Coinciding with the last week of voting in AFT’s contest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is celebrating National Farmers Market Week from August 2-8 and encouraging consumers to visit their local markets. It should be easier for consumers to find a market, too: farmers markets are becoming more prevalent with nearly five percent more markets this year than last.

Farmers markets customers are encouraged to vote at www.farmland.org/vote, and to tell their friends about the contest. Customers can vote for more than one market, but only may cast one vote per market. And you can track the “leader board” online which continuously updates the top 20 markets in each size category.

American Farmland Trust designed the promotion to celebrate farmers markets and to help draw the connection between the necessity of farm and ranch land and the availability of fresh, local food. In addition, farmers markets can provide community economic development opportunities and help farms stay economically viable. The economic health of farm operations is one key to protect farm and ranch land—since economic stress often causes farmers to exit the industry.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack echoed those sentiments in his comments on National Farmers Market Week: "One of the Obama Administration's top priorities is to make sure that all Americans—especially children—have access to fresh, nutritious food, and USDA's ongoing support of farmers markets is important to reaching that goal. At the same time, farmers markets help support small family farms, help revitalize rural communities, and often promote sustainable agricultural practices."

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