Bureau of State Farmers' Markets

Division of Marketing and Development
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

2007-2008 Overview of Activities

The Bureau of State Farmers’ Markets manages four major program initiatives: State Farmers’ Markets; Community Farmers’ Markets; Women, Infants, and Children/Farmers’ Markets Nutritional Program (WIC/FMNP); and County Fair permitting.

State Farmers’ Markets tenants and clients marketed $565 million in wholesale value of produce, dairy, frozen seafood, and value-added products during fiscal year 2007-2008. The bureau operated 13 wholesale farmers’ markets during the fiscal year. These markets offer a mix of wholesale and retail produce and attendant services such as produce refrigeration, truck weigh scales, farm supply, restaurants, and produce brokerage sales as well as produce and freight shipping companies. At year’s end the available space for market tenants was 93 percent leased for a total of more than 1.9 million square feet of warehouse, office, and parking space.

Hurricane repair projects on the affected state market sites have made major strides in the recovery from the devastating storms of 2004 and 2005. Of the sites damaged by the storms of 2004, the repairs at Sanford, Fort Myers, and Wauchula have been completed. The Sanford hurricane reconstruction project expenses were $675,000, the Fort Myers hurricane reconstruction expenses were $5.9 million and the hurricane reconstruction expenses in Wauchula were $3.7 million. The Fort Pierce State Farmers’ Market site reconstruction projects continue with a guaranteed maximum price of $19,483,862 and are expected to be completed by August 2008 at an estimated total cost of $18 million. The Immokalee State Farmers’ Market hurricane reconstruction has an anticipated total project cost of $9 million to $10 million and is currently being formally appealed with FEMA.

More than 200 farmers operating at over 20 community retail markets participated in the Women, Infants, and Children/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC/FMNP) this year. By promoting the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to WIC mothers and children, this program encourages a healthy diet while boosting farmers’ sales at participating locations. The program was offered in 16 counties and provided over 30,000 WIC recipients with information about proper nutrition and the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables in their daily diets.

The County Fair permitting section issued permits for 52 fairs. Approximately $300,000 was distributed to these fairs and other public organizations as agricultural premium and awards reimbursements. These awards encourage participation by Florida’s youth in agricultural programs.

The popularity of retail farmers’ markets continues to grow in Florida. There are over 80 retail markets promoted on the Department’s web site.