This is a mixed method qualitative study the goal of which is to 1) to better understand the range of strategies through which farmers markets run by organizations seek to support their vendors and 2) begin to understand how these diverse strategies affect producers’ direct-market experiences in positive and negative ways.
Differences in market management among those markets managed by external organizations may represent a key but under-recognized factor impacting farmers’ economic viability and quality of life. For that reason, this study investigates the varied structures of farmers market organizations to identify benefits, challenges, and services associated with externally managed farmers markets.
The study population includes food systems professionals employed by a farmers market organization. In this study, a farmers market organization is defined as an entity that handles the managerial aspects of a farmers’ market. Managerial aspects may include but are not confined to administrative duties, daily logistics, scheduling, arranging infrastructure, publicity, administration, and handling relevant municipal permits. No populations of increased concern are being studied.
The study utilizes mixed methods, including an organizational environmental scan, listening sessions/workshops, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to identify, synthesize and disseminate information on common practices and strategies used by farmers markets managed by organizations and farmers market umbrella organizations.
Individual participants study duration will consist of a single visit of between one and two hours depending on if they are participating in listening session workshops, focus group discussions or key informant interviews.
Participants will be recruited from across the United States through a combination of purposive and convenience sampling outlined in the protocol.
Total enrollment in the study will be approximately 186 individuals over the course of the study.
No specimens will be banked for future use, and recordings, transcripts, and field notes will be kept only for the periods specified in the protocol and under the security conditions listed.
Informed consent will be sought through verbal methods for listening session workshops, focus group discussions or key informant interviews. A waiver of informed consent is sought for the participant observation portion of the study.