Our Mission
pro·duc·er - one that produces; especially: one that grows agricultural products or manufactures crude materials into articles of use
“Aren’t all farmers markets local?,” you might ask.
The answer is, it’s complicated—and not always.
As a producer-only farmers market, the SMFM has made a commitment that every head of lettuce, carton of eggs, bouquet of flowers, or loaf of bread is homegrown or handmade within our region by the vendors who sell them, with no item hailing from more than 60 miles away. In fact, we conduct annual farm visits to ensure that that’s the case—making us the only producer-only farmers market in Talbot County and on the Mid-Shore.
Producer-only farmers markets are part of a growing movement to support our local communities. They sustain small farmers and food businesses, nurture our local food systems and local economies, benefit our local and global environments, and educate our neighbors about the benefits of buying local food.
In contrast to other markets and roadside stands that buy in food from locations well beyond our region, shopping local supports your health with more fresh and nutritious food, with seasonal ingredients sold at market shortly after being harvested, compared to grocery store items that sit for weeks or months before ending up in your kitchen. Shopping local also supports the environment, with local products having a smaller greenhouse-gas footprint than those imported from farther distances or grown on a large scale, and sustainable farming practices in turn benefitting the Chesapeake Bay. And eating local supports your community, too, keeping your dollars in your local economy, directly benefitting local farmers, local businesses, and of course your independent nonprofit St. MichaelsFarmers Market.
The SMFM is proud to be one of only a very few authentic producer-only farmers markets on the entire Delmarva Peninsula. We encourage you to get to know our farmers, learn about their growing practices, and in turn, forge a deeper relationship with your food.