Here is what one Collingswood Farmers’ Market customer has to say:

“It is a community tradition to be at the market Saturday morning.  Local restaurants have gotten involved with the market, giving demonstrations at the markets, incorporating market produce into their menus.  The success of Collingswood's market has led to nearby communities also sponsoring markets, thus making local food more accessible to consumers and enabling small farms to be successful.

In its inaugural year, the AFT contest registered just shy of 30,000 votes in support of local farmers markets across the nation and featured 857 participating farmers markets. The Collingswood Farmers’ Market registered 1,030 votes and swept the ‘Small’ category of markets featuring 30 or fewer vendors.

Collingswood Farmers’ Market will receive a free No Farms No Food ® tote bag giveaway for their customers. The totebags will be distributed at an event open to the press and public on September 12, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. at the farmers market between Collings and Irvin Avenues along the PATCO line in Collingswood, New Jersey.

Along with the Collingswood Farmers Market, Davis Farmers Market in Davis, California took home the prize in the large markets category (55 or more vendors), and the Williamsburg, Virginia Farmers Market the medium category (31-55 vendors).

By partnering with farmers markets, American Farmland Trust is encouraging consumers to consider the importance of farmland and to support local farmers. Put succinctly, there is no local food without local farmland.

American Farmland Trust—along with many local and state governments, and non-profit groups, is working to make “growing local” a reality for farmers, ranchers and consumers. Healthy Farms, Healthy Food, and Healthy Communities: It’s what America needs!

Find out more about American Farmland Trust’s Growing Local Campaign: www.farmland.org/local

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