About the Network
The Utah Farmers Market Network supports farmers markets through communication, collaboration, and professional development – building community, uplifting agriculture, and incubating small businesses throughout Utah.
A brief history of the network
The network began as a series of conversations among Utah farmers markets who wanted to network and learn from each other. In October of 2018, Utah State University (USU) was awarded a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant from the USDA to fund a variety of capacity-building, outreach, and marketing activities to help connect more low-income and ethnically diverse populations to healthy local food at farmers markets. The activities of the grant also provided the necessary support to formalize Utah’s statewide farmers market network.
In late 2022, USU was awarded a second FMPP grant to create a market manager handbook, a marketing campaign, and to gather community and economic impact data.
Utah Farmers Market Network 1st Forum
On March 3, 2020, thirty-eight market managers and staff representing 20 markets from all over Utah met up for a day-long farmers market forum for the first time ever. We learned, shared, listened, made friends and strengthened our network. Planning for the continued development of the network will be taking place over the summer and fall of 2020. Slides from each presentation at the forum are available here.
Network Staff
Jaclyn Pace, Director
Jaclyn Pace brings deep roots in Utah's local food system to her role as Director of the Utah Farmers Market Network. With nearly two decades in the West and a career grounded in community-building, she is passionate about strengthening farmers markets as vital hubs for local food, small businesses, and community building — and ensuring they are welcoming spaces for everyone.
Jaclyn holds a BA in Education Studies from Eugene Lang College of the New School University in Manhattan and an MA in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University. She began her involvement in farmers market administration at the Downtown St. George Farmers Market administering SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks, collecting vendor fees, developing and running a weekly youth program focused on diversity and sustainability, and coordinating pickup and delivery orders during the pandemic. She also previously co-facilitated UFMN's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community of Practice with market managers across the state before becoming Director.
As Director, Jaclyn is focused on deepening relationships with markets and stakeholders across Utah while expanding the network's reach and impact statewide. She is committed to helping market managers make their markets inclusive and welcoming spaces for all Utahns.
Gwen Crist, Handbook Coordinator
Gwen Crist has lived in SLC for over 35 years. Raised on an organic farm, she has always been passionate about local food and an advocate for small farmers. Gwen served on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Utah for more than 11 years, and as Chairperson for 10 years. She is an avid farmer’s market supporter and self-described market groupie. She currently serves on the Board for Urban Food Connections of Utah and recently participated on their Strategic Planning Committee, as well as the UFCU Local Food Microgrant Fund review committee. During her time on the Board for Slow Food, Gwen worked with other organizations to develop the Eat Local Week program, the annual Honeybee Festival, and the yearly fundraiser “Feast of Five Senses” which helps to fund the local food and farming community through a microgrant program. Gwen has an extensive and intimate knowledge of the local food community, as well as experience in organizing events and educational activities, grant writing, and non-profit management.
Photo descriptions: Top, Historic Downtown Brigham City Farmers Market; 2nd down, Blair Fraser/Unsplash; 3rd down, Utah Farmers Market managers at 2020 Farmers Market Forum; 4th down, Jaclyn Pace; 5th down, Gwen Crist.