By Carmelo Troccoli, Director General of WorldFMC
Over the past year, the World Farmers Markets Coalition has continued to grow, not only in numbers, but also in strength, collaboration, and global impact. This progress is the result of the dedication, passion, and commitment of our members, Board of Directors, Secretariat, and the many individuals who believe in the power of farmers markets to transform food systems and strengthen communities.
Today, I am delighted to share another important milestone in our journey. We have recently welcomed six new members into our Coalition: three individual Supporters and three Member Associations. Their decision to join our global network is a testament to the relevance of our mission and the value of the work we are carrying out together. More and more individuals and organizations are choosing to become advocates for farmers markets, local food systems, and the communities they serve.
Our three new Supporters bring decades of experience, leadership, and innovation from different parts of the world.
From Spain, we welcome Elize Rostant, an expert in regenerative economies, partnership development, and community engagement. Through her work with organizations such as cOMMon, Vukara, the Green Art Lab Alliance, and the Global Afro Descendant Climate Justice Collaborative, she has championed regenerative businesses and community-led initiatives. Her commitment to strengthening farmers markets, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), will bring valuable perspectives to our Coalition.
From the United States, we are pleased to welcome Dan Carmody, former President of the Eastern Market Partnership in Detroit. During his 17 years of leadership, Eastern Market became a national reference point for leveraging farmers markets to strengthen regional food systems, improve food access, and support food entrepreneurs. Even after his retirement, Dan has continued to mentor and support markets across the United States and Kenya, sharing his extensive experience with markets around the world.
From the United Kingdom, we welcome Cheryl Cohen, who dedicated more than two decades to developing and managing London’s farmers markets. Cheryl has been a tireless advocate for direct sales, sustainable food systems, and local producers. Through her writing, public speaking, and her upcoming book The Farmers’ Market Manifesto, she continues to champion the essential role that farmers markets play in creating healthier food systems and stronger communities.
Alongside these outstanding individuals, we are equally proud to welcome three new Member Associations, further expanding the Coalition’s reach across Africa.
In Mozambique, UNAC (União Nacional de Camponeses) joins the Coalition as one of the country’s leading farmers’ organizations. Since its foundation in 1987, UNAC has represented smallholder farmers, defending their social, economic, and cultural rights while advocating for food sovereignty and stronger farmer organizations.
In Ghana, we welcome the Ghana Food Movement, a dynamic youth-led organization committed to promoting local food systems, food sovereignty, and resilience. Through education, advocacy, and the organization of food markets, the movement creates direct connections between farmers, food producers, and consumers while celebrating local food cultures.
In Kenya, we are delighted to welcome Slow Food Kenya, an affiliate of Slow Food International that has been promoting agroecology, food biodiversity, and sustainable food systems since 2014. Through its network of Earth Markets, Slow Food Kenya supports smallholder farmers by creating transparent, direct-market opportunities that connect producers and consumers while protecting local food traditions.
The arrival of these new members reflects two important achievements. First, the Coalition continues to expand into new countries, strengthening our truly global presence. Second, we are reinforcing our network in countries where we already have active members, creating stronger national ecosystems and greater opportunities for collaboration.
Strengthening Our Constituencies
Growth is not only about welcoming new members. It is also about ensuring that every member feels connected, represented, and actively engaged in the life of the Coalition.
During the past year, we have invested significant effort in strengthening our regional constituencies and fostering closer relationships between constituency members, their Board representatives, and the Secretariat. We have encouraged more regular dialogue, created new opportunities for collaboration, and actively involved our members in international projects such as ANDE in Rete and MAMi Phase II, ensuring that our network plays a central role in shaping and implementing these initiatives.
We also prioritized creating spaces where members could meet, exchange experiences, and develop partnerships. Throughout the year, we organized both online and in-person constituency meetings across the world.
Our journey took us to Rotterdam for the European constituency meeting, Bogota for the Latin American gathering, New York to meet with our North American members, Bangkok for the Asia, East Asia, and Oceania constituencies, and Kenya, where we combined project activities with an important meeting of our African constituency. These meetings have strengthened relationships within our network and generated new opportunities for cooperation across regions.
Growing in Numbers and in Impact
While our membership continues to grow, what is even more encouraging is the increasing quality of our collective work.
The Coalition is becoming a stronger platform for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, advocacy, and innovation. Our members are not only joining the network, they are actively shaping it through projects, partnerships, events, and shared expertise. Every new initiative strengthens our collective ability to support farmers, market managers, policymakers, researchers, and communities working toward more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems.
As we look ahead, our commitment remains clear. We will continue expanding our global network, developing meaningful international projects, and creating opportunities for every member to contribute, collaborate, and benefit from being part of this extraordinary community.
The World Farmers Markets Coalition is growing because of its people. Together, we are proving that farmers markets are far more than places of commerce, they are powerful drivers of food sovereignty, environmental sustainability, local economies, and community resilience.
Our journey is only beginning, and I look forward to building this future together.
