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Local Farmers Market Manager Receives Special Certification

(post, Menominee Historical Downtown Farmers' Market)

MENOMINEE, MICH – Local farmers market manager, Lucy Pier,  recently completed the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) Market Manager Certification Program, earning the title “Certified Market Manager”.
 
Lucy has organize the  Menominee Farmers Market for the last four years and knew it had to become more self sustaining.  With the help of this class the Menominee Farmers  Market is now Menominee Downtown Historic Downtown Farmers Market Association., a nonprofit organization.  With Mission Statement, By-laws and Board Members, we look forward with working with the community by providing the opportunity to preserve the connection between farmers, produces, and consumer, and to educate consumers about the benefits of preserving local agriculture  and the benefits of using locally produced foods.
 
As farmers markets grow and expand throughout the state, totaling more than 220 markets in Michigan in 2010, so do the needs of the individuals who run these markets and make them a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products. 
 
 “MIFMA was thrilled to work with and certify so many qualified farmers market managers for this program committed to growing and improving their markets,” said Dru Montri, MIFMA Director. 
 
Certificates were awarded to 36 farmers market managers from across the state who completed the full six-day program, offering acknowledgement to market organizers and vendors that the market manager is a trained professional. 
 
Each market manager had the opportunity to network with other managers around the state over eight weeks and learn topics like Business Planning and Market Growth Management, Human Relations and Conflict Management, Market Governance Rules and Enforcement, Fundraising, and Marketing and Outreach. A final manager-to-manager education and networking opportunity completed the program focusing on sharing experiences and lessons learned.
 
The Summer  Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market Association  runs from May 28, 2011 to October 8, 2011 on Saturday  from  9 am to 1 pm and on Thursdays  from 3 pm to 7 pm . Winter Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market Association 
Runs from October to May on Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm . For more information about the market, visit mdtfarmersmkt@facebook.com  or contact Lucy Pier at 906-863-8718 or email MenomineeFrmMkt@hotmail.com  .
 
MIFMA advances farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products and places farmers markets at the forefront of the local food movement, working to ensure all residents have access to healthy, locally grown food and that Michigan farmers markets receive policy support. To learn more MIFMA, visit www.mifma.org. 
 
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MIFMA was developed in 2006 to promote and grow farmers markets across the state and increase their visibility to both producers and consumers. This membership-based organization offers information, sharing and resources to farmers markets, farmers and vendors and friends of Michigan food and agriculture.
 
The MIFMA mission is to advance farmers markets to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products and to place farmers markets at the forefront of the local food movement, working to ensure all residents have access to healthy, locally grown food and that Michigan farmers markets receive policy support.  To learn more, please visit www.mifma.org or call (517) 432-3381.