FARMA is a co-operative association of farmers, producers and farmers' market organisations in the United Kingdom .
6-592: FARMA, the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association is an organisation that was set up to represent farmers and organisations such as farmers markets and farm shops selling their produce directly to consumers. It operates a certification scheme for UK farmers' markets, and its rules have been adopted by many markets and are supported by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). FARMA
12-478: A larger portion of the resulting profit than they can obtain by selling to a wholesaler or larger reseller. Many farm shops sell higher-margin premium goods such as organic produce of known local provenance in order to differentiate their offerings from those in supermarkets. Larger farm shops may target the leisure-shopping market, offering tea-rooms, gift shops and rural lifestyle products. In recent years, especially in strongly agrarian regions and countries such as
18-512: A maximum radius of 30 miles, but accept that for large cities a radius of 50 miles is more appropriate. UK farmers' markets have to abide by regulation from their local authority, and some local authorities have adopted the FARMA guidelines as a requirement. Farmers' markets Farm Shop Local food Cooperatives UK Farm shop A farm shop , or " farm stand " in the United States,
24-406: Is a type of retail outlet which usually sells produce directly from a farm . Some farm shops also resell related goods such as locally produced groceries, foods, drinks and delicatessen products. In developed countries the number of farm shops is increasing as farms seek to diversify their sources of income in the face of financial pressures. Direct sales to the consumer allow farmers to retain
30-825: Is recognised by Cooperatives UK as the federal organisation supporting farmers' markets and local foods in the UK. FARMA came about as a merger in 2003 between the Farm Retail Association (operating since 1979, representing farm shops and pick-your-own farms) and the National Association of Farmers' Markets (operating since 1998). The merger was announced at the Royal Show in Stonleigh Park in July 2004. FARMA define their mission statement as: FARMA certifies farmers' markets in
36-412: The UK that operate under its guidelines. Markets are independently assessed by a third party and the inspections are carried out on an individual basis. Over 200 farmers' markets in the UK have been Certified by FARMA Its rules are based around five major principles: Markets can support additional rules, and define their own local area (usually set as a distance or as a County boundary). FARMA recommend
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