Pledge Program to Benefit Puyallup Farmers' Market

Tomatoes, potatoes, squash and strawberries are a few products, of so many, brought fresh to local markets by farmers who represent the true heritage of America. Yet, the fresh delicious bounty found at farmers markets each week might be at the greatest risk of being lost as farmland is consumed by sprawl and development. 

To honor our farmers and raise awareness about farmers markets, the American Farmland Trust is hosting its fifth annual "I Love My Farmers Market Celebration" this year.

The celebration encourages consumers to pledge to support family farmers by shopping directly from them this summer. A pledge is a commitment to spend $10 at the Puyallup Farmers' Market that week.

The goal is to collect $1 million in pledges to shop at farmers markets before the celebration concludes at midnight on Sept. 9, 2013.

The first time a consumer pledges they will receive one of American Farmland Trust’s free No Farms No Food bumper stickers to show support for struggling family farmers and raise awareness about development that is paving over America’s farm and ranch land.

Once an acre of farmland is paved over, it is lost forever.

Farmers markets provide the vital link between shoppers and the family farmers growing our food and as such highlight the importance of protecting farmland.

I Love My Farmers Market Celebration is part of the American Farmland Trust’s No Farms No Food Campaign. Nationwide, the food and farming system contributes nearly $1 trillion to our national economy. According to the most recent National Resources Inventory, we have been losing nearly one million acres of farmland every year.

For all of these reasons and more, conserving and protecting farmland for future generations is something we can all celebrate.

For more information on the I Love My Farmers Market Celebration or to pledge, visit www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org. 

Information courtesy by American Farmland Trust.