Each year, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) partners with Farm Credit to help the state’s farmers markets through the Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program and Arkansas Farmers Market Bag Program. These programs are administered by the Department and sponsored by Farm Credit to help promote local community-based farmers markets with multiple vendors.

Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) is pleased to partner with Farm Credit for the 10th annual Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program. This program, which is administered by the Department and sponsored by Farm Credit, continues to support local farmers markets by increasing awareness and providing funding assistance to help these markets serve their communities as consumer interest in locally grown and made products continues to increase.

Farmers markets interested in participating must be a member of the Arkansas Grown and Arkansas Made branding programs.

Applications are now open and will remain available until funds are no longer available.

The program offers funding for a range of promotional activities designed to boost community and regional engagement at farmers markets. Eligible items for funding include:

• Signage: Displaying names, seasons, operating hours, and locations of participating markets
• Local Advertising: Traditional methods like print and radio ads to spread awareness
• Social Media Campaigns: Engaging digital strategies to reach a wider audience

The program will provide cost share assistance for 75% up to $575. 

In 2024, the Department awarded over $11,500 in grants to 21 Arkansas farmers markets through the partnership with Farm Credit.

The following criteria is required for application:

• A detailed explanation of the proposed use of the funds.
• An itemized budget identifying other funding sources.
• A copy of the proposed promotion or signage design.
• Farm Credit and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture logos included on all promotion designs.
• Farm Credit and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture mentioned in all broadcast commercials.

Please include all the required criteria to the application. All proposed signage MUST include the Farm Credit and Arkansas Department of Agriculture logos; to request digital copies, contact Agriculture Program Manager Beth Moore.

or mail to:
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Attn: Beth Moore
1 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205

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Farmers Market Bags

As an added offering for local Farmers Markets, the Department and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are partnering to produce reusable paper shopping bags at greatly reduced rates for purchase by community-based farmers markets. This program enables farmers markets to provide convenient, high-quality shopping bags for consumers.

A minimum purchase of 250 bags at $25 is required. Once your check has been received, the Department will contact you and connect you with the vendor. Markets are responsible for bag pick-up in Central Arkansas. If shipping is preferred, the market manager will make arrangements directly with the vendor. Shipping costs are paid to the vendor by the market manager.