For those interested in the future of farmers markets in West Virginia, Thursday at the West Virginia Small Farms Conference has much to offer, from the discussion " Interacting with Health Departments" to presentations from two national groups, the Farmers Market Coalition and the FoodRoutes Network (the latter to discuss “Buy Fresh Buy Local” Campaigns).

The first meeting of the newly formed West Virginia Farmers Market Association will be held after lunch on Thursday, February 28 at 1:15 AM at the Ramada Inn, Morgantown. What follows is a tentative meeting agenda:

• Background and Introductions—Core Group
• Grant & work summary: member fees/structure, member priorities, Web site development —Susan Sauter
• Progress report on liability insurance—Tom McConnell
• Election of seven board directors
• Discussion and adoption of by-laws
• The year ahead
  • Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign
  • Ideas for February 2009 meeting
    

The WVFMA meeting will conclude no later than 3:30 pm, when WVDA will offer WIC & Senior Voucher Program Training.

The goal of the WVFMA is to strengthen viability of farmers markets across the state. We plan to work together to share resources; to coordinate issues related to farmers markets throughout the state, and to promote activities that help establish, operate, and expand farmers markets throughout West Virginia.

Our voting membership will be comprised of Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets who will join as a Market Member. Each Market Entity will be counted as one member and is entitled to one vote with one representative. If you sell your products at a farmers market or on-farm market, please consider becoming a member. Because our work will focus on issues relative to the production and marketing of farm products, naturally we are encouraging individual farmers to join in the Friends of the Market category. Note that farms and agricultural groups will be listed on or linked to our website (under development) and can appear on WVFMA materials unless otherwise requested.

We are encouraging everyone who comes to the conference and meeting to bring along material for the "Resource Exchange Table": favorite catalogs, fact sheets, or resource info you think other growers may find useful that you would like to pass along to someone else. It could be previous years seed catalogs, organic grower supplies, or farming organization newsletters. Share the wealth of information we each have with our fellow farming friends.

For the "Show Off and Learn From Others Table," we'd like you to bring materials you are proud of that you use to promote your market, farm, orchard or other agricultural enterprise . It might be a canvas tote bag, ball cap or even banner featuring your logo. Or it could be a market name tag, refrigerator magnet, or farm lane sign--whatever you use to spread the word about the food you market. We want you to use this opportunity to "show off" so we can not only congratulate you but also learn from you.

We also would like to make you aware that Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), a new national nonprofit devoted to strengthening farmers markets across the country, is now seeking 'best practices' from market managers of both large urban markets and small rural markets. Stacy Miller has recently been hired as the Executive Secretary of the Farmers Market Coalition, and she will be attending the Small Farm Conference to listen, learn, and share in the WVFMA dialogue. Sharing your resources at the February meeting may help your market gain national recognition as well as help to generate a larger body of knowledge about how farmers markets can function most effectively for the benefit of farmers, consumers and communities. You can check out their web site at www.farmersmarketcoalition.org.