July/August 2024 - 27

required number of employees in 2023. Addressing
these challenges will be critical in ensuring the
sustainability and growth of farm markets in the future.
Vendor representation
and customer engagement
Farm markets serve as vital platforms for local farmers
and vendors to showcase their products and connect with
consumers. The survey data revealed a wide range of
vendor representation, with some markets boasting over
100 vendors rotating. This diversity not only enriches the
offerings available to consumers but also strengthens
the local economy and supports small-scale producers.
Moreover, the survey indicated a positive trend in customer
engagement, with a mean percentage change of 11% in
customer numbers compared to the previous year.
Business performance and growth
Despite the challenges posed by external factors
such as supply chain disruptions and weather-related
impacts, farm markets demonstrated resilience
and growth in 2023. Respondents reported a mean
percentage change of 17% in gross sales compared
to the previous year, indicating robust performance
and economic contribution. This positive trajectory
underscores the enduring appeal of farm markets and
their ability to adapt to changing market dynamics.
The findings of the 2023 benchmark survey of farm
markets provide valuable insights into the trends,
challenges, and opportunities shaping this vital sector.
As farm market operators navigate the path to growth
and sustainability, proactive measures such as business
expansion, workforce development, and customer
engagement will be key drivers of success.
By leveraging the lessons learned from the past year
and embracing innovation, farm markets can continue
to thrive as vibrant community hubs that celebrate local
agriculture and foster connections between producers
and consumers.
Brian Moyer is an educational program associate with
Penn State Extension. As founder of PA Farm Markets LLC
and founder and manager of the Skippack Farmers Market,
Moyer specializes in assisting farmers markets, retail farm
markets, direct-to-consumer sales, and new and beginning
farmers with marketing, business and regulatory issues.
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e-mail: info@springbrooksupply.com
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VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 27
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July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2024

Editor's Letter
Smart tech wipes out pests
FIRA preview
Labor challenges persist
VGN 2024 Labor Survey results
Vidalia onion robotics
Great Lakes EXPO 2024
Veg Connections
Farm Market & Agritourism
Ag Labor Review
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
July/August 2024 - 1
July/August 2024 - 2
July/August 2024 - 3
July/August 2024 - Editor's Letter
July/August 2024 - 5
July/August 2024 - Smart tech wipes out pests
July/August 2024 - 7
July/August 2024 - 8
July/August 2024 - 9
July/August 2024 - FIRA preview
July/August 2024 - 11
July/August 2024 - Labor challenges persist
July/August 2024 - 13
July/August 2024 - VGN 2024 Labor Survey results
July/August 2024 - 15
July/August 2024 - Vidalia onion robotics
July/August 2024 - 17
July/August 2024 - 18
July/August 2024 - 19
July/August 2024 - 20
July/August 2024 - 21
July/August 2024 - Great Lakes EXPO 2024
July/August 2024 - 23
July/August 2024 - Veg Connections
July/August 2024 - 25
July/August 2024 - Farm Market & Agritourism
July/August 2024 - 27
July/August 2024 - Ag Labor Review
July/August 2024 - 29
July/August 2024 - Classifieds
July/August 2024 - Advertiser Index
July/August 2024 - 32
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/september-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/vgn-digital-seed-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/september-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/july-august
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/vgn-digital-seed-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/buyers-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/seedguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/buyersguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/seedguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/buyersguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/buyersguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/buyersguide-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/VGN/january-2019
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com