Bureau of State Farmers' Markets

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

2009-2010 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 $521 million in wholesale value of produce, dairy, frozen seafood, and value-added products during fiscal year 2008-2009. 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 79 percent leased for a total of more than 1.6 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. The last site with unrepaired damage from the 2004 storms was the Fort Pierce State Farmers’ Market, and repairs have now been completed. The Fort Pierce hurricane reconstruction project expenses were $17.9 million. There are two remaining with unrepaired damage as a result of the 2005 hurricanes. The Immokalee State Farmers’ Market hurricane reconstruction project has an anticipated maximum total project cost of $10 million and is currently out for bid having prevailed in the Department’s formal appeal with FEMA. It is anticipated that this project site will be completed within 12 months. The remaining site requiring repairs due to 2005 hurricane damage is Florida City. The Department currently has two buildings on appeal with FEMA with an estimated repair cost of $2 million.

More than 200 farmers operating at over 25 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 $200,000 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 more than 100 retail markets promoted on the Department’s web site.