Center for Regional Food Systems

Visit MIFMA's website to view the report

In the fall of 2018, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems partnered with the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) to conduct rapid market assessments of farmers markets in Detroit and Hamtramck.

By partnering with the Detroit Community Markets network, the project was able to include eight unique, community-based farmers markets. The assessments captured a one-day snapshot of each of the markets that included counting customer attendance, conducting a dot survey to gather shopper feedback, and recording constructive comments and observations by the assessment teams.  

Since 2006, MIFMA has conducted Rapid Market Assessments, research projects, program evaluation and, in 2011, began supporting the use of the online Farmers Market Metrics portal created by the Farmers Market Coalition; all with a goal of improving farmers markets and documenting and communicating their impacts. This report concentrates market assessments in a single geographic area and in a condensed time frame, resulting in a fairly comprehensive snapshot of the community-based farmers markets operating in this area in a single market season.

The aggregate report summarizes, compares and contrasts the data collected during eight assessments conducted in September and October of 2018. A summary of the results from each market’s assessment can also be found at www.mifma.org/rapidmarketassessments.

This report was made possible with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Visit MIFMA's website to view the report