Thursday, July 31, 2025 | 8:00–9:30 AM ET | 2:00–3:30 PM CEST
Register now to join the conversation
Farmers markets around the world are vibrant community hubs, but they share a common challenge: long-term financial sustainability. Whether they’re grassroots, volunteer-driven initiatives, government-supported programs, or entrepreneurial ventures, market operators everywhere face the delicate balancing act of covering operational costs, ensuring vendor accessibility, and keeping markets affordable for their communities.
This WorldFMC Studio session will spotlight three experienced farmers market leaders from Korea, Poland, and Mexico, each sharing their unique approaches to building resilient, financially sustainable markets within very different cultural and economic contexts.
Through their stories, you’ll learn:
- How their markets and organizations were created and evolved over time
- What governance models and stakeholders help sustain their operations
- Who sells and shops at their markets, and how locations influence success
- How vendor fees, pricing models, and fundraising strategies have shifted
- Innovative practices that have strengthened their financial resilience
- The ongoing challenges they still face—and how they plan to overcome them
Session Format
Each speaker will have 20 minutes to share their journey and lessons learned:
- Korea – exploring market governance and community partnerships
- Poland – highlighting adaptive financial models in evolving economies
- Mexico – sharing creative fundraising and sustainability strategies
This will be an interactive, solution-focused session designed to spark ideas and inspire market operators worldwide.
Whether you’re running a farmers market, supporting local food systems, or simply passionate about sustainable community spaces, you’ll gain practical insights and promising practices to strengthen your own initiatives.
