Last Chance to Vote for Your Favorite Farmers Market!

Monday September 3 is the Deadline to Cast a Ballot at www.votemyfarmersmarket.org  !!!

Don’t miss your chance to cast a ballot in American Farmland Trust’s fourth annual America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest at www.votemyfarmersmarket.org .Voting closes on September 3 at midnight Eastern time, when four winning markets—one small, one medium, one mid-size, and one large—will receive the title of America’s Favorite Farmers Market for 2012.

Wakefield is in the running for the state contest. While we would need at least 200-300 votes to make it to the top 20 in the medium-size category nation-wide, there is also a state-wide top five contest regardless of size and the Wakefield Farmers Market was in 2nd place as of Wednesday morning August 29, which is pretty impressive.

More than 7,000 markets across America are competing in the nationwide contest that began in July and runs throughout the summer. The goal of the contest is to highlight the role that farmers markets play in keeping family farmers on the land.

“Farmers markets provide opportunities for family farmers to connect with consumers and sell produce directly," said American Farmland Trust President Jon Scholl. “They bring a level of economic viability to farmers while offering delicious local foods and fun gathering spots that brighten the summer.”

The vendors love our market, and many tell me it is their favorite one. And, it speaks well of Wakefield that the vendors can tell that our market has strong support from the community. That is what makes our market so great.

According to the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest rules, people can vote for as many participating farmers markets as they choose, but can only vote for each market once. The winning markets will be featured in the media and receive a plaque from American Farmland Trust. A certificate will also be awarded to the top vote-getters in each state.

In addition to the winning markets, the winner of the Farmers Market Inspiration Award will be announced at the conclusion of the contest. The $1,000 grand prize will be awarded to a farmer-producer whose essay best illustrates why farmers markets matter to their farm, family, and community. The Award is hosted by the Farmers Market Coalition in partnership with Growing for Market magazine and American Farmland Trust. Runner up prizes will also be awarded.

For more information about the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest or to vote, visit www.votemyfarmersmarket.org.  Those interested in helping to get out the vote via social media are encouraged to use the short-cuts http://bit.ly/d8esGi on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about the Wakefield Farmers Market, see http://www.wakefieldfarmersmarket.com

NOTE:

American Farmland Trust is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated to saving America’s farm and ranch land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices and supporting a sustainable future for farms. Since its founding in 1980 by a group of farmers and citizens concerned about the rapid loss of farmland to development, AFT has helped save millions of acres of farmland from development and led the way for the adoption of conservation practices on millions more.

AFT’s national office is located in Washington, DC. Phone: 202-331-7300. For more information, visit www.farmland.org.