The Rapid Market Assessment or “RMA” is a key tool for farmers markets to collect baseline data, gain new insights and ideas for improvement, measure progress, build consensus and inform big decisions. Using a participatory methodology, a team of local community members and managers from other markets spend an intensive day at the farmers market:
- Counting shoppers;
- Recruiting shoppers to answer a “dot survey” (questions written on flip charts that people answer with round, sticky dots); and
- Providing constructive comments and observations about the market’s physical site, atmosphere, and vendor mix.
If you are interested in being part of a RMA team or having a RMA at your market, please contact Colleen Donovan or the WSFMA.
Rapid Market Assessment Overview (Sept. 2016)
OSU’s Tools for Rapid Market Assessments (2008)
OSU’s Oregon Small Farms Technical Reports – Farmers’ Markets
2017 RMA Reports
- Everett Farmers Market RMA Report
- Kent Farmers Market RMA Report
- Olympia Farmers Market RMA Report
- Proctor Farmers’ Market RMA Report
- South Perry Farmers Market RMA Report
- Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market RMA Report
2002-2008 RMA Reports
Bremerton FM RMA 2008 (WSFMA)
Chehalis Community FM 2008 (WSFMA)
Duvall FM RMA 2008 (WSFMA)
Gig Harbor FM RMA 2008 (WSFMA)
Key Peninsula FM RMA 2008 (WSFMA)
Kirkland Wednesday Market RMA 2003 (NW Direct-WSU)
Mount Vernon FM RMA 2003 (NW Direct-WSU)
Pasco FM RMA 2003 (NW Direct-WSU)
Port Angeles FM RMA 2002 (NW Direct-WSU)
Roslyn Sunday Market RMA 2008 (WSFMA)
Tacoma FM RMA 2003 (NW Direct-WSU)
University District FM RMA 2002 (NW Direct-WSU)
Yakima FM RMA 2002 (NW Direct-WSU)
Downloadable RMA Worksheets and RMA Tools:
- Counting Shoppers at Farmers Market
- Estimating Farmers Market Visitors by Counting Mobile Phone Pings
- RMA Shopper Count worksheet
- RMA Recruiting Shoppers to do a Dot Survey
- RMA CCO Worksheet – Vendors & Products
- RMA CCO Worksheet – Physical
- RMA CCO Worksheet – Atmosphere
Updated: 3-27-2021