We would like everyone to stay informed of our important announcements.  Allow me to make this request, whether you are a shopper or a market owner: *please* enter your email address in the box on the right, titled: The First To Know List.

You will only receive our important announcements, which may total two per month, or even just one every three months. We have selected Google to managed the list, so your privacy is assured. Even when you sign up, you will need to confirm twice to be added to the list. And you can unsubscribe at any time. We would seriously appreciate your participation.

Here’s a quick overview:

1) Market contact and location information will be able to be updated quickly, by the authorized market managers, with a special form just for that purpose.

2) We will, as a requested feature, list markets that are not CFMs (Certified Farmers Markets), but are of interest to CFM shoppers. Those listings will clearly state that they are not certified.

3) A big bonus has been rolled out, and is available now, as a public beta.  We have worked to make the market listings very usable where you need them the most — on the road. On mobile devices, such as the iPhone, Blackberry, and virtually any cell phone with the same basic design features, you will be able to take advantage of true mobility.

When your browser connects to FarmersMarket.com, the site will automatically recognize if the  browser is connecting from a mobile device (such as the iPhone, or even the iPod Touch), and will immediately change the format to fit the smaller screen, making it much easier to use. And one of those features will be to utilize Google Maps along with you and your iPhone’s location, no matter where you may be (almost anywhere).

So, while out shopping, you’ll be able to locate another market in the site’s search field, by entering the telephone area code, the zip code, or just the city name itself.  Once you choose the next market, Google will provide you with a map and turn-by-turn directions to get you there without wasting any time (or gasoline).

The map feature will be part of an optional, but very reasonably priced Gold Market Listing. We do hope that the extra information, the map, and additional promotional opportunities will make the Gold Market option worthwhile to the majority of markets.

FarmersMarket.com has always been thought of a public service, and we want to keep it that way.  We strive to make it the best.Since 1995, all the expenses associated with FarmersMarket.com has been paid for by one individual with very limited means.

I tested the map function by selecting a market on the West Coast, from a location on the East coast, and within seconds, Google provided all detailed directions, along with the map, and also told me it would take approximately 41 hours of driving time to get there — they just don’t know how fast I drive. Technology is moving so fast, this is truly amazing.

Implementing technology such as this is cutting edge, and not everything considered cutting edge is worth the price.  But cell phones and net books are the future.  There will always be desktop and larger computers,  but as technology continues to grow at an accelerated rate, it won’t be long before desktop computers will only be used for very processor-intensive projects, beyond the needs of the masses.  Smaller will be the future.

Very reluctantly, we must either charge very reasonable, or we will vanish. The service will remain free to market customers, all the shoppers. But we must ask the market owners, those we’ve who we’ve been directing thousands of shoppers to, every month, year after year, to help cover these costs, so we can continue with the best and most efficic=ent service.

TRY IT YOURSELF

If you have an iPhone, iPod Touch, a Blackberry, or any other smilar device, try this out:

1. With your mobile device, use your browser to connect to states.farmersmarket.com
2. scroll down on the first page to the Search field, and enter: 94022 (that is the zip code for Los Altos, California, and they have just one Farmers Market — and it’s quietly been a test market for me)
3. Select Los Altos, and scroll past the address where you will find the Google map, with a banner pointing to the spot where the address indicates the market to be.
4. Right below the map, there’s a line that states “View Larger Map” — click on it (now the fun begins).
5. Follow the directions on the larger map and it will locate you exact location, and provide direction — either with the map or just a list, until you arrive.

We will still offer a free listing service to any Certified Farmers Market who believes that what we are doing is not worth the investment. Our free listings will be reduced to only providing name, address, and phone number. But for just a slight investment in helping us cover the costs, which in effect will help benefit you, too, we believe will offer an incredible value, with many bonuses yet to come.

Market Managers can obtain more information by visiting the Market Update Page (coming very soon).

Stick with us, please, so we can continue to stick with you. Remember, signing up on the First To Know List will keep you up-to-date.

Thank you!

While searching for a quality gift basket to send a friend, it was suggested to me to check out The Fruit Company.  Though I wasn’t familiar with them, I discovered that some of my friends had been customers for years.

With the complexities of an increasingly competitive business environment, The Fruit Company understands the need to distinguish your company from your competitors.

They strive to bring you specialized, customized, and beautiful corporate gifts that immediately show your clients, employees, and colleagues, or just that special friend, that you care enough to send only the finest.

Featured in “O” – Oprah’s Magazine

A quote from “O”: “This pair of pears possesses the twin virtues of outer and inner beauty; They’re pretty, yes, but also consistently sweet and juicy beyond belief – everything that pears should be but rarely are.”

If you ever find yourself needing to send a gift that is sure to be remembered, you simply cannot go wrong with The Fruit Company.

The perfect attire (and gifts) for selling your organic produce at the market, or for those shoppers that look for nothing but the best in organic fruits and veggies. Except for the USDA emblem, these are all original designs and only available here.

This is but a small sample of the varieties of colors and styles available for purchase through the FarmersMarket store at CafePress.

For those not familiar with CafePress, they are the premier leaders in print on demand (POD) services online. They have millions of members, and offer a full, 30-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee on all purchases.

Please visit the FarmerMarket Store today.

The above image was created by first shooting 26 photographs and “stitching” them together to create a seamless 360° by 360° panorama. That panorama was then used twice to create the final image above. A limited number of prints are available for purchase.

This stained glass pub sign was in my family for generations and it’s estimated to be over 100 years old. Ever since I can remember, it fascinated me (as a lot of art did).

I changed this version to say “Root Beer” since I think it looks great on kids. The original “Bier” version is also available.

Please stop by our apparel store (operated by CafePress) and check out our other unique items, and nothing but unique items — only available from the Farmers Market store featuring designs (and this reproduction) by Lar Matré.

If you have related archive stories, but still relate to today, those may have a place here, too.  I’m offering extra editorial coverage, a first published piece for some, but unfortunately no compensation.  I have had this site online since 1995, and have always used my own money to keep it that way.  I hope to change that, soon, in a very reasonable and fair manner, so at least the site’s expenses are covered.

Ideas, questions, comments … please click on Field Office.  I would certainly appreciate it.

Get it?

Your satisfaction is always guaranteed. Perfect gifts for the backyard farmer, the indoor farmer, or any tried and true farmers’ market shopper.

Take a quick look now.

If you don’t have even a simple web presence yet, I would bet those are some of the reasons why.

How about a turn-key Web site from an award-winning designer. As simple or complex as you need. Less than you’ve probably been told, and with one thing no one else can give you: a super web address.

Lets say your Farmers Market name is Columbus Farmers Market. Your new web address would be:

http://Columbus.FarmersMarket.com

Or Fayette Farmers Market:

http://Fayette.FarmersMarket.com

How about Roseville Farmers Market:

http://Roseville.FarmersMarket.com

Still not sure? Think about YOUR Farmers Market:

http://YourNameHere.FarmersMarket.com

Cool, uh? Turn-key web site for you. I’ve been developing web sites since 1995, when people thought I had finally become a geek (naw, that was years earlier).

Starting at just $99   (with a $5 monthly hosting & maintenance fee)

Questions? Please CLICK HERE

I searched and compared, and did it some more, and I finally selected FeedBurner to mange the FarmersMarket mailing list. So, with all the time I spent, just to be fair, it would be just wonderful for you to simply sign up.

It’s very simple: when I write a new post (such as this post), you will get an email (usually the next morning) notifying you of the new post and what it’s about. At the very most, you will only get one email per day, even if I were to go hog wild (organic hogs, of course) and write 17 posts. You would only get one email the next morning telling you I went hog wild and wrote 17 posts …. you will not get 17 emails.

SHORT AND SIMPLE … OR NONE AT ALL

On the other hand, if I have no news to write about, you will get no email … none, zip, nada.

If I write nothing for 11 days, you will hear nothing from us for 11 days. And, of course, you may cancel at any time. It is very safe and very private. Even when you sign-up, you will go through a two-step confirmation process, which should help you feel at ease.

Please try it. You may even find out about things you will completely miss otherwise … good things, maybe even some great things. And before you know it, you’ll begin to look forward to that email.

You’ll find the sign-up box on the right hand side of most pages (not the state pages), the one with the ‘Subscribe’ button. Really, it’s painless.

Thank you!