Vote Huntley Farmers Market as America's Best

Huntley Farmers Market needs your vote to make it one of America’s Favorite Farmers Markets in the American Farmland Trust’s fourth annual contest.

Shoppers throughout the country can vote for their favorite markets beginning today at 11 a.m. at the American Farmland Trust’s website.

The summer-long competition aims to see which farmers markets can generate the most votes from their customers. The goal of the contest is to promote the role that farmers markets play in keeping family farmers on the land.  

“Shopping at farmers markets is one my favorite parts of the summer,” said American Farmland Trust President Jon Scholl. “In addition to the freshest local foods, farmers markets offer a great way for consumers to get to know the farmers who grow their food.”

The 2012 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest has been expanded to include all 7,175 markets that are listed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Farmers Market Directory.  As part of the contest, a $1,000 Farmers Market Inspiration Award, sponsored by the Farmers Market Coalition, will be presented to a farmer showing the greatest dedication to his/her market.

Voting runs through midnight on Monday, September 3, when one small, one medium, one mid-size, and one large market will win the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2012.

American Farmland Trust is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land.

Since its founding in 1980 by a group of farmers and citizens concerned about the rapid loss of farmland to development, AFT has helped save millions of acres of farmland from development and led the way for the adoption of conservation practices on millions more.

For more information about the 2012 America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest or to vote, visit www.votemyfarmersmarket.org.