LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed Aug. 5-11 as Arkansas Farmers Market Week to highlight the important benefits that the markets provide to Arkansas’ agricultural producers, consumers, and communities, according to a news release from the Arkansas Agriculture Department.
Farmers market managers, partners, leaders and stakeholders will gather at the State Capitol Aug. 9 for an official presentation of the proclamation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also declared the week National Farmers Market Week.
“More than 100 Arkansas farmers markets are important outlets for agricultural producers, connecting them to consumers who are increasingly more interested in investing in locally sourced products,” says Hutchinson, who has just wrapped up a second annual agriculture tour with agriculture operations and communities across southwest counties. “We proudly join in a week of celebrating the role agriculture and farmers markets play in strengthening our communities, and in keeping our residents healthy.”
Farmers markets are located in more than 66 percent of Arkansas counties.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Farmers markets across the state play a key role in developing local and regional food systems that support the sustainability of Arkansas farms and help revitalize rural communities,” according to the release.
Consumers can find a list of Arkansas Farmers Markets at the Arkansas Agriculture Department’s Arkansas Grown program database, http://www.arkansasgrown.org and at Arkansas Farmers Market Association, http://www.arkansasfarmersmarketassociation.com .
“Farmers markets allow customers to learn where their food is coming from and about the farmers who are growing it,” says Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “Family farming is a rich, historic tradition in Arkansas, and we appreciate the many benefits that farmers markets provide to Arkansas producers, consumers, and the economy of our rural communities.”
The Arkansas Farmers Market Week proclamation is available at https://governor.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/proclamations/180805_2018_Farmers_Market_Week_in_the_State_of_Arkansas_1.pdf .
The document states in part:
• The increased consumption of fresh, affordable products including vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, eggs, jams and jellies and other farm products found at Farmers Markets improves the health and well-being of Arkansans;
• Access to healthy foods is a priority of the Healthy Active Arkansas Initiative to reduce obesity rates in the State of Arkansas;
• Direct-to-consumer sales in Arkansas from Farmers Markets and other direct marketing channels used by farmers is valued at more than $6.3 million.
The official national proclamation can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/8412208SignedProclamationforNationalFarmersMarketWeekAugust511.pdf .