The Shreveport Farmers' Market is encouraging supporters to cast their votes in the 15th annual America's Farmers Market Celebration presented by American Farmland Trust and Farmers Market Coalition.

Between June 19 and September 18, you can visit the markets.farmland.org website to vote for your favorite farmers market to put it in the running for national recognition and cash prizes.

“The Shreveport Farmers’ Market strives to be bigger and better every year. It serves as a great community resource that has a tremendous economic impact on our region. From farmers to food vendors, we bring the best to the market every year and work hard to serve all members of the community. By voting for the Shreveport Farmers’ Market, you help us continue to grow our operations and encourage our vendors to come back every year to serve this great community,” said Emerie Eck Holtzclaw, Market Manager.

Mahaffey Farms at the Shreveport Farmers' Market Saturday morning, June 24, 2023, in downtown Shreveport.

In 2023, the Celebration will award a record $15,000 in total cash award to the top five markets.

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1st Place - $5,000

2nd Place - $2,500

3rd Place - $1,500

4th Place - $750

5th Place - $250

The top farmers market in each state will also receive $100.

The American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit dedicated to saving farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land. It has run the Celebration for 14 consecutive years, elevating the increasingly essential role farmers markets play in providing communities with access to fresh, locally grown food and connecting farmers directly with their customers.

Brandon Manning at the Shreveport Farmers' Market Saturday morning, June 24, 2023, in downtown Shreveport.

"In many regions, farmers markets have been vital to keeping existing farms in business, enabling new farms to get started, and creating jobs and opportunity in these communities,” said John Piotti, American Farmland Trust president and CEO. “At AFT, we believe that every farmers market in America is special in its own way, helping to connect farmers to customers, customers to healthy food, and the community to the local food system.”

Visit markets.farmland.org to vote for the Shreveport Farmers' Market in the 15th annual America's Farmers Market Celebration.

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Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport Farmers' Market in America's Farmers Market Celebration