Warrensburg Farmers’ Market joins markets across the country in celebrating National Farmers Market Week from Aug. 2-8, 2026 for the 27th year.
National Farmers’ Market Week starts early in Downtown Warrensburg. On Aug. 1st the Warrensburg Farmers’ Market will celebrate Sustainability Day. This theme day is a simple but impactful reminder to community members, visitors and customers about the many ways the market supports sustainability every Saturday. From locally grown produce that reduces food miles to handmade goods, reusable shopping bags, and environmentally conscious vendors, every visit to the market makes a positive impact. Sustainability Day will highlight local organizations such as the Johnson County Master Gardeners and the Energy and Sustainability Task Force as well as have vendors focused on forging, composting and recycling.
Farmers markets foster shared values between community members and farmers which can work to create a more fair and sustainable food system. This community focus has been most visible during recent times of crisis and uncertainty as market managers innovate to continue essential operations for the farmers and shoppers who depend on them.
National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance, and network-building. Each year, FMC’s National Farmers Market Week Campaign highlights the vital role farmers markets play within our nation’s local food systems. For more than fifty years, farmers markets have influenced the way Americans eat, shop, and connect to their food, their farmers, and one another. Farmers markets are more than market places, they are places where neighbors learn, grow, and work together.
In addition to the beginning of National Farmers Market week, Warrensburg Main Street is asking for the community's help to name the Warrensburg Farmers’ Market the best in the nation! Community members can cast their vote in the 18th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration by American Farmland Trust.
Between Aug. 1 - Sept. 30, 2026, visit markets.farmland.org, find your favorite market, and vote to put it in the running for national recognition and cash prizes. In 2026, the Celebration will award $15,000 in total cash awards to the top ten markets in America--$2,500 for first, $2,000 for second, $1,500 for third, $1,250 for fourth, $1,000 for fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and $875 for ninth, and tenth place. These funds will be awarded to markets for marketing, communications, and other needs that help expand the market’s reach and impact. Community members can vote once per email address.
American Farmland Trust, a national nonprofit dedicated to saving farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land, has run the Celebration for 17 consecutive years, elevating the increasingly essential role farmers markets play in providing communities with access to fresh, locally grown food and connecting farmers directly with their customers.
"In many regions, farmers markets have been vital to keeping existing farms in business, enabling new farms to get started, and creating jobs and opportunity in these communities,” said John Piotti, American Farmland Trust president and CEO. “At AFT, we believe that every farmers market in America is special in its own way, helping to connect farmers to customers, customers to healthy food, and the community to the local food system.”
The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market began in 1996, and currently hosts over 50 farmers market vendors selling a wide variety of products, including local produce, beef, pork, chicken, plants, herbs, honey, baked goods, and handmade items like knives, windchimes and crocheted items. The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market also hosts food truck vendors who make homemade pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and many other tasty items using their neighboring vendors' products.
The Farmers’ Market is planned through the Farmers Market committee which helps staff at Warrensburg Main Street plan exciting new events, promotions and social media campaigns to reach anywhere from 400 - 1200 customers on a weekly basis. Committee members are vital in helping identify areas of need for the market such as produce or meat needed to be a well balanced market. The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market is a 70% Local Growers and 30% Artisan market ratio. The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market, also, welcomes young entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and join the Farmers’ Market community.
“The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market is a community favorite and a rewarding part of our jobs. Every Saturday from May to Sept., we have the opportunity to help build small businesses, provide fresh and local products and create relationships with community members. The Warrensburg Farmers’ Market not only helps our 50+ market vendors but our downtown businesses as it drives economic growth into Downtown Warrensburg. Many vendors are able to work with local businesses by providing products or staging in storefronts. We are proud to be the stepping stone for business as an organization.” States Jamie DeBacker Executive Director. “Our market keeps growing and bringing new insights to our organization and we are proud to provide this resource to our community.”
After National Farmers’ Market Week, the market will continue through Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. - noon each Saturday. In addition to the regular market, Community Day will be held on Aug. 15during the market. Community members will be able to explore the many local community groups and resources we have available in addition to shopping for their favorite vendors. Many first responders will be set up during the market for the community to explore and engage with.
Warrensburg Main Street is a 501c3 non-profit organization Warrensburg Main Street, Inc. who works to promote, improve, and preserve the unique character and economic vitality of downtown Warrensburg while embracing the growing community. Within the organization there are several committees who are vital to the success of Downtown Warrensburg. The Farmers’ Market committee comes together to strategize marketing and promotional ideas to attract a variety of consumers to the Farmers’ Market. This committee plans and creates additional funding opportunities to grow the market and attract vendors.
If you would like to see more information about Warrensburg Main Street or how to serve on a committee, check out warrensburgmainstreet.org. You can also visit the Warrensburg Main Street office at 125C N. Holden Street, Warrensburg MO 64093, email farmersmarket@warrensburgmainstreet.org or call 660-429-93988.
Release courtesy of the Warrensburg Farmers’ Market
