The Vermont Farmers Market Association (VTFMA) exists to strengthen opportunities for farms and other local businesses to connect with customers, fostering vibrant communities and healthy local economies. NOFA-VT is the fiscal sponsor and hub for VTFMA, but the association is run by a separate advisory board comprised of farmers market board members, managers, and vendors.
To support Vermont’s farmers markets, VTFMA:
- Facilitates communication and networking among VTFMA member markets
- Gathers and shares useful data and resources
- Promotes farmers markets to consumers across the state
- Serves as the voice of Vermont’s farmers markets
Membership
Joining the Vermont Farmers Market Association connects your market to all the benefits of the network—from promotional opportunities to resources and support. When you become a member, you also join a community that works together to strengthen farmers markets and direct marketing opportunities for vendors around the state.
VTFMA Member Benefits
1. Statewide promotion of farmers markets
- Listing on NOFA-VT’s online farmers market directory, the most comprehensive guide to information about markets in Vermont
- Listing on DigInVT.com, a promotional site for agriculture and culinary tourism destinations in Vermont ($50 value)
- Promotion through a variety of online and print sources created in partnership with NOFA-VT, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Travel and Tourism, and other non-profit organizations/businesses
- Use of the VTFMA member market logo and marketing materials
2. Networking and information sharing opportunities
- Access to VTFMA email listserv and private Facebook group
- Discounted rate to annual Farmers Market Conference
- Invitations to regional/statewide gatherings of farmers market leaders
- All the benefits afforded to NOFA-VT business-level members, including discounted registration for NOFA-VT workshops and conferences for up to four market leaders
3. Group advocacy regarding state and federal policies that impact farmers markets
- VTFMA represents the interests of our members and brings the farmers market voice to the policymaking stage.
4. Support from NOFA-VT staff around:
- Crop Cash
- SNAP authorization and EBT technology
- Governance
- Marketing
5. Eligibility to apply for farmers market grants administered by NOFA-VT when available
- In the past, grants have included reimbursement for SNAP/EBT tokens, general operating expenses, technology, and other opportunities
Member Eligibility Requirements
All VTFMA members agree to:
- Have two or more producers of Vermont agricultural products present at each market, according to 11V.S.A.991 (Vermont State Statute)
- Prioritize vendors selling locally-produced products (as defined by the Vermont Statute)
- Have a formal application process for participation in the market
- Have five or more regularly scheduled market days per year
- Have a process for communicating vendor responsibility to comply with all applicable health and safety standards
- Commit to implementing the VTFMA best practices for safety, marketing, and governance.
- Participate in the annual Farmers Market Survey administered by VTFMA (including annual gross sales, vendor mix, etc.)
- Pay annual membership dues
Membership Categories & Dues
Annual membership fees cover markets between January 1st and December 31st.
Market Member
Market membership fees are on a sliding scale from $90-$250, determined by the total number of vendors who are part of the market, with the exception that the membership fee for new, start-up markets will be waived for their first year of membership. If your market is unable to pay the full amount, please contact us to discuss payment plans or other options.
At this time all benefits are available at all levels. We ask markets to pay dues according to the following guidelines:
Small markets (2-15 vendors): $90
Medium markets (16-35 vendors): $155
Large markets (36+ vendors): $250
Sponsoring Member
Individuals and non-market organizations can pay annual dues and support the purpose of the VTFMA. The Sponsoring Member may not be a voting member of the VTFMA or a member of the board. Sponsoring memberships are $25 a year.