In Iowa, many market managers are volunteers and many have been a market vendor. The Iowa Farmers Market Manager Toolkit has been developed with the generous involvement of market managers from across the state as well as extension, non-profit, and government agency staff who participated in interviews and shared information. The Toolkit includes twelve Farmers Market Vendor Handouts, a comprehensive Iowa Farmers Market Manager Handbook, and the Lettuce Grow Online Training Series.

This Toolkit is meant to complement the existing booklet published by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and resources provided by the Iowa Farmers Market Association.

The Farmers Market Vendor Handouts are a series of twelve 1-page handouts intended to make being a manager a little easier. Each handout provides a summary of information focused around a topic geared towards farmers market vendors.

The Iowa Farmers Market Manager Handbook combines broad best practices with ideas and encouragement from real Iowa farmers market managers. This place-based approach offers potential market managers and existing market managers in Iowa an opportunity to connect with colleagues from similarly sized towns, provide their boards or committees with justification and inspiration, and fuel grant applications and private sponsorships.

The Lettuce Grow Online Trainings are a series of videos recorded from past trainings that took place from 2017-2019 around the state of Iowa. The series is now available online. Each training features an experienced market manager and vendor providing insight on farmers markets.

Special thanks to all those that provided input into the development of the this toolkit and all the work you do for Farmers Markets in Iowa.

USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grants (Award No. #16-FMPP-IA-0027) supported this work. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this Toolkit is for educational purposes to assist farmers market management in improving their market operations. This material is not intended, and should not be used, as a substitute or replacement for individual legal, financial, or actuarial advice. Each market organization should consult a relevant professional advisor when making business decisions as appropriate.