As you consider non-profits for your end-of-year contributions, we encourage you to support farmers markets - your local farmers market or the North Carolina Farmers Market Network, a newly-established 501(c)(3) nonprofit to serve all markets statewide.

Our mission is to create a thriving network of marketplaces for local food and farm products through education, innovative services, programs and partnerships and providing resources to underserved populations. At the core of our mission is the belief that farmers markets across the state should be welcoming, local spaces open to all.

North Carolina has a thriving economy of farmers markets as well as local, regional, and statewide partnerships that support markets and NC farmers. For many small-scale NC farmers, farmers markets are a critical part of their success. In 2022, our first statewide Farmers Market Census found that nearly 6.2 million people visited farmers markets in North Carolina that year. The Census highlights farmers markets as vibrant spaces that provide support not just for farms and small businesses, but for consumers and communities on a broad scale. Among their many benefits, farmers markets preserve rural livelihoods and farmland; stimulate local economies; increase access to fresh, nutritious food; support healthy communities; and promote sustainability. 

NCFMN is committed to providing market managers with virtual and in-person opportunities to share best practices, to create statewide resources, and to develop market training tools (from setting up a market, to offering nutrition incentive programming, to creating marketing and promotional campaigns that align farmers markets with tourism).  A critical part of supporting NC farmers markets is supporting farmers market managers and coordinators who ensure successful markets every single week. 

In addition, we work to increase accessibility to farmers markets by supporting markets currently providing nutrition assistance programs and grow the number of markets that accept SNAP/EBT - adopting SNAP nutrition incentive programs that double those benefits. We are seeking both private and grant-funding to specifically help continue our work.

We expect that you too are a fan of thriving farmers markets, these “third spaces” that are so valuable and important for communities across North Carolina. Please consider supporting us in the work we do by making a tax-deductible donation. The North Carolina Farmers Market Network is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN # is 35-2784548.  Your contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Donors will receive a confirmation of receipt.