Connecticut has 120 farmers markets. But until recently, the people running them had limited ways to communicate with one another.
There is a need for shared resources, a collective voice, and a safety net for when a market struggles with an issue another has already solved.
The Connecticut Farmers Market Association (CTFMA) was founded to change that — and in just two years, it already is.
Born from a conversation among three farmers market directors who recognized a glaring gap in their industry, CTFMA has quickly grown into the statewide backbone that Connecticut’s local food economy has long needed. The organization’s mission is to champion farmers markets by fostering collaboration, providing critical resources, and driving market sustainability across the state — ensuring that small-to-midsize farms and businesses have a fighting chance in an increasingly competitive food landscape.
“We believe that farmers markets are stronger together, and an association will help strengthen our farmers markets and local food economies by establishing a culture of shared knowledge where one market’s success paves the way for others,” said Lori Cochran-Dougall, President of CTFMA and Executive Director of the Westport Farmers Market.
The idea was simple but urgent. Despite the success of individual markets, directors across the state were operating in silos — reinventing the wheel, repeating each other’s mistakes, and missing opportunities to amplify their collective impact. CTFMA solicited input from market operators and state officials, including the Department of Agriculture and the Connecticut Food System Alliance, and the response was immediate and overwhelming.
CTFMA was officially founded in 2024 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation a year later. The momentum has been striking from day one. At CTFMA’s very first statewide networking event in 2025, more than 40 market managers showed up — many meeting each other for the first time. That kind of turnout, for a brand new organization with no track record yet, said everything about how urgently this association was needed. Membership continues to grow.
Through in-person events and digital forums, CTFMA creates and distributes practical resources including webinars, toolkits, and manager guides. These resources are specifically developed to meet the myriad needs of farmers markets, and have included a cybersecurity workshop to help markets protect their digital presence and financial assets, and a social media webinar offering tips and advice on using social media to support and grow farmers markets.
Looking ahead, CTFMA is building a centralized data platform to track farmers market health across Connecticut, measure progress over time, and arm advocates with the evidence they need to fight for local food at every level of government and commerce.
With spring markets opening their gates across the state, CTFMA is working behind the scenes to make sure every one of Connecticut’s 120 markets — and the farmers, small businesses, and families who depend on them — has what it needs to thrive.The CTFMA is led by a dedicated team of market directors, industry experts, and non-profit professionals committed to its mission. The leadership team includes Lori Cochran-Dougall (Executive Director of the Westport Farmers Market), Kay Carroll (Market Manager for the Litchfield Hills Farm Fresh Market), Peggy Zamore (Director/Nutritionist for the Danbury Farmers Market Community Collaborative), Haley Schulman (Senior Program Manager at Food Rescue US), Lisa Lewin (Owner of Socialability Consulting) and Mike Santini (Founder of HATRACK Consulting). CTFMA is actively working to expand its board with “thinkers and doers who see beyond the day to day tasks of a farmers market,” per Board President Lori Cochran-Dougall. Anyone interested in being involved on a higher level can contact info@ctfarmersmarketassociation.org to learn more.
For more information about the Connecticut Farmers Market Association, visit www.ctfarmersmarketassociation.org and follow the association on social media.
