As a follow up to my recent post on The Growing Home- Sustainable Urban Farm, on my blog at socialvoices.blogspot.com, I want to take this opportunity to share some eye-opening stats. According to National Geographic the number of U.S. farmers markets increased 74% from 1994 to 2013- up from 1,755 to 8,144. The growth if fuel by concerns over child and adolescent obesity and GMO’s a rising consciousness and commitment to invest in local economies and a simple desire for fresh produce.
Based on National Geographic’s data more than half of the over eight thousand farmers markets are concentrated in 12 states; Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, California, Virginia and North Carolina. California ranks first with nearly 760 farmers market.
Another part of the urban farming trend is the growth in local food cooperatives. According to National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) these member/shopper owned entities invest more money back into local communities $.38 versus $.24 for conventional stores. They also tend to work with more local farmers – on average 157 compared to 65 for traditional stores.
This trend along with the growth and popularity of farmers markets is well worth considering if you you’re thinking of trying your green thumb at urban farming. Another consideration is that farmers selling their output locally and directly to restaurants, co-ops and farmers markets are closer to the end customer- cutting out the middlemen such as brokers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. This means more money in farmers’ pockets.
To be sure urban farming is not for everyone. This can’t be painted as an easy or lucrative lifestyle or business path. Urban farmers such as those featured in Roman Zenz’s film Urban Fruit are still facing down challenges to creating a sustainable financial livelihood doing what they enjoy and believe in. At a time when farmers markets, urban farming and food cooperatives are trending the number of U.S. farmers has declined from 18% of the U.S. workforce in 1910 to only around 1% in 2012 and of the 2.1 million U.S. farmers only 120,000 are younger than 35. The average age is 58 according to National Geographic. However if you sit all of this under the umbrella of consideration for global warming, concerns over environmental impacts and seeking better quality of life, work balance for some this alternative lifestyle means work that offers enhanced intrinsic rewards.
