Each year, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) partners with the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas to help the state’s farmers markets through the Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program and Arkansas Farmers Market Bag Program. These programs are administered by the Department and funded by the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas to help promote local community-based farmers markets with multiple vendors.

Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program

The 2024 program is open until funds are no longer available. Apply here.

The Arkansas Farmers Market Promotion Program provides funding assistance for the state’s farmers markets to serve their communities as consumer interest in locally grown and made products continues to increase. This program may fund the following promotional items for a specific community-based farmers market:

• Signage listing names, seasons, times of operation, and location details
• Local advertising including print, radio, and television media projects
• Social media campaigns

The program will provide cost share assistance for 75% up to $400. 

In 2023, the Department provided $9,000 in program funding to 25 Arkansas farmers markets through the partnership with the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas.

The following criteria is required for application:

• A detailed explanation of the proposed use of the funds.
• An itemized budget identifying other funding sources.
• A copy of the proposed promotion or signage design.
• Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture logos included on all promotion designs.
• Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture mentioned in all broadcast commercials.

Please include all the required criteria to the application. All proposed signage MUST include the Farm Credit Association and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture logos; to request digital copies, contact Agriculture Program Manager Karen Reynolds.

or mail to:
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Attn: Karen Reynolds
1 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205

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Farmers Market Bags

As an added offering for local Farmers Markets, the Department and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas are partnering to produce reusable paper shopping bags at greatly reduced rates for purchase by community-based farmers markets. This program enables farmers markets to provide convenient, high-quality shopping bags for consumers.

A minimum purchase of 250 bags at $25 is required. Once your check has been received, the Department will contact you and connect you with the vendor. Markets are responsible for bag pick-up in Central Arkansas. If shipping is preferred, the market manager will make arrangements directly with the vendor. Shipping costs are paid to the vendor by the market manager.

The 2024 Farmers Market Bag program is not yet open. Please watch for an announcement when the bags are available.