Written by The Associated Press, Via Clarion-Ledger
FRESNO, CALIF. — As demand for locally grown fruits and
vegetables has increased, so too has the number of urban farmers markets
sprouting up across the nation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will announce Friday that
the number of direct-sales markets has increased 9.6 percent in the past year,
with California and New York leading the way.
"Farmers markets are a critical ingredient to our
nation's food system," USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said.
"These outlets provide benefits not only to the farmers looking for
important income opportunities, but also to the communities looking for fresh,
healthy foods."
After 18 years of steady increases, the number of farmers
markets across the country now registered with the USDA is 7,864. In 1994, there
were 1,744.
Organizations such as Slow Food, founded in 1989 to counter
fast-food, junk-food lifestyles, first ignited consumer demand for fresh, local
produce.
Today, some markets are so popular that there are wait lists
for farmers to sell there, including one of the largest and most diverse of
all, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco. Farmers from across the
region travel there three days a week to sell fruits, vegetables and artisan
breads and cheeses to thousands of shoppers, including top chefs from the
food-centric city.
