LITTLE ROCK – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has proclaimed June 11-17 as Arkansas Farmers Market Week to highlight the important benefits that farmers markets provide to Arkansas’s agricultural producers, consumers, and communities.
“Farmers markets play an important role in connecting producers to consumers while developing local food systems and supporting the economy of our rural communities,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “We are proud to have more than 112 farmers markets in Arkansas, and we appreciate the opportunity to celebrate the value they provide to Arkansas agriculture during this farmers market season.”
On June 9, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) joined industry partners at an event dedicated to celebrating Arkansas farmers markets. Cynthia Edwards, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, was joined by Arkansas Farmers Market Association/Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ArCOP) President Katrina Betancourt; Steve Powell, ArCOP Health Outreach Coordinator; Mark Nelson, Oak Forest Community Garden Manager; and other farmers market managers, partners, leaders, stakeholders, and community members at Oak Forest Community Garden in Little Rock. Photos from the event can be found at flic.kr/s/aHBqjAHaCT.
Farmer direct-to-consumer sales occur in 98 percent of Arkansas counties, are used by over 1,500 Arkansas farmers, and are valued at more than $9.2 million. Consumers can find a farmers market near them through the Department’s Arkansas Grown program at arkansasgrown.org/.
