Growing the Field: Current Approaches to Data Collection at Farmers' Markets

Abstract

There is limited published research about the dietary impacts of farmers' markets. We sought to understand whether market managers collect data about markets and to examine the instruments and strategies used. Of the 359 market managers contacted across the United States, representing 543 markets, 185 managers participated in a telephone survey. A subset supplied copies of data collection tools for further analysis. Ninety-three percent of market managers collect data such as customer surveys, vendor applications, customer counts, or demographics. The potential utility of the data collected by mangers and suggestions for study of the dietary impacts of farmers markets are discussed.

Keywords:

• farmers' markets
• data collection
• nutrition
• dietary assessment

Acknowledgments

This article was prepared by a Food Systems and Public Health Conference Work Team funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.