Interested in Volunteering at the Farmers Markets? 

Below are details about tasks that volunteers do to support the markets.  Please call or email us to find out about our current needs.  The markets are fun, community-oriented events and our staff and volunteers work hard to keep things running smoothly for both shoppers and vendors.

Market Outreach

 Every spring we need to remind people about the beautiful food available at farmers markets in their neighborhoods. We distribute posters and flyers in local businesses, community centers, libraries and more.  If you can help with this effort, we'll provide you with tape, pins and a big stack of posters – as many as you think you can get out!   Skills Required: Ability to get around a neighborhood; no car required. Ability to represent farmers markets well to various locations that will post our flyers. Minimum Time Commitment:  Variable, and extremely flexible.

  Annual Fundraiser

 Each year we organize a special fundraising event in August, with proceeds going to the Good Farmer Fund and to the NFMA.  We recruit lots of volunteers for setting up, cleaning up, supervising activities at the event, advance prep work, etc.  The event involves over 20 chefs and farmers, and tickets always sell out!   Skills required: Various, depending on the task.  Ability to lift 30-50 lbs for clean up, etc.  Minimum Time Commitment: Four hours before, during or after the event.  

 Cooking Demos and Produce Tasting Events

  Cooking demos: Assist the demo coordinator with any needs at the market on a cooking demo day, such as buying supplies, help chef with food prep, help pass out samples.  Volunteer for this job needs to have good interaction skills with public.  Some food knowledge is also helpful. 

Produce Tastings:  Help with set-up, gathering produce, cutting and preparing for shopper sampling.  Volunteer for this job needs to have good interaction skills with public.  Some food knowledge is also helpful.  Minimum time commitment: several hours on the day of the event. 

 Kids Events at the Markets 

This includes events such as the Zucchini Races, Pumpkin Decorating and other special events for kids.  Great fun for anyone who likes kids and farmers markets!  Help kids make Zucchini cars, veggie sculptures, etc.  We even do some kid-centered cooking demos!  Minimum time commitment: several hours on the day of the event.  Most of these events take place in the height of summer season (July, August and September).

  Price Comparisons

Another important way we educate shoppers is to show price comparisons of the farmers markets vs. local grocery stores.  Many people are afraid the farmers markets are too expensive, but actual price comparisons have repeatedly shown that prices are comparable or better than grocery stores, and the variety and quality at the farmers markets is unparalleled.  It's important to conduct comparisons each season to keep  current and accurate results available.  Time commitment is several hours.  This is a fun and rewarding job for anyone interested in local food and local agriculture.

 Sandwich Boards

In some neighborhoods we put out sandwich boards on street corners on market days.  Volunteers can “adopt” a sandwich board and be responsible for putting it out each week during the season (sometimes this means storing the board at your home during the week, or coordinating retrieval of the board from storage site each week).

 Office Projects

These include occasional projects such as stuffing envelopes, preparing mailings, data entry projects and other occasional projects that may come up.