In many parts of the country, it's that time of year when you can go get a pile of zucchini at your local farmers' market for a few bucks. There are a lot more markets to meet your zucchini-buying needs than 5 years ago, but new data from the USDA suggests the growth in farmers' markets is finally settling down after years of booming growth.
Clearly there was a recent acceleration in the number of markets, but it's flattening out. Here's what that looks like in terms of annual growth rates.
Are we saturated with farmers' markets? The answer is complicated. As I wrote at US News last year, places with the most concentrated demand are saturated and may in some cases have too many markets. Less-populated areas may not have enough demand to sustain a market. In addition, only around 20 percent accept SNAP as payment. Expanding that might expand demand for lower-income customers.
Contributions are a key part of the future of Vox
Readers rely on Vox for clear, nuanced coverage that not only illuminates the issues, but poses solutions, too. And we rely on help from our readers: Advertising and grants cover the majority of our costs, but we count on contributions to help us close the gaps in our budget. In fact, we’re looking to reach 95,000 individual contributions before the end of the year. Will you make the next contribution right now? Our average gift is just $20 — and it goes a long way in helping us keep our work free. Vox is here to help everyone understand what’s shaping the world — not just the people who can afford to pay for a subscription. We believe that’s an important part of building a more equal society. Join that mission by making a contribution today.
Yes, I'll give $5/month
Yes, I'll give $5/month
We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and
Google Pay. You can also contribute via
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/36480358/175812887.0.jpg)
