Farmers Markets by the Numbers: How Many There Are, When They're Open and What Shoppers Spend

Farmers markets are the most visible form of buying local: you hand money directly to the person who grew the food. But how many markets are there, when are they open, and how much do farms actually sell this way? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has tracked these questions for decades. Here's what its data shows.

How many farmers markets are there in the U.S.?

The best recent count comes from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Its 2019 National Farmers Market Managers Survey, published in August 2020, estimated 8,140 farmers markets operating in the lower 48 states.

A second source is the USDA farmers market directory, where markets list themselves voluntarily. It held 8,771 listings in 2019. The two numbers differ because they're measured differently: one is a statistical survey, the other a self-reported list.

How fast did farmers markets grow?

USDA published counts every two years until 2008, then annually. Listings are voluntary, so the directory doesn't capture every market.

Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

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Year	Directory listings
1994	1,755
1996	2,410
1998	2,746
2000	2,863
2002	3,137
2004	3,706
2006	4,385
2008	4,685
2009	5,274
2010	6,132
2011	7,175
2012	7,864
2013	8,144
2014	8,268
2015	8,476
2016	8,669
2017	8,687
2018	8,720
2019	8,771

Directory listings grew five-fold in 25 years, from 1,755 in 1994 to 8,771 in 2019. USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) calculated average growth of about 7% a year over that period.

The growth wasn't even:

• 1994–2008: steady growth, from 1,755 to 4,685 listings.
• 2008–2011: the boom years. Listings jumped by about 1,000 a year, reaching 7,175 in 2011.
• 2012–2019: a plateau. ERS reports growth slowed after 2011 and fell below 1% between 2016 and 2017. The directory added only 51 listings from 2018 to 2019.

When are farmers markets open?

Seasonal markets only; the 21.0% of markets that operated year-round are reported separately.

Source: USDA NASS, National Farmers Market Managers (2019)

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Month	Share of markets operating
Jan	2.5%
Feb	3.2%
Mar	4.6%
Apr	12.6%
May	43.9%
Jun	68.8%
Jul	71.9%
Aug	71.8%
Sep	69.1%
Oct	51.1%
Nov	13.8%
Dec	6.6%

Most U.S. farmers markets are seasonal. In the 2019 survey, only 21.0% operated year-round. Among seasonal markets, the share operating:

• climbed from 12.6% in April to 43.9% in May;
• peaked at 71.9% in July and stayed near 70% through September;
• dropped to 51.1% in October and 13.8% in November.

The most popular day is Saturday, when 52.4% of markets operated. If you're planning a visit in late fall, check your local market's schedule; about half of them are still open in October.

What can you buy at a farmers market?

Fruits and vegetables are nearly universal: 99.6% of markets in the 2019 survey had them. Many markets also help shoppers identify local products. 84.7% of markets used labeling to show which products were locally grown.

Selling at farmers markets also changes how farms operate. Citing market managers in the 2019 survey, ERS reports that about two-thirds of vendors increased production, about one-third added workers to meet demand, about 40% sold imperfect products that wouldn't otherwise be sold in mainstream markets, and 77% said taking part led them to produce a more diverse range of products.

Do farmers markets accept SNAP?

Many do. In 2019, 4,076 markets accepted federal nutrition assistance benefits, and 78.7% of those accepted SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Programs and payment options vary by market and state, so check with your market before you go.

How much do people spend at farmers markets?

The 2019 survey offers a snapshot of a typical market day:

• an average of 916 households shopped on a typical market day;
• average sales were $14,547 per market on an average market day;
• market managers who were paid earned an average of $18.40 an hour;
• 31,609 volunteers helped run 5,078 markets, a reminder that many markets depend on community labor.

How much food do farms sell directly to consumers?

Farmers markets are one of several direct-to-consumer channels, alongside farm stands, community-supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions and online sales. The 2022 Census of Agriculture, released February 13, 2024, found:

• 116,617 farms sold food directly to consumers;
• those sales were worth $3.3 billion;
• the value was 16% higher than in 2017.

ERS looked at the broader picture, including farms that sell local food to retailers, institutions and intermediaries. In 2022, farms sold $17.5 billion of food through all direct marketing channels, up 25% after adjusting for inflation since 2017. Sales to retailers, institutions and intermediaries made up $14.2 billion of that, from 60,332 operations. Meanwhile, the number of farms selling directly to consumers fell 10.3%. California accounted for 37.7% of direct sales.

In short, fewer farms are selling directly to shoppers, but those that do are selling more, and a growing share of local food reaches people through grocery stores, restaurants and schools.

How can you make the most of your local farmers market?

• Go early in the season and early in the day. Many markets open in May, and popular items can sell out.
• Bring a mix of payment options. Not every vendor takes cards, and SNAP processes vary.
• Ask questions. Direct sales mean you can ask how something was grown or made.
• Keep buying local in the off-season. When your market closes, look for regional brands at the grocery store.

For pantry staples from smaller American producers, here are a few from our directory:

Savannah Bee Company is from Georgia, Hammons black walnuts come from Missouri, and Bob's Red Mill mills grains in Oregon. Browse American-made grocery products, explore products by state, or read why buying local matters.

About this data

Market counts come from USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service directory (voluntary listings, 1994–2019) and the NASS 2019 National Farmers Market Managers Survey (released August 17, 2020), which covered the lower 48 states. Direct sales come from the NASS 2022 Census of Agriculture and an ERS Chart of Note (March 21, 2024). We haven't found a more recent national count of farmers markets from USDA.