Today, on the final day of the Third General Assembly of World Farmers Markets Coalition, the international farmers markets community came together to celebrate the WorldFMC Awards 2025, a tribute to the people, places, and initiatives that are driving a fairer, more sustainable, and more inclusive food system.
The awards were created to shine a spotlight on farmers, market managers, and cities who embody the values of local food systems: biodiversity, community resilience, short supply chains, environmental regeneration, and equitable access to fresh, nutritious food.
This year’s winners, a farmer from the Peru, a market manager from Kenya, and the city of Rome tell a powerful story of how local action can inspire global change.
🏅 Best Farmer: Milly Saravia, Agroferias Campesinas
The Best Farmer Award 2025 has been presented to Mili Saravia, an extraordinary agroecological farmer from Huánuco, Peru.
Milly cultivates a rich diversity of fruits and vegetables on her 1.5-hectare farm located in the cloud forest, a region with fertile soils and favorable climate. Her farming system is fully agroecological, based on traditional knowledge and modern ecological principles: she prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem regeneration.
Her crops include native species such as goldenberry (aguaymanto) and fava beans, as well as broccoli, spinach, radish, and beetroot. She uses staggered planting and resting cycles that allow the soil to recover naturally, guaranteeing long-term productivity and resilience. Her farm is known for its extraordinary cleanliness and organization, a visible sign of her commitment to her land and her craft.
But behind this thriving farm lies a deeply human story.
In 2015, Milly’s life changed dramatically when she was abandoned by her partner and left alone to raise four young daughters with no income. Instead of giving up, she decided to rely on what she knew best: farming. Starting with small rented plots, she cultivated olluco and potatoes to support her family.
Soon after, Milly discovered Agroferias Campesinas, a farmer-led market in Lima. Determined to create a better life, she began traveling more than 9 hours each week to sell her products directly to consumers in the capital.
Every Friday and Saturday, she harvests her crops and sets out on the overnight journey to Lima. At dawn, she is at her stall, offering the freshest produce of her land. Her dedication, quality, and honesty have won her a loyal customer base, people who line up early in the morning to buy from her, recognizing not only the taste of her products but the effort and love behind them.
Despite facing bad weather, road closures, and occasional losses, Mili never stopped. Over the years, she managed to buy her own piece of land, build a small house, and ensure that her five children, two of whom are now professionals, could study and build their future.
Milly Saravia is more than a farmer, she is a symbol of courage, perseverance, and hope. Through her daily work, she shows how family farming can regenerate the environment, sustain families, and build stronger rural communities.
“Through her work, Mili not only grows food — she cultivates hope and a future for Peruvian agriculture.”
🏅 Best Farmers Market Manager: Dennis Andaye, Farmers Market Nairobi, Kenya
The Best Market Manager Award 2025 has been awarded to Dennis Andaye, the visionary behind Farmers Market Nairobi in Kenya.
For over 15 years, Dennis has shown extraordinary leadership in building and managing farmers markets in Nairobi. His work has transformed local markets into thriving community spaces where farmers, consumers, and families meet around food.
One of his most impactful innovations has been the digital vendor management system, which simplifies farmer registration, stall allocation, and data collection. This has made the markets more transparent, efficient, and scalable, while allowing better planning and promotion.
Dennis has also introduced Harvest Hour, a unique initiative that draws larger crowds and diversifies product offerings. He has collaborated with local media to produce the “Taste Off” cooking show, filmed directly at the market and aired on major TV stations. These initiatives have helped to build a sense of identity and belonging around the market, turning it into a true social and cultural hub.
His vision goes beyond logistics. Dennis has implemented a system to collect unsold produce at the end of each market day and redistribute it to children’s homes, ensuring that fresh, nutritious food reaches those who need it most. He is also working on a community fund to make this initiative sustainable all year long.
Furthermore, Dennis has mentored a new generation of market managers, expanding the farmers market model beyond traditional spaces. Under his guidance, markets have been set up in streets, restaurants, malls, and other urban venues. His work with the MAMi Project has become a blueprint for scaling farmers markets in Africa, empowering smallholder farmers and creating new economic opportunities in cities.
“Dennis’s vision breaks barriers, cultural, bureaucratic, and economic, proving that farmers markets can be powerful engines of inclusive urban development.”
🏅 Best City: Rome, Italy
The Best City Award 2025 has been presented to Rome, Italy, for its forward-thinking and inclusive urban food policies that put farmers markets at the heart of its strategy for a sustainable future.
Rome’s Municipal Food Policy is built on the principles of food access, social equity, and environmental sustainability. It recognizes farmers markets as essential infrastructures for community well-being and local economic development.
The city’s approach has resulted in a decentralized network of public markets, both indoor and outdoor, ensuring that fresh, seasonal, and local products are available in every neighborhood. By supporting direct relationships between producers and consumers, Rome reduces food miles, strengthens local supply chains, and enhances urban resilience.
Rome has also invested in market revitalization, innovation in short supply chains, and the active involvement of civil society in food governance. These actions have created a fertile environment in which farmers markets not only survive but thrive as a permanent feature of urban life.
“Rome demonstrates how cities can be powerful allies in building sustainable food systems. By supporting local markets, it supports farmers, consumers, and the environment.”
🌱 A Global Movement Rooted in Local Action
The 2025 WorldFMC Awards highlight how individual farmers, visionary managers, and committed cities are reshaping the future of food.
- In the mountains of Peru, a mother of five is proving that agroecology can feed both families and hope.
- In Nairobi, a market leader is transforming local food systems into engines of social change.
- In Rome, public policy is turning local markets into a cornerstone of urban sustainability.
Together, they remind us that farmers markets are more than just places to buy food, they are spaces where communities are built, biodiversity is protected, and economies are reimagined.
Congratulations to the winners of the WorldFMC Awards 2025 for their remarkable contributions to the global farmers market movement.
