This is National Farmers Market Week

This is National Farmers Market Week, designed to spotlight the role of farmers' markets in supporting local economies and improving nutrition. It's an opportunity for stories on local markets. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a proclamation that they contribute $9 billion to the national economy and also help "revitalize rural communities," promote rural-urban partnerships and "encourage the next generation of farmers."

"Farmers' markets are fertile ground for teaching children where foods come from and can serve as field trip sites that introduce kids to new foods, business practices, and agricultural production," the Agriculture Department said in a news release. The Farmers Market Coalition has detailed information, including a story on successful farmers' markets across the country.