w w w . M F F M . o r g Your Maine Farmers' Market Resource

Welcome to the     Maine     Federation of     Farmers'     Markets           About MFFM

[Last Modified: Monday, 22-Feb-2010 11:17:08 EST.]
What's New Here?

It's been over two years since the last major update of this website. During that time much has been happening in the world of farmers' markets and hopefully we reflect most of those changes here. We've re-organized some, made it easier to navigate and have added dozens of new links and articles. Every link has been checked to make sure it still works, and when they didn't, it was either fixed or removed. Now everything in the website can be accessed through the “The Compleat List of Farmers' Market Resources” button on the left, but we have also left some of the regular buttons that still go directly to popular sections.

In a tip o' the hat to the old MFFM newsletter, a new page has been added called “Selling Outdoors”. It was inspired by discussions at the Second Annual Maine Farmers' Market Convention in Belfast on Jan. 30, 2010, and on that page I share some of the insights I've gained over the almost three decades of attending farmers' markets. My attempt was to communicate some of the most useful ways market members have come to think about important issues, rather than what their resolution should be. I hope you will find it of use.

If you want to discuss any market oriented issues (publically), use the discussion area at the Farmers' Market Group at EatMaineFood.org. If you'd rather discuss them one-on-one, email me.

In any case, let us know how you like this site. We love feedback!

HELPFUL FEATURE: Store your market's applications and important documents here!

It was suggested to me that markets without their own website would benefit from having some of their important documents available here at www.MFFM.org for members and potential members to download. Any market can send their applcation, preferably in .doc, .rtf or .pdf format, to tom@snakeroot.net and we'll make them available here within a few days.

So to begin this, we start with the . . .

HARRISON Farmers' Market (pdf)

HELP THIS WEBSITE GROW!

We want to make this website into an even better resource for Maine Farmers' Markets and market members! And you can help by sending us the your info.. Here's some of the ways, and perhaps you can think of more.

• List your market's website here.
• Send your market rules (guidelines, regulations) and bylaws so other markets can compare.
• Send news about your market. (Remember, it's for market members, not shoppers!)
• Write a short piece about issues your market is facing or solutions it has developed.
• Does your market limit membership for any reason? Tell us why or why it doesn't!
• Make suggestions for this website.
• [Your ideas here.]

Send your market info and ideas to the webweaver.

About the Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets

The Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets (MFFM) was organized in the spring of 1991 by farmers' market members to help meet the mutual needs of Maine's farmers' markets and market members and to promote the establishment and popular use of farmers' markets in Maine.

As an organization, the MFFM has ceased to exist, except for this website.

From 1992 to 1996, the Federation sponsored a booth and a presentation about farmers' markets at the Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta in January. Published from 1991 to 1998, our quarterly newsletter Selling Outdoors spotlighted various markets and issues and in general serves as a information sharing resource for Federation members. A compilation of the best articles will be published in the Spring of 2000. To buy a copy of The Best of Selling Outdoors, contact Tom Roberts, 27 Organic Farm Rd., Pittsfield ME 04967, phone 487-5056, tom@snakeroot.net

Kate Slattery, Dick Keough and Tom Roberts at the 1993 Ag Trades Show (click to enlarge)

Other Federation projects included a co-operative hanging scales and jar order and a "Vendor Exchange Program" where small or new marketers work as helpers at the stands of larger farmers as "apprentices" to learn the ropes.