Washington State Farmers Market Association

Our Mission

Communities rise when farmers markets thrive! At the Washington State Farmers Market Association, we serve farmers markets as mentors, trainers, experienced hands, problem-solvers, and partners. Our drive is to support and promote vibrant and sustainable farmers markets in Washington State. 

We serve farmers markets that are brand new in 2024 and those that started in the 1980s -- with most having started somewhere in between. We serve farmers markets run by a single staff or volunteer, and those with a small but mighty team of professionals. Farmers markets are primarily small, community-based nonprofits, with some sponsored by Cities or their own microenterprise. The WSFMA's 110 member farmers markets represent all of Washington: 93 towns or cities from 29 counties. Each farmers market is a unique reflection of its community, with its own story, dreams, and challenges.  

Our Work Together

The Washington State Farmers Market Association makes it possible for independent, local farmers markets to get the training, technical expertise, problem-solving, promotions, industry standards, trusted data, collective voice, and community they need. Your farmers market organizer is not just a weekly event planner. She is also coaching farmers on sales, curating a vendor mix that appeals to shoppers, creatively marketing the market, lining up education for kids and entertainment, following food safety standards, securing permits and insurance, managing volunteers, recruiting sponsors, promoting recycling, and working tirelessly so that every family can buy the freshest, seasonal produce from local farmers with SNAP and other food access programs. Few realize the vital range of demands and challenges farmers markets take on so they can be there for their community.

The WSFMA's work includes organizing an annual "Boot Camp" for new managers and Conference that attracts farmers markets from around the Pacific NW. We hosts monthly virtual meetings for farmers markets to stay connected, curate online Toolkits and updated technical resources, train and contract with "Regional Leads" to work one-on-one with farmers markets so they can run successful food access programs like SNAP, SNAP Market Match, and WIC and Senior FMNP. We help pass legislation that supports farmers markets and are the farmers market experts for local food system programs, statewide policy, and national research.

The WSFMA is a 501c3 nonprofit with a small team of three staff and ten volunteer board members. We are funded through contracts, occasional project grants, membership dues, and Conference registration and sponsorships.  

We love GiveBIG and it is they only way we connect with individual donors who want farmers markets to thrive. Your contributions provide strategic resources that are flexible and enable us to adapt on a dime and meet farmers markets' needs.  

Investing in Community

Farmers markets are tirelessly working to make their communities better. Like the WSFMA, they run on passion, team-work, and very lean budgets. Every helping hand and contribution ripples out in so many ways.    

• Supporting local farmers. Women farmers, young farmers, new farmers, and seasoned family farms.
• Incubating small businesses. Meet customers face-to-face, try out products, learn the craft and business skills. 
• Preserving farmland. Through weekly sales, promoting diversity, encouraging sustainable production to be more resilient.  
• Energizing neighborhoods and downtowns. Bringing dozens of small businesses to town, fun, and local families.
• Building community. Between vendors and volunteers, managers and merchants, sponsors and shoppers.
• Fighting hunger and food insecurity. Learning about healthy foods, and how to maximize family's SNAP, SNAP Market Match, and WIC and Senior FMNP to buy fresh, seasonal produce from farmers.    
• Bringing healthy foods to you! Straight from the farm or food entrepreneur, ingredients are fresh, alive, and local