National Farmers Market Directory
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Resource description/directory profile with no empirical data analysis or comparative design (analogy to expert/mechanism level).
What was done
This publication describes the USDA National Farmers Market Directory maintained by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The directory compiles self-reported, voluntary data provided by market managers, state agency representatives, farmers market associations, and other key personnel to list market locations, directions, operating hours, product types, and accepted payment methods across the United States.
What was found
The abstract provides a descriptive overview of the directory's contents and purpose but reports no empirical quantitative data, statistical metrics, or market counts.
Why it matters
It documents a centralized federal resource designed to facilitate public access to local agricultural markets and track accepted payment methods and product offerings.
Limits
The record describes an informational resource rather than an empirical investigation. Inclusion in the directory is entirely voluntary and relies on self-reported information, which introduces risks of omission, self-selection bias, outdated listings, and unverified data entries.
Cited by
- supports The number of farmers markets in the United States has grown to approximately 9,000.