Rows of brightly colored produce; freshly baked breads and blueberry pies; mingling of friends, neighbors and strangers: there’s no limit to the joys of a local farmers market.

The spectacular resurgence of markets, which have grown more than 80 percent over the last decade in the United States, is truly cause for celebration. Their rise has been fueled not only by greater public awareness of the joys of eating local food, but also the myriad spin-off benefits that markets provide economic opportunities for immigrants and entrepreneurs, safe and vibrant social gathering spaces, decreased dependence on fossil fuels– and so on.

In lower income communities, where healthy food and economic opportunity are often difficult to come by, the benefits of markets are even more pronounced. This week, PPS is excited to release a new free publication that assists market managers in accommodating the needs of all of their customers: SNAP/EBT at your Farmers Market: Seven Steps to Success.

The publication can be downloaded for free or purchased as a hard copy through Lulu.com.

Citizens interested in becoming a vendor at a local market also have a new tool to guide them along the way: How to Start your Business at a Local Market: A Vendor Handbook, available for download in the PPS bookstore.

For more information on National Farmers Market Week, visit the Farmers Market Coalitionwebsite.

Now, go visit your local farmers market and take part in all its delights today!

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