DES MOINES – The 15th Annual Iowa Farmers Market Workshop will be held this Saturday, February 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave., in Des Moines. The workshop is sponsored by the Iowa Farmers Market Association (IFMA) and will provide training and information for farmers market managers and vendors.
The workshop registration fee is $40 and lunch is included. For more information visit www.iafarmersmarkets.org or contact Donna Brahms, IFMA President, at mbrahms@netins.net or at 402-677-2460.
During the workshop presenters from the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Revenue and Iowa Department of Public Health will address participants and outline current legal requirements for vendors and market managers. More information about presenters can be found at www.iafarmersmarkes.org.
The details of the event follow here:
What: 15th Annual Iowa Farmers Market Workshop
Where: First Christian Church, 2500 University Ave., Des Moines
When: Saturday, February 9, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How: For more information, please contact Donna Brahms, IFMA President, at mbrahms@netins.net or at 402-677-2460
Farmers markets continue to grow in popularity as Iowans seek fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. An Iowa farmers market survey completed for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship showed that market sales have increased an average of 18 percent per year from 2004 to 2009. It also showed that Iowa markets had $38.4 million in direct sales in 2009 and a $71 million impact on Iowa’s economy.
To help support the more than 230 farmers markets in Iowa, last year the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship unveiled an Iowa Farmers Market App for both iPhones and Android smartphones. The app allows users to find the farmers market closest to them by using GPS location services or to search for specific farmers markets by city or zip code. Once they have located a market, the user can view the hours of the market, browse a list of vendors and see a phone number and email address of the market manager.
