Throughout this National Farmers Market Week, farmers, ranchers, and producers from across the country will gather on the National Mall for the first time in history at the Great American Farmers Market.
In the spirit of weekend farmers markets across the country, thousands of Washington, D.C., locals and tourists will have the opportunity to meet — and thank — a cattle rancher from Minnesota, a dairy farmer from Maine, a tomato farmer from Maryland, and so many more producers from across America, all to raise awareness of how important our farmers and ranchers are to our country.
We have assembled this crowd as a national celebration of local products and as a testament to the self-sacrifice and patriotism that have been exhibited by American farming families for generations. The farmers, ranchers, and producers at the Great American Farmers Market not only represent the legacy of American agriculture but also the future of an industry defined by faith, determination, and hospitality.
Farmers markets, gatherings where farmers sell their locally grown produce and farm products, have risen dramatically in popularity over the past three decades. More and more, American consumers want to know the farmers who tend the crops and herds that nourish our families. Since 1994, the number of farmers markets in America has grown by almost 400% with an average growth of 7% per year.
Farmers markets are no longer a boutique accessory in big cities; they run in all 50 states, in urban and rural areas, for customers of every economic background.
Farmers who sell products in their local communities also need greater market access abroad. President Donald Trump has done just that over the last six months, including with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. There are so many reasons for the farming community to be optimistic about the future of farming in this new era of prosperity.
There has never been a president who has fought harder to open global markets to American agricultural products. Australia has allowed American beef for the first time in over 20 years, and Japan has opened its doors to increased rice imports and other products. The days of agriculture being left on the sidelines are over. The president is working every day to rebalance our trade commitments and reverse the disastrous agricultural trade deficit that grew to almost $50 billion during the previous administration.
USDA TO DECENTRALIZE AND RELOCATE DC WORKFORCE
Agriculture, America’s first industry, deserves to be safeguarded by our leaders, and under the Trump-Vance administration, it is getting exactly that. That’s why the Great American Farmers Market is so significant: it shows the partnership between our president, our farmers, and the American people who look to both.
Agriculture is not only America’s first industry but also a heritage and birthright for thousands of families across our nation. Never forget that supporting your local farmer is a patriotic act. Please take a minute this week to search for your local farmers market and support those who selflessly feed their communities and the world.
Brooke L. Rollins is the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
