The Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces (FCMLC) is encouraging supporters to cast their vote once again in the 16th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration™ by American Farmland Trust. Between June 1 – July 31, 2024, visit markets.farmland.org, find your favorite market, US! and vote to put it in the running for national recognition and cash prizes. Last year our customers voted their love for the market, resulting in our being 1st in the State of NM, 2nd in the Southwest and 27th in the nation.
In 2024, the Celebration will award$15,000 in total cash awards to the top five markets in America–$5,000 for first, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth, $250 for fifth, and $100 to first in each state. These funds will be awarded to markets for marketing, communications, and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact.
American Farmland Trust (AFT), a national nonprofit dedicated to saving farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land, has run the Celebration for 16 consecutive years, elevating the increasingly essential role farmers markets play in providing communities with access to fresh, locally grown food and connecting farmers directly with their customers.
“In many regions, farmers markets have been vital to keeping existing farms in business, enabling new farms to get started, and creating jobs and opportunity in these communities,” said John Piotti, American Farmland Trust president and CEO. “At AFT, we believe that every farmers market in America is special in its own way, helping to connect farmers to customers, customers to healthy food, and the community to the local food system.”
“The FCMLC is the perfect outlet for our small, family run, farm for reaching our customers! We can homeschool and run the farm with our kids and then integrate them into the market environment when we bring them with us to the market. We all love conversing with customers, sharing our farm knowledge, while the kids also learn the economics of vending. The FCMLC is invaluable to our close-knit family lifestyle and philosophies,” said Michelle Pittsenbargar- Bodhi Farms- FCMLC Board of Directors Treasurer.
“Over 50 years in operation, 52 weeks a year, FCMLC is the most diverse center and outlet for local and regional farmers, ranchers, bakers, artisans and crafters offering the fruits of their work to the local residents and to visitors from all over the country. It is where we meet old friends and greet new ones, share information about our home, and make people welcome. We take pride in being the largest Market in New Mexico and one of the best in the U.S.,” said Dave Kerr, Creative Harmony Designs- FCMLC Board of Directors.