Local governments can promote healthy eating and active living in their communities by supporting local farmers’ markets. Local farmers’ markets provide fresh produce to community residents, support small farmers, serve as gathering places, and revitalize community centers and downtown areas. There are many ways that local governments can promote farmers markets.

Planning for Healthy Places, a project of Public Health Law & Policy, has created a set of complementary model land use policies to help California communities create more opportunities for farmers’ markets and ensure their long-term viability.