FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 18, 2006
For more information contact:

Tom Lacock, Senior Marketing and Public Relations Specialist
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.631.0958

United States Department of Agriculture proclaims National Farmers’ Market Week

CHEYENNE – In recognition of the growing trend of farmers’ markets, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns has proclaimed August 6-12 as National Farmers’ Market Week.

The number of farmers’ markets in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years prompting state and national advocates of local farming to designate a week each year to take note of their benefits. The USDA reports that over 3,800 farmers’ markets operate throughout the nation – a record number, up from the initial count in 1994 of 1,755. Sales generated by farmers’ markets have been estimated to exceed $1 billion a year with most of the money going directly to small family farms.

The state of Wyoming features 23 farmers’ markets, a number that has doubled in the past four years.

"The presence of the newly-formed Wyoming Farmers’ Marketing Association should aid their development,” said Ted Craig, Value Added Program Manager for the Wyoming Business Council. The Farmers’ Marketing Association will provide educational support and promotion to Wyoming farmers’ markets through such tools as a conference, scheduled for early 2007. To see a full list of Wyoming farmers’ markets,
go to the Wyoming Business Council Web site at: (www.wyomingbusiness.org/ag/ag_farmersmarket.aspx).

For more information on the Farmers’ Market Association, contact Ted Craig at 307.777.6578.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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