municipal park in Independence the Virginia Tobacco Region revitalization Commission (TRRC) has committed $150,000 toward the project. In the TRRC Financial Viability Assessment, TRRC staff stated; “This is perhaps the strongest farmers market request seen by the Commission to date, as evidenced by a long track record of operations, site control, well-designed construction plans, committed funding from the Town and USDA, experienced market management, a large producer base, a strong schedule of events to attract customers to the market, and arguably the best tracking system of producer participation, sales and customers seen in any TRRC-region market.”
Congratulations, Independence Farmers Market!
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Virginia Farmers Market Association (VAFMA)
VIRGINIA -Mary Delicate of the Virginia Farmers Market Association recorded this 10 min. webinar of helpful tips for effectively sharing data collected with Metrics. Topics include creating a social media schedule, tagging stakeholders in your posts, sharing data with vendors, and more.
This work was done in partnership with FMC during a 3 year FMPP grant titled: “Strengthening the Farmers Market Customer Base through Data-Driven Messaging Campaigns at Local, State, and National Levels.”
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From KFM manager Gaby Gerken: “We took all our data from the metrics portal and had our designers create a brochure that matches with our branding. We will be giving copies to Vendors at our meeting this Spring, which will hopefully make them more trusting of the data collection we are doing. We also hope to use this information in the future for grants and fundraising for the Market Master Plan, as well as pieces for social media promotion in 2019. “
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Engage Stakeholders
In 2018, FMC tabled at the Slow Food Nations event in Denver. Attendees were encouraged to select the single metrics that they would most like their favorite market to collect and share with the community.
Print and laminate the Metrics graphics to leave scattered on a table at an outreach event or at the Welcome Booth. This activity helps markets to better understand what vendors, shoppers, and partners want to know. Give it a try!
Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development (Northeast Iowa RC&D)
IOWA – Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development has released a new Market Manager Toolkit.
” This place-based approach offers potential market managers and existing market managers in Iowa an opportunity to connect with colleagues from similarly sized towns, provide their boards or committees with justification and inspiration, and fuel grant applications and private sponsorships.”
The Toolkit includes a section on Measuring Your Farmers Market’s Performance, with information on Metrics as well as general guidance and testimonials about collecting data like visitor counts and visitor surveys. The section starts on page 46 of the PDF download that can be accessed through their website.
Metrics Poster Contest Winners
Each year, FMC hosts the National Farmers Market Poster Contest, sponsored by Farm Aid. Hundreds of farmers markets submit their beautiful marketing posters to our judges in hopes of winning bragging rights and prizes. In 2018, we added a Metrics category to honor the market that best offered Metrics-style data on an appealing and educational poster. Check out the 2018 winning poster from Hood River Farmers Market.
