Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Programs

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas have partnered again for the sixth annual Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program and the Arkansas Farmers Market Bag Program. These programs, which are administered by the Department and funded by Farm Credit, help build awareness of farmers market locations and offerings.

Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Grant

Farmers Market Promotion Grant may fund the following promotional items to build community and regional awareness for a specific farmers market:

• signage listing names, seasons, times of operation and location details

• local advertising including print, radio and television media projects

• social media campaigns

In 2020, the Department provided over $7,500 in grants to 21 Arkansas Farmers Markets through the partnership with Farm Credit.

The program will provide cost share assistance for 75% up to $400.

Please include all the required criteria to the application. All proposed signage MUST include Farm Credit and Arkansas Department of Agriculture logo; to request digital copies, contact Agriculture Program Manager Karen Reynolds.

• A detailed explanation of the proposed use of the funds

• An itemized budget identifying other funding sources

• A copy of the proposed promotion or signage

Applications are available mid-January to early March.

Click here to view the application. Application may be submitted to Agriculture Program Manager Karen Reynolds karen.reynolds@agriculture.arkansas.gov

or mail to:

Arkansas Department of Agriculture Attn: Karen Reynolds 1 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, AR 72205

Farmers Market Bags

As an added offering at local Farmers Markets, the Department has designed reusable paper shopping bags for purchase by farmers markets or vendors at greatly reduced rates. This allows farmers markets or vendors to provide convenient shopping bags for consumers. In 2020, the Department provided more than 7,000 shopping bags to Arkansas farmers markets.

The Department and Farm Credit are also partnering to provide Farmers Market Bags. Farmers Market Bags can be ordered throughout the year.

A minimum purchase of 250 bags is required.

The market manager will be contacted about bag retrieval once payment is received.

Markets are responsible for bag pick-up unless the Market Manager chooses to incur the cost of shipping. To Order Farmers Market Bags: Please fill out the Order Form and mail with a check to the address on the form.