Independence Farmers Market Funds

The Independence Farmers Market (IFM) began in 2009 as a forum to connect growers/producers to those in the community wishing to buy locally grown foods.  Almost a short decade later,  the IFM has blossomed into an incredible hub of locally grown and made produce, honey, meats, eggs,  baked goods, artisan products, and more.   Every Friday morning in May through October in Town Park, you will find an amazing coming together of farmers, artisans, musicians, and community members shopping and socializing with each other.  We also offer an online market that connects vendors with shoppers year round.  In a day and age where community interaction is hard to find and conventional food sources can be hard to trust, the IFM is a rare gem! Over the past ten years, our market has become one of the leading economies in our small, isolated Appalchain community; offering income and opportunities to over 50 famers and artisans. This year alone, we exceeded our sales and attendance goals, setting even higher expectations for 2018.

Here's where we need your help!  You see, in the past, we have been able to sustain the IFM operations from Farmers Market Promotion grants we have received from the USDA.  Unfortunately, because we have been awarded two of these large grants, we are not eligible to apply for them in 2018.  It's absolutely critical to our work that we maintain and grow our services to encourage new and existing farmers to sell products locally, to educate our customers on the benefits of buying local, and to build new farm entrepreneurship by providing a marketplace for sales and advanced business facilitation.
Your donations will provide resources to:
- recruit/engage aspiring farmers and new farmers to grow for our market
- employ chefs to conduct cooking demonstrations featuring local foods during market hours
- conduct workshops instructing growers in the technical/sustainable market farming practices

We appreciate whatever you are able to give and wish to offer the following gifts for donors:
- pledges of $75 or more will receive an IFM shopping bag!

- pledges f $150 will recieve an IFM Shopping bag AND T-Shirt of your choice!