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Abstract
Excerpts from the report Introduction: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been promoting farmers markets and other forms of direct marketing for several years. While the number of farmers markets in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years, many low-income customers, particularly in urban areas, have not benefited from this growth. Many low-income consumers have difficulty accessing fresh fruits and vegetables. The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) and USDA initiated a project in June 2000 to explore the potential for expanding farmers markets in a low-income neighborhood of Washington, DC. The objectives of the partnership between USDA and the Anacostia Farmers Market were to develop and improve farmers markets in the Anacostia community. To meet these objectives, USDA provided financial and technical assistance to the Anacostia Farmers Market. This case study will further add to the body of research on the topic and provide information to market organizers in this and other low-income communities.