Manager Resources

Note: If you are looking for marketing or outreach for your market, see the Marketing your Market page. If you want to suggest more online market manager resources, email them to farmersmarkets@mt.gov. The links below will automatically open in a new tab in your web browser.

Starting a Farmers Market

• Washington State Farmers Market Management Toolkit: Information, tips, and templates to help market managers navigate the increasing demands they face.

Update Your Farmers Market Listing

Abundant Montana [abundantmontana.com] and Department of Agriculture's Farmers Market team are excited to partner this year to simplify your life.  Complete this form [forms.gle] to update your Farmers Market directory listings on both sites for the 2021 season. We are here to help. If you need any assistance, email Lindsay Ganong at lganong@aeromt.org to schedule a time to complete the form verbally.  Once the basic information is entered, Abundant Montana, Montana Department of Agriculture, or Community Food and Agriculture Coalition staff will create/update your listing, add any eye-catching photos that you can provide, and follow up with any questions.

New! Conference Resources

• Vendor Recruitment and Retention – National Farmers Market Coalition Presentation at 2019 State Conference (PowerPoint)
• Marketing Farmers’ Markets: Ideas for Market Vendors & Managers in Nevada
• Federal Grant Example – Troy Farmers Market Promotion Grant: An example of a grant won by the Yaak Valley Forest Council for the Troy Farmers Market through the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) in 2014.
• Market Manager Software
• Guide to Exceptional Markets: Resource for Organic Vendors. If your vendors are interested in an alternative to the National Organic Program, check it out.
• Senior Nutrition Flyer 2019 Template (pdf)
• Market Performance White Paper: Developing Viable Farmers Markets in Rural Communities: An Investigation of Vendor Performance using Objective and Subjective Valuations

State Regulations:

Vendors selling anything with roots in soil? Check out Nursery Licensing requirements:

• Nursery Information from the Montana Department of Agriculture
• Nursery Program Information for Farmers Markets (pdf)

Vendors selling Produce? Licensing requirements and produce safety inspection/education:

• Produce Licensing Information from the Montana Department of Agriculture
• Produce Safety – Inspections and Education from the Montana Department of Agriculture
• Farmers Market Guidelines 2019 from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (pdf)

Vendor Communication & Recruitment

• Farm Link Montana: Connecting Montana's beginning farmers and ranchers to the tools and resources they need to succeed, Farm Link can be an excellent resource to find and support market vendors.
• Recruiting Producers Market Manager Tip Sheet: Recruitment suggestions in this publication from the Farmers Market Coalition.
• Recruiting Farmers to Your Market: From the Washington State Farmers Market Management Toolkit.

General Farmers Market Resources & Help:

• Montana Produce Availability Chart: A month-by-month listing of available produce in typical Montana markets.
• Farmers Markets - Market and Business Guide: This publication, developed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), is a resource for those who want to organize a farmers market, to improve an existing market, or to increase their sales.
• Free Webinars: From the Michigan Farmers Market Association, topics covered include Economic Development, Food Access, and more.
• Farmers Market Metrics from the Farmers Market Coalition: The Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) worked with market and research partners to develop a complete evaluation & data communication system for farmers markets, known as Farmers Market Metrics (FMMetrics). FMMetrics is driven by the need for efficient farmers market management tools, that can also serve to streamline grant reporting.

Market Regulations

• Guide to Uniformity & Value Comparison: From Montana Weights & Measures, recommended methods of sale to assist vendors in providing uniformity and value comparison.
• Guide to Use of Weighing Devices (PDF 28 KB): From Montana Weights & Measures, guidelines for the commercial use of scales and the method of sale for vendors participating in Farmers Markets.
• Market Manager Certificate Program: Certified Market Manager training based in Michigan, but open to non-Michigan managers.

Insurance Resources

• County Sanitarians/Health Department Contact Info from Montana DPHHS
• Farmers Market Guidelines (2020) from the Montana Food & Consumer Safety Program
• Montana Food & Ag Development Centers
• Montana Food Safety
• Montana Cottage Food FAQ and Laws from DPHHS
• FMC Insurance Webinar Series: Webinars about liability insurance for markets from the Farmers Market Coalition.