10.5.2009 9:22 AM

U.S. Farmers' Markets 13% More Numerous

What's next for the local food movement?

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Photo: Camilla Wisbauer / Istock

By Dan Shapley

In one year, the number of U.S. farmers' markets increased 13% -- one of the clearest signs of the surging enthusiasm for local healthy food.

Even with 5,274 farmers' markets, the number documented by the Department of Agriculture in 2009, there's still a lot of room for growth. There are more than 58,000 people to every farmers' market in the U.S.

Still, it's incredible to think that in 1994, there were only about 1,200 farmers' markets nationwide. Now, even the White House has a garden.

What form will the next phase of this local food expansion take? We'd love to see local markets that sell farm-fresh produce all week, and all year long. While shopping at farmers' markets feels fresh, the days of shopping once and only once a week seems anachronistic. What do you think?

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