Assessing the Impact of the Athens Farmers Market [2013]
December 1, 2013
At the request of the Athens Farmers Market (AFM) and a member of the Athens City Council, Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs conducted an assessment of the Athens Farmers Market and its impact on the community. The assessment drew on the Rapid Market Assessment model created by researchers at Oregon State University Extension Service. The project included customer counts, vehicle counts, customer engagement and a collection of financial information from vendors. Based on the assessment, researchers concluded that AFM is a robust market with significant impact on the community, drawing high attendance, significant community support and a large list of vendors as well as exhibiting several other characteristics of successful farmers markets. However, the market may need to take steps soon in order to ensure its long-term security.
Contact:Kelli Schoen