Farmers markets from around the world gather in Rome

The World Farmers Markets Coalition (WorldFMC) will host its 1st General Assembly Meeting on May 21 & 22, 2023 in Rome, Italy

For the first time, more than 100 agricultural and community development leaders from around the world will gather in Rome to introduce a farmers market community of practice to the world.  A momentous opportunity to contribute to the development of a sustainable local food system model that focuses on rebuilding the link between rural and urban areas and strengthening local economies, public health, and biodiversity. 

Strategic Focus of the General Assembly – Hosted by Coldiretti and Fondazione Campagna Amica – the largest farmers’ association and farmers market network in Europe respectively – the General Assembly will be an occasion to establish a community-of-practice in order to formalize the mandate for the organization, share best practices, and reinforce a sense of camaraderie for this important work to cultivate purposeful and managed farmers markets. With the contribution of the high-level representatives of Rome-based United Nations (UN) agencies, WorldFMC will host several panel discussions based on strengthening local food systems worldwide, including conversations around economic impact and reviving rural economies through farmers markets. 

About WorldFMC – Launched in July 2021 and officially recognised as an international association in June 2022, WorldFMC is a new Rome-based non-profit organization representing more than 60 associations present in over 50 different countries, 20,000 markets, 200,000 farming families, and over 300 million consumers. 

FAO Food Coalition Project – The WorldFMC is a project built on the initiative of Fondazione Campagna Amica & Coldiretti (Italy), the Stiftelsen Bondens Marked Norge Foundation (Norway), and Grønt Marked (Denmark), with the aim of affirming the role of farmers markets as a tool for the development of local food systems. Within its mandate, the WorldFMC is committed to cultivating a world community of farmers markets, sharing best practices and innovation, defending endangered markets and their participants, and promoting the idea that farmers markets can be gateways to wider and deeper opportunities to build social trust at moments where it is lacking. WorldFMC’s is the pivotal voice for producers and for communities who facilitate, work, and benefit from farmers markets.

Photos from some of our attending market members