Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

"Average sales at individual farmers markets in 2005 totaled about
$245,000; average annual sales per vendor totaled $7,108. Marketing
opportunities at farmers markets were sufficiently favorable in 2005
that, on average, 25 percent of vendors from surveyed farmers markets
relied on these markets as their sole source of farm-based income."

"sole source of farm-based income"? but doesn't say how what percentage
relied on markets for ALL their income. My guess is very few. 

USDA Releases New Farmers Market Statistics
USAgNet - 12/06/2006
http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/MSB/PRFarmersMarketStatistics.pdf

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the number of farmers
markets increased more than 7 percent between 2005 and 2006,
preliminary results of a survey indicate.

The new numbers are based on an update of the National Farmers Market
Directory by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and the
preliminary results of the 2006 USDA National Farmers Market Survey,
conducted by AMS in partnership with Michigan State University.

"These statistics show farmers markets continue to be an increasing
source of income for our nation's farmers," said AMS Administrator
Lloyd Day. "Their popularity with consumers is growing, and buyers
enjoy fresh, locally grown products."

The updated directory lists 4,385 farmers markets currently operating
in the United States, representing a 7 percent increase from 4,093
farmers markets in 2005. As a result of the strong growth in the
number of farmers markets, total sales volumes are estimated at about
$1 billion for 2005, significantly larger than the estimated sales
volume of $888 million in 2000.

Average sales at individual farmers markets in 2005 totaled about
$245,000; average annual sales per vendor totaled $7,108. Marketing
opportunities at farmers markets were sufficiently favorable in 2005
that, on average, 25 percent of vendors from surveyed farmers markets
relied on these markets as their sole source of farm-based income.