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| New Hampshire Association of Farmers Markets | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Hampshire Association of Farmers Markets |
| Formation | 2010s |
| Type | Nonprofit membership organization |
| Headquarters | Concord, New Hampshire |
| Region served | New Hampshire |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
New Hampshire Association of Farmers Markets is a statewide nonprofit membership organization that represents and supports farmers markets, market managers, vendors, and related stakeholders across New Hampshire. The association acts as a coordinating body linking local markets with state agencies, federal programs, community organizations, and regional networks. It provides training, technical assistance, and advocacy to strengthen market operations, promote local producers, and increase consumer access to farm products and artisanal goods.
The association originated in the early 2010s as a coalition of market managers convened at meetings involving University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, NH Farm Bureau Federation, Seacoast Eat Local, and regional planners from the New England Farmers Union. Early convenings were influenced by initiatives such as the Farmers Market Promotion Program and practices from the Vermont Farmers Market Association and Massachusetts Farmers Markets Association. Initial funding came from grant programs administered by US Department of Agriculture partners, philanthropic support from foundations like the Granite State Future and programming assistance from Cooperative Extension offices. Over time, the group incorporated formal bylaws, elected a board that included representatives from urban markets in Manchester, Nashua, and Concord, and developed partnerships with statewide institutions such as Dartmouth College and Saint Anselm College for research and outreach collaborations.
The association’s mission centers on promoting viable local food systems, supporting producer livelihoods, and increasing equitable access to nutritious foods across communities from the Seacoast to the White Mountains. Program areas include market manager training modeled on curricula used by the National Farmers Market Coalition, vendor business education influenced by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), and nutrition incentive administration akin to SNAP and WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program efforts. The association develops program toolkits drawing on standards from the Food and Drug Administration for food safety and guidance from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on public health compliance for public markets.
Membership comprises municipal markets, nonprofit markets, co-op sponsored markets, farmers, artisan vendors, and allied organizations such as regional food hubs. Governance is conducted by an elected board of directors and standing committees similar to structures used by the National Grocers Association and state agricultural councils. Members benefit from liability insurance pooled through organizations like Community Health Charities analogs, and shared procurement initiatives emulating models from the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire. The association maintains directories linking members to resources at US Environmental Protection Agency programs and workforce development services through New Hampshire Employment Security.
Services include market manager certification workshops, point-of-sale and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) technical assistance, and vendor recruitment strategies borrowed from prominent markets such as Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Portland Farmers Market (Maine). The association provides guidance on permitting and zoning by liaising with municipal planning departments in cities like Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Keene, New Hampshire, and offers templates for market bylaws and vendor contracts informed by legal experts associated with NH Legal Assistance and university agricultural law clinics. It also facilitates insurance programs and vendor grievance processes modeled after protocols used by the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association.
Annual events include a statewide market manager conference, seasonal vendor fairs, and consumer outreach campaigns tied to harvest celebrations similar to the New Hampshire Flower Show and regional food festivals hosted by Seacoast Eat Local. Initiatives have included nutrition incentive pilots, SNAP matching programs modeled after successes in Vermont and Massachusetts, and youth engagement collaborations with schools participating in Farm to School networks and programs run by SNHU and county cooperative extensions. The association organizes webinars featuring speakers from organizations such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and convenes peer-learning exchanges comparable to those run by the Rodale Institute.
The association partners with federal and state agencies including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services on issues ranging from land access to water quality and food safety. It advocates at the state legislature alongside coalitions like NH Food Alliance and agricultural stakeholders such as the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association on policy matters affecting market operations, regulatory compliance, and food access funding. Advocacy work has connected markets to federal relief efforts such as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and to state grant programs for local food infrastructure.
The association has contributed to measurable increases in farmer income, vendor diversity, and consumer participation at markets across the state, drawing attention from media outlets and recognition from organizations like the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and regional food policy councils. Its work supporting SNAP and nutrition incentives has been highlighted in evaluations by partner institutions including University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and regional research collaborations with Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. The association continues to serve as a central node connecting producers, institutions, and communities across New Hampshire.
Category:Agriculture in New Hampshire