Philip Bump reports on new data out this week that shows the number of farmers markets increased by 10% in the past year.
Continuing an 18-year trend, the number of farmers markets registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] has risen to 7,864. In 1994, there
were 1,744, reports Tracie Cone, with the Associated Press.
As Bump notes, the continued double-digit growth in the number of markets is remarkable. "Normally, you'd expect this to drop quickly as the total number of
markets increases - it's easier to grow 50 percent from 10 stores
(requiring only five new ones) than it is from 1,000 stores (500 new
ones)."
According to Cone, California and New York are the far-and-away leaders in the total number of markets. "California, the country's top agricultural producing state, has 827
markets, according to the USDA. New York has 647, more than double the
next most prolific state, Massachusetts, which has 313."
FULL STORY: Number of farmers markets up almost 10 percent over the last year
Farmers Markets Become Key Weapon in Combating Food Deserts
Rachel Cernansky reports on the federal government's recently announced plan to expand access to healthy foods by increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) acceptance at America's farmers markets.
Creative Ways to Activate Roofless Buildings and Vacant Lots
Pocket parks aren’t the only way to repurpose underused urban spaces.
Rural Affordable Housing in Crisis
Rural U.S. communities are poised to lose hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units as federally backed mortgages mature.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.
Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.
German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie