National Farmers Market Week runs August 1–7, 2027, right as tomatoes, peaches and sweet corn hit their peak. It’s a nudge to buy straight from the people who grow your food.
First Full Week of August
Each summer it fills August’s first full week, which starts on a Sunday. In 2021 that meant August 1 to 7, while 2026’s week fell on August 2 to 8.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaims it each summer. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the 2026 proclamation on August 5.
Promoting it is the Farmers Market Coalition, a national nonprofit. It calls it a celebration of “the vital role farmers markets play in our nation’s food system.”
A USDA Tradition Since 2000
USDA has proclaimed the week since 2000. Its 2014 edition, August 3 to 9, was billed as the 15th annual National Farmers Market Week.
Secretaries from both parties have signed it. Tom Vilsack said in 2014 that markets help build local and regional food systems that support family farms.
His 2021 proclamation noted a shift at the market stalls. More markets now take electronic benefit cards, so SNAP recipients can shop there.
WIC families and low-income seniors got attention in that 2021 text as well, since both groups can redeem special benefits for fresh produce.
Rollins put it simply in 2026: “Every purchase at a farmers market is an investment in American agriculture.”
Why Markets Matter
Farmers keep more of the money. Growers take home upwards of 90 cents of each dollar spent at a market, the Farmers Market Coalition estimates.
Compare that with the grocery aisle. Farmers got just 15.6 cents of each food dollar Americans spent in 2017, according to the National Farmers Union.
Markets are everywhere. USDA’s directory listed 8,690 farmers markets in 2017, and the Union of Concerned Scientists called that count likely low.
Direct sales add up, and they keep money in local economies. In 2015, more than 167,000 U.S. farms sold $8.7 billion worth of food straight to buyers, about $3 billion of it to consumers.
Food assistance reaches markets too. SNAP shoppers spent more than $20 million at markets and farms in fiscal 2016, up 638% from 2008.
Federal grants have helped. Markets that got USDA promotion grants saw sales rise 27% and customer counts rise 47% between 2006 and 2011, UCS reported.
Jobs follow the money. Local fruit and vegetable farms employed 13 full-time workers per $1 million in revenue, the UCS analysis found.
Make the Most of a Visit
Go early for the best choice, or late for the best deals. Either way, bring a reusable bag.
Growers who want to start selling can get help, even if they’ve never run a stall. NCAT pointed them to a free toolkit from the Montana Farmers Market Network that covers vendor training, food safety and food assistance programs.
- Visit a farmers market near you and try one fruit or vegetable you’ve never cooked.
- Ask a farmer how they grow their crops and what’s coming into season next.
- Bring small bills, though many stalls now take cards.
- Check whether your market doubles SNAP benefits for produce.
- Share a photo of your haul and tag the market.
- Plan a family meal around whatever looks freshest that week.
- Thank the volunteers and market managers who keep the stalls running every weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who proclaims National Farmers Market Week?
The Secretary of Agriculture, every summer.
Can I use SNAP at a farmers market?
At many, yes. Look for an information booth that handles benefit cards.
Are farmers markets only open in summer?
Not always. Some run year-round, indoors or outdoors.
Sources
- USDA – Secretary proclaims National Farmers Market Week (2026)
- USDA AMS – National Farmers Market Week proclamation (2021)
- Growing Produce – USDA declares National Farmers Market Week (2014)
- Union of Concerned Scientists – 7 fun facts for National Farmers Market Week (2017)
- NCAT – Celebrate National Farmers Market Week (2026)