04/02/2018
This year we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market! A loose knit group of farmers who banded together to sell produce out of the back of their pick-up trucks in 1968 saw the first semblance of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market. Fifty years later, we have a permanent home in a certified LEED-Gold building, the Market Pavilion, in the Santa Fe Railyard. Our sister non-profit, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute was formed to help facilitate the building of a permanent home for the Market. The Institute and the Market now work in tandem to consistently and reliably host one of the largest, most dynamic and best farmers’ markets in the country.
The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market is often ranked among the top markets in the country, thanks to the large variety of items sold and the specialty items specific to the region. We assure that 100% of the produce is grown in northern New Mexico, as is at least 70% of ingredients used in processed items. The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market celebrates our farming community year-round as a public meeting place, providing a space each week for thousands of people to gather, interact with farmers, and learn where their food comes from. The 50th Anniversary will have many opportunities to celebrate the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market this year, especially August 5th-11th, 2018 during National Farmers’ Market week.
Supporting small-scale agriculture in northern New Mexico is especially important given the challenges farmers in this region face. We don't have the large swaths of land or ample water access that exist in other areas of the nation, and that leaves us at risk of diminishing food access unless we can bolster these farmers and increase their opportunities for financial success. For this reason, and others, we really appreciate the chefs and customers who prioritize the use of fresh, locally-produced food.
Fifty years has built an unshakable bond between the Santa Fe community and local agricultural producers. Time has allowed the community to truly know their farmers. And, knowing where your food comes from is an honor and a privilege.
