The NMFMA currently provides two sources of funding to help markets reach their communities and become sustainable sources of fresh food access.
Funding can be spent for any kind of promotion, outreach, or marketing efforts that will help educate the community about your market by specifically promoting the health benefits and availability of local food.
By simply adding the New Mexico Fresh Local logo and/or Double Up Food Bucks, SNAP, WIC and/or Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs logos to your promotional sign or flyer, you can be eligible to receive reimbursement for your farmers' market promotion.
Feel free to get creative! If you're unsure whether your promotional ideas will be covered or what type of proof you need to submit, contact the NMFMA at questions@FarmersMarketsNM.org or (505) 983-4010 x 2.
Farmers' markets are reimbursed at a base of $300 plus $5 per vendor. If more than 25% of the total number of vendors at a market are non-agricultural vendors (i.e., crafts vendors or non-locally grown food producers), the market will only be reimbursed for up to 75% of the market's total vendors. Reimbursements are calculated by the same peak average number used to calculate your annual Market Data.
*We understand that markets often benefit from having arts/crafts vendors, but the NMFMA encourages markets to have no more than 25% non-agricultural vendors to maximize the community's access to fresh, local produce, and to keep the emphasis on farmers in our farmers' markets.
To be eligible for promotional funds, farmers' markets must be NMFMA Farmers’ Market members in good standing:
Payment: Promotional expenses are generally paid on a reimbursement basis. You may also have the vendor (sign-maker, newspaper, radio station, etc) bill the NMFMA directly. Please contact the NMFMA in advance so that we know to expect the bill. We like to receive these bills promptly to maintain good relations with your vendors.
Documentation: The following documents must be submitted along with your request for reimbursement:
When requesting funding, all markets MUST show proof that their ads, signage, radio copy, etc. promote at least ONE of the following:
Deadlines: All funds must be spent and submitted for reimbursement by November 15th of the year awarded, unless prior arrangements have been made.
When you are ready to submit documentation for promotional funds reimbursement, fill out the Promotional Funds Reimbursement form.
If you have questions regarding how to request promotional funds contact Andrea Warner, market manager liaison.
Engage farmers' market shoppers with something new! Host a Shop & Taste event at your market and we'll help you pay for it -- up to $500. The NMFMA can help you with planning and advertising so that you reach more shoppers and deliver extra sales to your vendors. Learn more about the benefits of hosting cooking demos here.
Contact Andrea Warner, Market Manager Liaison, at andrea@farmersmarketsnm.org with any questions.
For the next 3 years (2024-2026), the NMFMA will pay up to 60 markets to host Shop & Taste events. Funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. We will pay up to $500 per event.
To be eligible to receive Shop & Taste Funding, farmers' markets must be members in good standing of the NMFMA, including paying membership dues, submitting the market's membership form by April 1 and providing annual market data by the deadline.
Please allow up to six weeks advance notice for best success in planning and marketing your Shop & Taste event at your market.
The NMFMA offers noncompetitive grants of up to $500 to member markets in their second year of operation in or adjacent to areas with high obesity/diabetes rates, Food Deserts and FAR Communities. These grants are intended to assist with the start-up costs of opening a market and may be used for any expenses relating to building the capacity of the market, such as signage, an information table, buying a fire extinguisher or hand washing station, etc.
Up to $500 is available for second-year markets.
To be eligible to receive this funding, markets must be in their second year of operation and members in good standing of the NMFMA. This includes paying membership dues, submitting the market's membership form by May 1st, and providing the previous season's market data by December 31st.
Additionally, markets MUST be located in an area with one of the following qualifications:
in or adjacent to a "food desert"
in a Far and Remote (FAR) Community
in an area with a higher-than-average rate of obesity/diabetes
To find out if your market is located in one of these areas, go to:
For Food Desert designations: The Food Access Research Atlas. Click on the map and zoom in to New Mexico, then click on your county (or click "Find Address" on the top of the map and enter your market's location). If your area is in a food desert, the pop-up tract summary will say "yes." Your market may also be adjacent to an area with "food desert" designation.
For FAR Community designations: Frontier and Remote Area Codes. You will then want to download the Excel sheet containing FAR codes and related data by zip code. Search for the zip code in which your market is located. If a (1) appears on any level, your market qualifies.
For obesity designations: Obesity Rates Among Adults by County. Find your county on the map. If the obesity rate is higher than 28% (the New Mexico average), your market qualifies.
Complete the Second Year Grant Application and mail to:
NMFMA
1919 Fifth Street, Suite H
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
(If you have problems downloading the Second Year Grant Application form or accessing any of the above resources, email or call us and we will be happy to assist you!)
Payment: Expenses are generally paid on a reimbursement basis. If your market is not able to cover the upfront costs, you may have the vendor bill the NMFMA directly. Please contact the NMFMA in advance so that we know to expect the bill. We like to receive these bills promptly to maintain good relations with vendors.
Documentation: The following documents must be submitted along with your request for reimbursement:
Invoice from the vendor
Proof of payment, such as a cleared check, credit card receipt, or credit card statement
Deadlines: Grant applications MUST be received by April 1st of a member market's second year of operation (exceptions are possible). We prefer to provide reimbursements in one or two payments. All funds must be spent and submitted for reimbursement by November 15th of the year awarded, unless prior arrangements have been made.made.
