Just went through the Market Manager Training with the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association on Friday with Sara. I believe this training is now mandatory of all approved Alberta Farmers’ Markets, which we are.
Coming into this new, I wasn’t sure even what the difference between an approved farmers” market and a regular public market was. But having come out of the training with my brain absolutely full of information, I am so happy that our association decided to go this route years ago and continues to participate as an approved market. The rules, food safety guidelines, principles of conduct, best practices, resources and support that go along with the designation seem to really help us as a group create the best conditions for a successful market that is all inclusive, fair, and most of all, locally focused.
The big revelation to me out of this training was, non-approved farmers’ markets do NOT require at least 80% of the products have to be made, grown or baked locally. In fact, they do whatever they want. So really, those markets could potentially involve no farmers at all! Weird.
It is weird, I noticed we have 1 here in Calgary that has barely any farmers and mostly high end type boutique style food store.
To be sure it is truly a make, bake or grow it market, check the AFMA website: http://www.albertamarkets.com/Markets/tabid/56/Default.aspx