Farmers’ Market

A “farmers’ market” (also spelled “farmers market”) is a retail market where farmers can sell their foods to the public. Farmers’ markets have existed in some form for centuries, but the name “farmers’ marlet” was cited in the New York (NY) Herald on January 28, 1848, and in the Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), on April 20, 1860. Philadelphia’s Market Street has long had farmers’ markets; the Farmers’ Market Company was incorporated in the early 1860s.
 
Farmers’ markets in New York City are called Greenmarkets.
 
   
Wikipedia: Farmers’ market
A farmers’ marketfarmers market) is a physical retail market featuring foods sold directly by farmers to consumers. Farmers’ markets typically consist of booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, where farmers sell fruits, vegetables, meats, and sometimes prepared foods and beverages. Farmers’ markets add value to communities.

Farmers’ markets exist worldwide and reflect their local culture and economy. Their size ranges from a few stalls to several city blocks. In some cultures, live animals, imported delicacies unavailable locally, and personal goods and crafts are sold.
   
Wikipedia: Reading Terminal Market
Origins
Open-air markets flourished in Philadelphia since its founding. Growth of the city demanded more markets, and the string of open-air markets extending from the Delaware River ran for six blocks, or one full mile, prompting the main street (then called “High Street’”) to be renamed ‘Market Street.’ Soon after the markets reached their peak growth and capacity, open-air markets within the city became seen as dirty and unhygienic by the public. The frenzy of activity along the main street was seen as a nuisance and traffic hazard. In 1859, city officials bowed to public pressure and dismantled all of them. This prompted two indoor markets to open at 12th and Market Streets, Franklin Market and Farmers’ Market. These two would be the foundation of the Reading Terminal Market.
 
(Oxford English Dictionary)
farmers’ market n. (also farmer’s market, farmers market) orig. N. Amer. a market to which farmers bring their produce to sell directly to the public; a building or area designed for this purpose.
1864 Delaware County Amer. (Electronic ed.) 7 Dec.,  Also at the same time and place, will be sold two shares of Stock in the Farmers’ Market.
1936 Econ. Geogr. 12 84/1   In other cases the vineyard owner trucks his grapes to the city, where he disposes of them to the consumer at farmers’ markets or by peddling.
 
28 January 1848, New York (NY) Herald, pg. 1, col. 6:
FARMERS’ MARKET.—The newly established market house situated in the 4th avnue, between 26th and 27th streets, known as the railroad, or farmers’ market, is an excellent affair. It is thronged with farmers, provision dealers, hucksters, milkmen, and heads of families, trading in almost every possible variety of country produce.
 
20 April 1860, Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), pg. 1, col. 5:
The Farmers’ Marlket—THe foundation walls of the Farmers’ Market, in Market street, west of Eleventh, are being laid, the old buildings on the site having been all demolished. A large number of men are employed upon it, and the work will be pushed rapidly forward to completion.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Do not forget to go to the great dinners at the Farmers’ Market, in Market Street, above Eleventh. : Pot pie, pork and beans, roast meats, apple puddings, plum puddings, rice puddings, pies, coffee & tea, soups, hot corn, bread, hot short cakes.
Author: Farmers’ Market (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publisher: [Philadelphia, Pa.] : U.S. Job Print, Ledger Buildings., [186-?]
Edition/Format:  Book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Report of the managers of the Farmers’ Market Company : presented at the first annual meeting of the stockholders, held January 12, 1861 : together with the act of incorporation and supplements thereto : a list of the stockholders, rules for the government of the market, and by-laws of the company.
Author: H Jones Brooke; Farmer’s Market Co.
Publisher: Philadelphia : C. Sherman & Son, printers, 1861.
Edition/Format:  Book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
The farmers market of Chester is beginning to look like
Edition/Format:  Article
Publication: DELAWARE COUNTY AMERICAN, (November 4, 1868)
Database: Accessible Archives
 
OCLC WorldCat record
By-laws and rules and regulations of the Ridge Avenue Farmers’ Market Company of Philadelphia.
Author: Ridge Avenue Farmers’ Market Co. (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publisher: Philadelphia : Gerard Printing House, 1889.
Edition/Format:  Book : English
   
GrowNYC
Greenmarket Farmers Markets
Greenmarket was founded in 1976 with a two-fold mission: to promote regional agriculture by providing small family farms the opportunity to sell their locally grown products directly to consumers, and to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, most nutritious locally grown food the region has to offer.
 
What began over three decades ago with 12 farmers in a parking lot on 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan has now grown to become the largest and most diverse outdoor urban farmers market network in the country, now with 54 markets, over 230 family farms and fishermen participating, and over 30,000 acres of farmland protected from development.