One of the many roles of the farmers market manager is leading the volunteer program.

Volunteers staff information booths, assist with setup and breakdown, support special events, serve on the board, and act as ambassadors to your community. Sometimes the market manager themselves is a volunteer!

Volunteer management often happens on the fly—recruiting through word of mouth when you're short-handed, providing minimal orientation, and hoping people show up when scheduled. With the right structure in place, you'll have reliable support and avoid burnout—yours and your volunteers. Organized training, scheduling, and recognition create an experience where volunteers feel valued and excited to contribute. And you'll see the benefits everywhere—in deeper community connections, smoother operations, and the energy that engaged volunteers bring to everything they do.

  • This handout WA State Farmers Market Association covers the types of jobs volunteers do, recruiting volunteers, and administrative tips for putting together a volunteer program.

  • NOVAA offers low cost training and resources on volunteer management. Becoming a member is a fantastic way to get professional development opportunities that will enhance your market’s volunteer program.

  • A guide to the purpose of volunteer handbooks and what does, and doesn’t, belong in one. (Check out this site’s weekly podcast on volunteering too!)

  • An important consideration from the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit, check it out for an overview of employment classification and how farmers markets can understand and manage their legal risks by properly classifying their workers as employees, independent contractors, volunteers, or interns.

Webinar Recordings

The topic of this month’s Peer Learning Circle was all about volunteer coordination at farmers markets. Market managers shared the tools they've developed and lessons learned to have an awesome program that builds capacity and community at their markets.