Growth in the number of U.S. farmers markets slows in recent years

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Between 1994 and 2019, the number of farmers markets in the US increased from 1,755 to 8,771, growing at about 7 percent annually. However, growth slowed after 2011, and by 2016-2017, it was below 1 percent per year. This decrease is attributed to the rise of local food sales in grocery stores, restaurants, and distributors, resulting in less growth in direct-to-consumer outlets like farmers markets. Still, many farmers market vendors reported increased production, additional workforce, and selling imperfect products, contributing to a diverse range of offerings for customers.