Rapid Market Assessment (RMA) is a simple tool that markets can use to take a snapshot of a given market day.  To be most effective, it is best to plan regular RMAs throughout the market season; however, even just conducting the assessment once will collect a lot of information about customer habits and perceptions, market successes and challenges, and areas of the market that can be improved. 

The full RMA consists of three components, which can be done together or individually:

Thanks to Rose Wilson of Rosalie J. Wilson Business Development Services for preparing this tool, which is designed to help track and plan markets’ financial progress.

Learn helpful sales strategies at farmers markets from Gail Hayden, Director of the California Farmers’ Market Association.

As part of the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program project, NOFA-VT has worked with select farmers markets around the state to help them collect data using customer surveys, visitor counts, and gross sales tracking. The goal is to develop detailed resources to support more markets to implement and use these data collection methods. In this toolkit, we are sharing such resources with detailed instructions and data collection templates for you to use at your own market as well as ideas for how to use this data to help support your market.

This 'Farmers Market Management Skills' resource produced by the University of California UC Farm Center provides an overiew of different types of boards, the responsibilities of the board of directors, manager's relationship to the board, and strategies for strengthening the board.

Thanks to Jim LeFevre of LeFevre & Associates for sharing this powerpoint about building the right board for your market. You will find an overview of the stages of board development and ideas to consider when developing your board.

This document provides a brief overview of different types of insurance available to farmers’ markets and market vendors. It also has a short list of insurance companies that offer plans for farmers markets and vendors in Vermont.

Thank you to Jeff Cole of the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets for preparing and sharing this presentation on creating a safer market environment. Understanding risk management and farmers’ market insurance is essential for all market managers, board members, and vendors.