Released February 26, 2010
RENO, Nev.-- University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and other UNR researchers are teaming up to help Nevada communities establish more vibrant and sustainable farmers markets — giving Nevada’s growers new and better ways to get their produce into the hands — and mouths — of consumers.
The popularity of local farmers markets has increased in recent years, spurred by consumer demands for fresh organic products and concerns about the energy consumed trucking produce large distances from field to market. Over the last 10 years, the number of established farmers markets in Nevada has grown from nine in 2000 to 25 in 2010.
The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension has been working with local communities to improve and reinvent farmers markets by:
- Developing new means of volunteer recruitment and retention
- Providing marketing incentives for participating farmers and producers
- Analyzing specific consumer demographics and demands
- Developing marketing strategies to meet consumer demands
- Encouraging sustainable and profitable market dynamics
- Expanding avenues for promoting and advertising local markets
--continued on University of Nevada Cooperative Extension news
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