Our Mission
To create a place to educate, connect, and support communities and local agriculture.
Our Goals
Support regional sustainable producers by providing them with direct access to consumers. Educate the pulic on the nutritional and economic benefits of buying locally grown food directly from farmers. Unite farmers and communities.
Our Story
Our first market opened in 1983 at the Civic Center in San Rafael. In 1987, the Marin Farmers Markets (MFM) was established as a non-profit organization for the mutual benefit of the farmers and consumers. In the 1990’s MFM began facilitating farmers markets in neighboring communities. At our peak we were managing nine farmers markets. In response to the growing number of farmers markets in California, an expansion that tends to overextend rather than benefit farmers, MFM dropped two markets and set out to facilitate only the best, most productive markets for our members. To accomplish this goal, we look closely at a community’s unique dynamics and needs before creating a new market. MFM currently manages seven Certified Farmers Markets in the Bay Area, and represents over 450 active members.
So what is a Certified Farmers Market?
A Certified Farmers Market is approved by the County Agricultural Commissioner for certified farmers to directly market the products they grow and raise themselves. Creating venues for farmers to sell directly to consumers supports small family farming operations. By eliminating the middle man, local family farms can remain financially viable. When Farmers Market regulations were established by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 1977, there were only a handful of Certified Farmers Markets in the state. Today, there are over 500 Certified Farmers Markets in California.
©Marin Farmers Markets 501(c) 5 Non-Profit || 76 San Pablo Ave Suite 200, San Rafael, CA 94903 || 415.472.6100