Farmers markets have big economic impact on Wyoming

Farmers markets throughout Wyoming contributed over $1 million to the state’s economy in 2011, according to data recently compiled by the Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division. The information, collected by the Agribusiness Division and run through an economic impact model by David "Tex" Taylor from the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, found that direct sales of $800,000 also generated secondary sales of nearly $250,000.  The results are based on responses collected by the Business Council from 14 of the 44 farmers markets operating in Wyoming.  The study also found that farmers markets supported the equivalent of nearly 10 annual jobs in the state’s economy with labor income totaling nearly $244,000.  The average annual earnings per job are estimated to be over $25,000.