State Farmers Markets
Thank you for your interest in the Florida State Farmers Market Program. Operated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, State Farmers Markets provide producers across the state a marketing platform to conduct commerce, thus helping sustain thousands of jobs for local communities. Florida’s agriculture industry is served by twelve (12) strategically located State Farmers’ Markets, stretching from the panhandle to the southern peninsula. Fundamentally, these are “built for service” commercial facilities used by the agriculture industry to pack, ship, and distribute Florida agricultural products.
Other than the capital investment and routine appropriations for maintenance, repair and Life Safety Code enhancements from the Florida Legislature, these markets are self-supporting and are maintained through income derived from a combination of packing house, cooler and office rentals, parking spaces, package fees, and truck scale fees.
The services offered and methods of sale vary from market to market, including telemarketing, direct sales, broker sales, etc., with shipping point inspection available. Produce is often sold at wholesale; however, some tenants at the State Farmers Markets offer products for retail sale to the local community. The volume of commodities passing through the markets varies greatly with small or large truck lots supplying purchasers’ needs for Florida agricultural products.
Generally, the markets are active on a seasonal basis, operating up to 24-hours a day during peak season. Market offices are open year-round to assist the industry and work with existing and prospective tenants.