Five farmers markets will be chosen to receive resources and assistance through a project called 2025 Rural Farmers Markets and Local Food Access in Nebraska and Iowa, presented by the Center for Rural Affairs and Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska.
This project will provide resources and one-on-one counseling to the managers and vendors of five farmers markets during 2025. Both new and established farmers markets in Nebraska or Iowa are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis; please apply early if you are interested.
Apply by Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.
Our goals are to increase access to resources for Nebraska and Iowa farmers market managers and vendors and to promote access to healthy and delicious locally grown foods.
Each market will receive a total of $1,050 for participating. The funds include the following.
- A $300 stipend for farmers market managers to offset costs incurred by attending two training sessions and as many as four one-on-one counseling sessions.
- Vendor training on topics such as market stall display and promotion, and $100 stipend to attend trainings (as many as 10 vendors).
- One stipend for farmers market managers/vendors to attend a farmers market conference.
- Funds to buy supplies for farmers markets to implement best practices, including signs, vinyl banners, easel boards, stickers, fliers, foot traffic counters, totes, paperweights, and other promotional items as approved.
- Training for both market managers and vendors on topics such as inclusivity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Double Up Food Bucks, and cottage foods.Help from Center and Buy Fresh, Buy Local Nebraska staff on topics such as market promotion, vendor management, and market rules (in-person and virtual).
- Translating promotional materials into Spanish, as capacity allows.
- Two print copies of the Nebraska Rural Farmers Market Handbook or the Iowa Farmers Market Manager Handbook.
- Free promotion through a profile article on your market for distribution to local news sources and via Buy Fresh Buy Local Nebraska and the Center’s website and social media platforms.
- Opportunity to participate in as many as two networking events with other farmers markets enrolled in the program.
If you work with multiple markets, please submit one application per market.
Click here for the application; photos are a great way to add to your application. Feel free to email photos and any questions to [email protected].
Funding for 2025 Rural Farmers Markets and Local Food Access in Nebraska and Iowa was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
