FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2011
For more information contact:
Stacy Brandt, Events & Marketing Coordinator
(816) 246-6598
stacy@downtownls.org
Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market Named as one of Top 20 Favorite Farmers Markets in America’s Favorite Farmer’s Markets™ Contest
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market was recently voted as #7 of 20 leading farmers markets across the nation vying for the title of America’s Favorite Farmers Market in the medium-sized markets category. The Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market was also voted favorite farmers market in Missouri. In this year’s contest more than 90,000 farmers market shoppers voted for more than 1,700 participating farmers markets in American Farmland Trust’s third annual contest.
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market offers a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, crafts & more. Located at the corner of Second and Douglas Streets in Downtown Lee’s Summit, the market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 am – sell out through November 5.
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market received 743 votes from supportive shoppers. Here is what one voter for the Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market had to say about why it should be named one of America’s Favorite Farmers Markets:
“I love the produce, the baked goods and especially the people! The atmosphere is wonderful, and we are such a community-oriented city that this is the perfect addition to being one of the best downtowns in the country.”
According to the recent release of the updated U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s farmers market directory, the number of farmers markets across the nation increased by 17 percent between 2010 and 2011. Support for farmers markets helps to provide income opportunities for farmers. The rising interest for local food from nearby farms highlights the value of protecting farmland to meet demand.
The America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest is a part of American Farmland Trust’s No Farms No Food® campaign, which raises awareness of the dangers of farmland loss by making connections to food. Farms near metropolitan areas produce 91 percent of the nation’s market value of fruit, 78 percent of vegetables, and 67 percent of dairy products.
To view the top 20 leader-boards in the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest, visit www.farmland.org/vote.
The Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market is coordinated by Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Lee’s Summit. For more information, visit www.downtownls.org.
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