The Indiana Farmers Market Forum is the annual conference for farmers market managers, farmers, and vendors with panel discussions, state-wide updates, and real-world applications. 

Indiana Farmers Market Forum 2025

The 2025 Indiana Farmers Market forum will be on February 11th and 12th virtually via Zoom.

Agenda Tuesday, February 11th:

10:00 am (ET) – Food Safety and Home-Based Vendor Update: New Changes on The Horizon? with Sharon Pattee with IDOH Food Safety

11:15 on pm (ET) – A Recipe for Success – How our market grew to be a cornerstone of the community! (Growing The Yorktown Farmers Market to Increase Customer Traffic and Vendor Sales) with Nanci Sears Perry, Market Manager

1:00 pm (ET) – IN eFMNP Update and Farmer Panel on Maximizing Farmer Sales at Market With eFMNP! Hosted by Legita Wilson, IDOH WIC Commodities Manager

2:15 pm (ET) – IN Legislative Update for Farmers, Farmers Markets and Home-Based Vendors with Jesse Cordray, Public Policy Manager with Indiana Farm Bureau

Agenda Wednesday, February 12th:

10:00 am (ET) – Managing Common Legal Risks for Farmers Markets with Wendy Chen, staff attorney at the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at Vermont Law and Graduate School.

11:15 on pm (ET) – Nutrition Incentives and Food is Medicine for Farmers Markets with Shalise Lee, IDOH Nutrition Incentives Manager and Market Manager with the Indy Winter Market

1:00 pm (ET) – Establishment, Maintenance, and Expansion of Farmers Market Food Products with Madison Mehringer with Food Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing Institute

2:15 pm (ET) – Winning Farmers Markets with Ashley Wagner, Market Manager of the YLNI Farmers Market and Damien Appel, Market Manager of the Coffee Creek Farmers Market. Winners of the American Farmer’s Market Celebration, 2024, 2025 and Indiana Grown and INFMCP’s Ultimate Farmers Market, 2025

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Indiana Farmers Market Forum 2024

Did you miss the 2024 Indiana Farmers Market Forum?
Then catch the replay below!

Tuesday, February 6th

Legita Wilson, Commodities Program Manager with the Indiana Department of Health discusses eFMNP – the new WIC and Senior FMNP. Legita will cover why eFMNP; how farmers can sign-up to be a merchant, and how clients will participate in 2024. Legita will share resources for farmers, clients and market managers.

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Powerpoint Presentation

Nick Stepaniak, Market Manager with the Westfield Farmers Market is moderating a panel of market managers:

  • Erin Shockley, Tipton Farmers and Artisans Market
  • Erica Foreman, Fisher’s Farmers Market
  • Shalise Lee, Indy Winter Farmers Market

The market manager panel share best practices, tips and ideas for getting a farmers market off to a great start at beginning and every market day.  

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Fishers Farmers Market Biz Kids

Sharon Pattee, Trainer and Standardization Officer with the Indiana Department of Health, Food Protection Division, is joining us for an update session that will clarify HBV 1149! You have questions? Sharon will answer them!

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Ashley Adams Wagner with the YLNI Farmers Market and Nanci Sears Perry with the Yorktown Farmers Market who will share with you the Power of Produce Program, a youth empowerment program from the Farmers Market Coalition. Both Ashley and Nanci discuss how their farmers market runs POP and how much fun youth have participating!

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Power Point Presentation

Wednesday, Febrary 7th

Christina Ferroli, ICDC’s Grant Program Coordinator, discusses data collection and why data collection is important for farmers markets. Discussion and sharing is encouraged!  Data collection strategies, tools and resources will be shared!

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Presentation

Mary Tyndall with the St. Joseph Community Foundation, Michelle Shippy with Indiana Dept. of Health, Ally Osburn with the Marion County Health Dept, and Shalise Lee with Indy Winter Farmers Market discuss Double Up IN, Indiana’s nutrition incentive program. The panel will share how SNAP EBT and Double Up IN help farmers earn more at farmers markets and farm stands.

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Community Wellness Coordinator, Jered Blanchard, and a panel of farmers market managers will share and discuss the success of eFMNP for their farmers market!

Farmers Market Panel: 

  • Tom Keb, Market Manager with the Plymouth Farmers Market
  • Diania Franks, Market Manager with the South Bend Farmers Market
  • Felicia Say, HEAL Farmers Markets, Aging and In-Home Service  

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Bridget Anderson and Meagan Heber share how the Indiana Housing and Development Authority (IHCDA)’s CreatINg Places grant can provide place-based activation funding for local farmers markets and how their partnership with Patronicity allows you to engage your community in generating hyperlocal investment. Deepen your understanding of the program guidelines, get tips and strategies for fundraising, and see examples of successful market projects from around the state. 

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Presentation

IHCDA CreatINg Places Program Guidelines, 2024

Crowdfunding Strategy Guide, 2024

Did you miss the 2023 Indiana Farmers Market Forum?
Then catch the replay below!

The Indiana Farmers Market Forum

February 7, 2023

The Indiana Farmers Market Forum

February 8, 2023

Did you miss last year’s Farmers Market Forum?  It’s not too late to catch up.  Check out the sessions for both days below.

 

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The Indiana Farmers Market Forum

February 8, 2022

The Indiana Farmers Market Forum

February 9, 2022

 

Insurance for Farmers Markets & Vendors

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