National Farmer’s Market Week: Small family farms sold over $2.4 billion worth of food products direct to consumers in 2023

In 2023, small family farms sold $2.4 billion worth of food commodities directly to consumers—more than any other farm type—through outlets such as farmers markets, farm stands, and community-supported agriculture. A small family farm is an operation with a gross cash farm income (GCFI) under $350,000, where most assets are owned by the producer, their household, or relatives. Midsize family farms, defined as having a GCFI between $350,000 and $999,999, and nonfamily farms of any size reported far less in direct-to-consumer sales, at $652 million and $402 million, respectively. Instead, nonfamily farms sold the bulk of their edible products, valued at $7.6 billion, through local or regional intermediate markets such as local distributors or wholesalers. Large-scale family farms, those with a GCFI of at least $1 million, used retail markets ($2.3 billion) and intermediate markets ($11.3 billion) to sell locally or regionally branded foods, with smaller shares going directly to consumers. The prominence of small family farms in direct-to-consumer sales underscores the role of these farms in local food systems. More information on the USDA, Economic Research Service farm typology can be found in America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance, 2024.