American Farmland Trust announces winners of the 18th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration
American Farmland Trust has announced the winners of the 18th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration, a national event honoring the role of farmers markets. The celebration ran Aug. 1 to Sept. 30. The 10 markets receiving the most public votes were declared the national winners.
A total of 1,896 markets nationwide participated in the 2026 celebration and received more than 116,000 votes. American Farmland Trust also staffed 14 markets nationwide during a series of pop-up events intended to help markets reach supporters and raise awareness of the importance of farmers markets.
“More than 116,000 votes in this year’s America’s Farmers Market Celebration send a powerful message: People across the country value the farmers, market leaders, and local businesses that help their communities thrive,” said John Piotti, president and CEO of American Farmland Trust. “This recognition can bring new shoppers, stronger partnerships, and greater visibility to markets while helping farmers build viable businesses and stay on the land. Congratulations to every national, regional, and state winner, and thank you to everyone who came together to celebrate them.”
Since 2008, the celebration has highlighted the key role farmers markets play in American communities and the broader food system. Farmers markets educate consumers about where food comes from and reinforce AFT’s message of No Farms No Food. They foster direct relationships between community members and farmers to help create a fairer, more sustainable and more just food system. Participating in the celebration lets people come together to support their communities and local food producers.
National winners
AFT offers a total of $15,000 in rewards for marketing, communications and other needs that help expand the markets’ reach and influence. National winners are awarded $2,500 for first, $2,000 for second, $1,500 for third, $1,250 for fourth, $1,000 for fifth through eighth, and $875 for ninth and tenth place. There is also a “Community Champion” award for a market that achieved a multi-year top vote, earning both merchandise and a digital award. In addition, the top markets also receive national and local press coverage, complimentary AFT No Farms No Foodgear, and other prizes.
First place: Sarasota Farmers Market, Sarasota, Florida – Awarded $2,500
“I’ve always regarded our market as the gem of Sarasota. For 47 years, it has been part of the fabric of this community — a place where generations of people have spent their Saturday mornings, where our farmers and small businesses have grown, and where Sarasota comes together. We’ve always known how special it is, but to now be named the number one farmers market in America is just incredible. This belongs to our farmers, our vendors, and every person who has supported this market over the years and especially everyone who showed up and voted for us. I couldn’t be prouder of where we are today, and I honestly can’t think of a better way to celebrate 47 years.”
Christine Nordstrom, chair of the board of directors, Sarasota Farmers Market
Second place: Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, Florida – Awarded $2,000
“We’re incredibly honored that the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch has earned second place nationally in America’s Farmers Market Celebration, following last year’s first-place recognition. This award reflects the heart of our market: our dedicated team, the local farmers and small businesses who bring their passion and creativity to Waterside Place, and the thousands of guests who make us part of their Sunday tradition. Together, they’ve created a gathering place where neighbors become friends, small businesses thrive, and families make lasting memories. Seeing our region recognized as home to some of America’s best farmers’ markets makes this honor even more meaningful. We’re grateful to everyone who voted, visited, and helped shape our market into such a special part of Lakewood Ranch.”
Nicole Hackel, events and resident experience manager, Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch
Third place: Coventry Farmers’ Market, Coventry, Connecticut – Awarded $1,500
“We are ecstatic to be recognized as the #1 Farmers Market in Connecticut, #1 in the Northeast, and #3 nationally in the America’s Farmers Market Celebration. This recognition puts our small Connecticut town on the national map thanks to our incredible community support. The Coventry Farmers’ Market is not just a farmers’ market—it is a weekly event that brings the community together to celebrate local agriculture and artisans. Combining the best qualities of a vibrant market, culinary destination, community gathering place, and cultural event, it fosters a true community spirit and family atmosphere that draws thousands of visitors every Sunday. This incredible honor is a testament to the vibrant community that makes our market so special. As we finish up our 24th season, we invite everyone who hasn’t visited yet to join us!”
Melissa Tremblay and Heather Neal, co-market managers, Coventry Farmers’ Market
Fourth place: Charlottesville City Market, Charlottesville, Virginia – Awarded $1,250
“Being named the 4th best farmers market in the nation is an incredible honor, but what makes this recognition truly meaningful is the people behind it. Our vendors pour so much passion, care, and hard work into what they bring to the market each week. They’re not just selling food and handmade goods—they’re feeding our community, supporting local agriculture, creating connections, and helping make Charlottesville a more vibrant place to live. We’re incredibly proud to celebrate this recognition alongside the farmers, makers, and customers who make our market what it is.”
Justin McKenzie, city market manager, Charlottesville City Market
Fifth place: Arlington Heights Farmers Market, Arlington Heights, Illinois – Awarded $1,000
“Winning these awards is a victory for our vendors, volunteers, and the entire Arlington Heights community! The Farmers Market has grown into so much more than a place to shop on Saturdays; it’s a place for our community to come together, connect, and celebrate all that makes Arlington Heights special.
We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition and grateful to everyone who makes the market what it is. We look forward to continuing to grow, strengthen our market, and build an even stronger sense of community for years to come!”
Maggie Sraga, market manager, Arlington Heights Farmers Market
Sixth place: Peoria Riverfront Market, Peoria, Illinois – Awarded $1,000
“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the nation’s top farmers markets. This honor reflects the hard work and commitment of our vendors, the dedication of our staff, and the wonderful community members who support us week after week. As a small non-profit organization, the Peoria Riverfront Association has dedicated 23 years to growing the Riverfront Market into a very special gathering place for our community while at the same time supporting our local economy.”
Sharon Gramm, executive director, Peoria Riverfront Association
Seventh place: Windward Mall Farmers Market, Kaneohe, Hawaii – Awarded $1,000
Eighth place: West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market, West Windsor Township, New Jersey – Awarded $1,000
“This heartwarming recognition highlights twenty-three years of supporting New Jersey farms while curating an epic food hub for all to gather and celebrate the bounty of their hard work. Centrally located within the Garden State, our year-round open-air market changes with the seasons and showcases twenty-one farms and more than fifty artisan vendors, food producers, and purveyors. We’re a pop-up main street for area residents and beyond, filled with the freshest foods grown, raised, and produced especially for our shoppers. It’s where we all go to recharge and reconnect as a community!”
Chris Cirkus and Stacey Kennedy, market managers, West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market
Ninth place: Historic McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square, McKinney, Texas – Awarded $875
“This recognition means so much because it truly reflects the people who make our market what it is, our farmers, ranchers, makers, vendors, volunteers, and the thousands of customers who show up and support them every Saturday. We’re incredibly proud to represent McKinney, our local farmers and producers, and the amazing market community we’ve built together.”
Tracey Evans, market manager, Historic McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square
Tenth place: Winnsboro Farmers’ Market, Winnsboro, Texas – Awarded $875
“Our farmers market is woven into the fabric of this community. It is where neighbors meet on Saturday mornings, where local farmers share what they’ve grown, and where families come to support the people who make Winnsboro special. It is more than a place to shop. It is a gathering place, a connection point, and an important part of our local food system.
As a small town, we never imagined that a market like ours could compete on a national stage. But our community poured their heart into this. People shared our story, encouraged their friends and neighbors to vote, and helped show the country just how much they believe in the Winnsboro Farmers Market and the farmers who make it possible.
Receiving 2,859 votes was an incredible show of support, not just for the market, but for the farmers, producers, and community that make it what it is. Being recognized as a Favorite Farmers Market is meaningful because it represents the voices of the people who show up for us every week.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to vote and share our story, and to American Farmland Trust for giving us the opportunity to celebrate what makes our market and our community so special. We are proud to represent Winnsboro, and even prouder of the community that showed the world just how much they believe in this small-town farmers market.”
Andie Miller, Manager, Winnsboro Farmers’ Market
Community champion: Mount Washington Farmers Market, Mount Washington, Kentucky – Awarded merchandise and digital award
Regional WinnersMidwest
Arlington Heights Farmers Market | Arlington Heights, Illinois
Northeast
Coventry Farmers Market | Coventry, Connecticut
Pacific Northwest
Moscow Farmers Market | Moscow, Idaho
Southeast
Mt. Washington Farmers Market | Mt. Washington, Kentucky
Southwest
Windward Mall Farmers Market | Kaneohe, Hawaii
StateWinners
Alaska — Tanana Valley Farmers Market | Fairbanks, Alaska
Alabama — Tuscaloosa River Market | Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Arkansas — Fayetteville Farmers’ Market | Fayetteville, Arkansas
Arizona — Prescott Farmers Market | Prescott, Arizona
California — Midtown Farmers Market | Sacramento, California
Colorado — Louisville Farmers Market | Louisville, Colorado
Connecticut — Coventry Farmers Market | Coventry, Connecticut
District of Columbia — Eastern Market | Washington
Delaware — Historic Lewes Farmers Market | Lewes, Delaware
Florida — Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market | Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Georgia — Cartersville Farmers Market | Cartersville, Georgia
Hawaii — Windward Mall Farmers Market | Honolulu, Hawaii
Iowa — Freight House Farmers Market | Davenport, Iowa
Idaho — Moscow Farmers Market | Moscow, Idaho
Illinois — Arlington Heights Farmers Market | Arlington Heights, Illinois
Indiana — YLNI Barr Street Market | Fort Wayne, Indiana
Kansas — Lawrence Farmers’ Market | Lawrence, Kansas
Kentucky — Mt. Washington Farmers Market | Mt. Washington, Kentucky
Louisiana — Bossier City Farmers Market | Bossier City, Louisiana
Massachusetts — Billerica Community Farmers Market | Billerica, Massachusetts
Maryland — Reisterstown Farmers Market | Reisterstown, Maryland
Maine — Portland Farmers’ Market | Portland, Maine
Michigan — Muskegon Farmers Market | Muskegon, Michigan
Minnesota — Hopkins Farmers’ Market | Hopkins, Minnesota
Missouri — De Soto Farmers Market | De Soto, Missouri
Mississippi — Farm Market at Lafayette Arena | Oxford, Mississippi
Montana — Clark Fork Market | Missoula, Montana
North Carolina — Watauga County Farmers’ Market | Boone, North Carolina
North Dakota — Minot Farmers Market | Minot, North Dakota
Nebraska — Sunday Farmers’ Market at College View | Lincoln, Nebraska
New Hampshire — Salem NH Farmers Market | Salem, New Hampshire
New Jersey — The Woodbury Farmers Market | Woodbury, New Jersey
New Mexico — Farmers & Crafts Market of Las Cruces | Las Cruces, New Mexico
Nevada — The Village Farmers Market on California Street | Reno, Nevada
New York — The Tarrytown Sleep Hollow Farmers Market (The TaSH) | Tarrytown, New York
Ohio — Athens Farmers Market | Athens, Ohio
Oklahoma — Tahlequah Farmers’ Market | Norman, Oklahoma
Oregon — Lane County Farmers Market | Eugene, Oregon
Pennsylvania — Easton Farmers’ Market | Easton, Pennsylvania
Rhode Island — Scituate Rotary Farmers Market | North Scituate, Rhode Island
South Carolina — Travelers Rest Farmers Market | Travelers Rest, South Carolina
South Dakota — Burke Area Farmers Market | Burke, South Dakota
Tennessee — Lightfoot Farm Market | Millington, Tennessee
Utah — Farmers Market Ogden | Ogden, Utah
Virginia — Charlottesville City Market | Charlottesville, Virginia
Vermont — Jeffersonville Farmers Market | Jeffersonville, Vermont
Washington — Maple Valley Farmers Market | Maple Valley, Washington
Wisconsin — Downtown West Bend Farmers Market | West Bend, Wisconsin
West Virginia — South Charleston Farmers Market | South Charleston, West Virginia
Wyoming — Lander Valley Farmers Market | Lander, Wyoming
For more information: https://farmland.org/
To contact us: hpj.com/contact/
