Decatur Farmers Market

Farmers markets are becoming a critical ingredient of our nation’s economy, food systems and communities. Connecting rural areas to urban ones, farmers to consumers and fresh ingredients to our diets, farmers markets are developing into economic and community centerpieces in cities and towns across the U.S.

Beyond the economic and business benefits, farmers markets give communities access to fresh, healthy foods, especially in areas where shopping options may be limited. What began as a business necessity for many small farmers has evolved into a social venue for entire communities, with many patrons viewing a trip to the Saturday morning market as the start of their weekend

The Decatur Farmers Market provides fresh produce, prepared foods and crafts on a weekly basis to the Decatur community. Join us on the front lawn of First Baptist Church of Decatur (308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur) every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (between April 11 and December 19, except November 21) and every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (between April 14 and December 15).

The Decatur Farmers Market is part of the nonprofit organization Community Farmers Markets, whose mission is to develop a local food infrastructure for longterm sustainability and meaningful community impact. The purpose is to preserve, root and grow a diverse local

Decatur Farmers Market

food culture by maintaining an authentic space for all people to share community, fair food and healthy lifestyles while providing a sustainable living for producers who steward the earth.

Leaders in Atlanta’s local food movement founded Community Farmers Markets in 2011 to meet the demand for more efficiently managed, communitybased, sustainable farmers markets. These stakeholders included farmers and others who worked for a vibrant local food system and who have special interests, talents or resources to build a stronger local food movement. The organization serves as an umbrella organization with communitylevel “market community groups,” while maintaining the identity and culture of each market. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Community Farmers Markets has a unique, threepart approach to food access: distribution of food at markets, education about food through educational programming and financial incentives to purchase produce. These incentives are through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (known as “SNAP” and formerly known as “Food Stamps”) and My Market programs.

Community Farmers Markets leverages strong relationships with mission-critical partners in our communities and the city at large to carry out programs. Our markets and models have had an extensive impact on the local food system in Atlanta. Our founding market, the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, was the first Georgia market to accept Food Stamps and to pilot Wholesome Wave, Georgia’s SNAP double-value program. In 2015, we served over 160,000 shoppers and over 120 vendors at six weekly markets and provided over $80,000 in doubled SNAP benefits to the Atlanta community.

We envision a future in which Atlanta and Decatur will be home to a diverse, interconnected food system that promotes healthy food, sustainable ecosystems and living wage working conditions. We are a leader in this system, leveraging the power of communities by providing resources, educational programs and sustainable modes of food distribution for farmers, producers, chefs and consumers.

For more information go to https://cfmatl.org.