Reports & Publications

Census

2023 WVFMA Farmers Market Census

Welcome to the 2023 Farmers Market Census! This is your opportunity to directly impact the growth and development of West Virginia's Farmers Markets. Your participation contributes to a better understanding of the economic landscape among farmers markets in West Virginia. Your input directly informs decisions for our state and brings funding to local communities. Rest assured, your responses are confidential and will be used only in aggregate form. Individual market data will never be shared without your explicit permission. Please estimate about 25 to 30 minutes to complete this survey. Gathering your sales and vendor records before you start will help ensure accurate responses. Your thoughtful input improves the quality of services for farmers markets across the state. The results will be shared on the West Virginia Farmers Market Association (WVFMA) website, wvfarmers.org, by Spring 2024. Thank you for your dedication to local food and your role in building a stronger farmers market community in West Virginia. Survey period: January 1 - December 31, 2023.

Organization Name *

WV Counties Served *

Counties outside WV served

Market Location *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Number of market locations *

List towns of additional markets if applicable

Please specify your market's operating schedule *

Opening Month- Closing Month

Please indicate hours of operation- Regular Season *

Contact Information

Farmers Market Website Address (if applicable)

Market Manager or Primary Contact *

First

Last

Market Manager or Primary Contact Phone *

Farmers Market Mailing Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Email *

Alternate Contact

Name *

First

Last

Phone *

Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Email *

General Sales and Customer Report

All your responses are confidential and will be used only in aggregate form. Individual market data will never be shared without your explicit permission. Please provide the following information regarding your market's sales and customers in 2023.

Estimated TOTAL annual sales for your farmers market in 2023 *

Approximate number of customers per week for 2023 *

What is the average daily total sales for vendors at your market? *

Please select the primary method you use to estimate annual sales for your farmers market and individual vendors: *

Average sales based on similar known vendors' sales
Vendors report though a ticket system or self report in online system
Point of Sales system for entire market
Other

Incentive Programs

Please provide information about the incentive programs in which your market participates. You can skip these questions if they don't apply or if you choose not to answer.

How many vendors accept the following incentive programs

SNAP/ EBT

Senior Vouchers

SNAP STRETCH

WIC

What is the estimated amount of sales per incentive type:

What is the estimated amount of sales per incentive type

SNAP/ EBT

Senior Vouchers

SNAP STRETCH

WIC

If your market accepts SNAP/EBT for all vendors, please describe how it works for your market. Be specific:

Please share any comments relating to the ease of use for incentive programs.

Vendor Data and Programs

This section gathers information about vendor details and programs. Feel free to skip any questions that aren't applicable, or you choose not to answer.

On an average day, how many vendors or producers are typically set up at your farmers market?

What is the average travel distance (in miles) for your vendors or producers to sell items at your market?

Is your market a "Producer Only" farmers market, allowing only vendors who grow, make, or produce their own products to sell?

Yes, vendors must produce everything they sell.
Yes, vendors don't have to produce everything they sell.
No, everything sold must be locally sourced.
No, there are no specific vendor product requirements.

Do any vendors at your market sell the following standard items? Check all that apply.

Meat (e.g., chicken, beef, pork, venison, etc.)
Eggs (e.g., chicken, duck, etc.)
Dairy (e.g., milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.)
Produce

Do you have vendors at your market selling exempt poultry products processed using the WVFMA Poultry Processing Trailer?

Yes
No
Unsure

Do you have vendors at your market who are interested in beginning or expanding value-added production?

Yes
No
Unsure

If you do not have a maple producer at your market, would you be interested in being contacted by Future Generations University, which can connect you with maple vendors? (Selecting Yes permits us to provide Future Generations University with your market name and contact information.)

Yes
No

What is the approximate percentage of vendors participating in the WV Grown program represented by this logo?

Less than 10%
10-25%
26%-50%
Greater than 50%

Rate the impact of WV Grown branding on sales: (No Effect - Substantial Effect)

Selected Value: 0

How can WV Grown enhance sales and consumer loyalty?

Do you charge vendors fees?

Yes
No
Considering for next year

If considering for next season, why do you anticipate needing vendor fees?

Is vendor liability insurance required?

Yes
No

Approximate number of vendors with liability insurance:

Have any of your vendors been affected by increasing premiums and/or dropped from insurance providers while processing poultry on-farm?

Yes
No

Additional comments on insurance and or policies regarding farmers markets:

Would you like more information about completing GHP/GAP certification?

Yes
No

GHP/GAP Certification: "Good Handling Practices" (GHP) or "Good Agricultural Practices" (GAP) certifications are voluntary audit programs that verify food safety measures on farms.

Have any vendors at your market completed GHP/GAP certification?

Yes
No
Unsure

Do any of the vendors at your market sell their produce to wholesale buyers like schools, restaurants, or commercial institutions?

Yes
No
Unsure

Do any vendors also have roadside or farm stands?

Yes
No
Unsure

Community Engagement and Programs

Share details about community support programs and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives.

Please indicate if your market offered any of the following types of special programs:

Family-oriented programming (PoP club, food demos, live music, kids entertainment, etc.)
Mobile market or transportation system
Gleaning, composting, or donation program
CSA programs
FARMacy or Prescription vegetables program
Better Process Control School or Good Manufacturing Practices
Exercise/fitness/mobility/movement classes and workshops

Describe the programming offered by your Farmers Market and any involved community partners.

Yes
No

Which of the following programs would your farmers market be most interested in starting to increase community involvement?

Youth-oriented programming like Power of Produce Kids Clubs
Incentive or feeding programs for low-income families and senior citizens
Healthy food education and recipe demonstrations
Activities and Events focused on Veterans and Heroes in Agriculture
Farm to Table Dinners
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Partnerships with schools, senior centers, and public transportation for increased access

If your market does have a CSA program, please provide the approximate number of subscribers

Describe the pricing structure and duration of your CSA program

Which programs would you like to see offered by WVFMA to member markets in the future?

FARMacy Prescription Produce programs
Youth-oriented programming like Power of Produce Kids Clubs
Production and crop planning
Power of Produce Clubs and Youth Nutrition
Senior-focused activities and incentives like Double Senior Vouchers
Market Manager Training
Business Development for current and future farmers
New Vendor Training

What is your greatest need as a farmers market? *

Let us know your greatest market need, whether cold storage, point of sale, or anything else that stands between your market and growth.

Organization and Market Manager

Information about the organizational structure and market demographics.

Does your market have a formal board of directors, steering team, or committee?

Yes
No
Unsure

Does your market have established written rules or bylaws?

Is your market classified as a nonprofit or for-profit organization?

Nonprofit
For profit
Other

Is your market registered as a business?

Yes
No
Unsure

Is your market registered with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture?

Yes
No
Not sure

Has your market observed an increase in tourist traffic during 2023?

Yes
No
Not sure/ we don't track that information

How are the "market manager" roles and responsibilities filled at your market?

What is the manager's annual salary provided by the farmers market?

What is the funding source for their salary? (Be specific.)

Optional: Organizational Assessment

Participating in the following optional survey can help shape the future of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association (WVFMA) and enhance the services we provide to farmers, communities, and markets across the state. Your input is crucial in our efforts to tailor services that align with the needs of the agriculture sector.

Will you take a few moments to complete this short survey and contribute to improving WVFMA and its services. Your insights are greatly appreciated.

Yes
No

Are you a West Virginia Farmers Market Association (WVFMA) member?

Yes
No
No, but we would like to be!

Is being a member of the WVFMA beneficial to your Market?

Yes
No
Other

Do you feel that the WVFMA is active in helping its members?

Yes
No
Other

If other is selected for is WVFMA active in helping its members, please explain.

Have you heard of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association before this Census?

Yes
No

Is there a service you believe would benefit farmers markets and communities not listed above and you would like the WVFMA to consider offering in the future?

Value Added Products Project

Future Generations University is creating a training program for value-added product creation in partnership with a Northeast SARE project. As they prepare to implement the program, they are gathering baseline data. Furthermore, they are engaged in two maple syrup marketing programs and are collecting information concerning maple products available at farmers markets.

Would you grant permission for WVFMA to share your market's responses on value-added products and maple producers, including your market's name, location, and contact details, with Future Generations University?

Yes
No

Save and Resume Later

HISTORY OF THE ANNUAL CENSUS

The West Virginia Farmers Market Census began in 2012 to identify challenges and strengths in the local food system. Information provided by farmers and farmers market managers has guided the work of the West Virginia Farmers Market Association, which includes many of the resources you find on this website. An annual report is created using the data shared through this survey and has been presented to partners and stakeholders during the Small Farm Conference since 2015.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR THE ANNUAL CENSUS?

To prepare for this year’s census, start gathering the following information:

Total Sales from All Vendors;
The number of vendors registered to sell;
The average number of vendors who come setup at the market weekly;
How many customers visit your market on average each week; and
Where your vendors sell products besides at your farmers market.

WVFMA works with USDA to conduct its annual farmers market census (for inclusion in the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food web database). They also utilize the census as a method to collect crucial data on farmers markets.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS?

The West Virginia Farmers Market Census is an opportunity for our organization to feel the heartbeat of our state. The questions are geared towards understanding each individual market, as well as markets as a whole of West Virginia. Questions in the census provide insight to individual markets, benefits the community, and provides data on how we can expand services to meet needs. Other questions may affect policies and practices statewide if enough of the markets seem to face a similar challenge. Policy makers, grant funders, and other support organizations seek to better understand the needs of our farmers, and this is the best way for us to show them that West Virginia farmers markets are worth their time, energy, focus, effort, and funding.

West Virginia Farmers Market Census

Reports & Publications

Census

Contact Information

Alternate Contact

General Sales and Customer Report

Incentive Programs

How many vendors accept the following incentive programs

What is the estimated amount of sales per incentive type

Vendor Data and Programs

Community Engagement and Programs

Organization and Market Manager

Optional: Organizational Assessment

Value Added Products Project

Policy Climate Survey

Annual Report

Monthly Newsletter