Is there renewed national interest in public markets?
 Yes. In dozens of communities across the country, people are re-discovering the value in fresh local foods and community enterprise. Many markets have been started in the past decade, some as simple as parking lot events (like one in Mount Joy) and others in brand new, single purpose buildings (like in Portland, Maine). According to the USDA, the number of farmers markets in the United States has grown dramatically, increasing 79 percent from 1994 to 2002. The 2002 National Farmers Market Directory lists over 3,100 farmers markets are operating in the United States.
Fresh foods provide important health benefits and two federal agencies recently launched the "Five a Day For Better Health" program. The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services are now developing initiatives to raise awareness of the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables. Public Markets are ideal avenues for bringing quality produce closer to consumers.
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