Pathways Out of the Farmers Market: Understanding, Preventing, and (Sometimes) Embracing Farmer Churn

In this webinar, Emory University student Francis Albright presents findings from a study on why farmers leave farmers markets and how these decisions shape adaptation within local food systems. Drawing on interviews, observations, and document review, the presentation identifies three exit drivers: internal factors within market control, external pressures beyond management, and boundary factors where personal and professional lives overlap. Using farmers’ voices, the webinar explores both the challenges and opportunities these exits create, highlighting that not all departures are negative. The session concludes with recommendations for strengthening governance, supporting farmer wellness, and building more flexible, inclusive markets that retain vendors while embracing transition as part of sustainability.