American Farmland Trust's I Love My Farmers Market Celebration begins May 28; pledge your support at www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tomatoes, potatoes, squash and strawberries are a few products, of so many, brought fresh to local markets by farmers who represent the true heritage of America. Yet, the fresh delicious bounty found at farmers markets each week might be at the greatest risk of being lost as farmland is consumed by sprawl and development.

I Love My Farmers Market Celebration marks the fifth year American Farmland Trust has hosted a summer-long event to honor our nation's hardworking family farmers and to raise the national awareness about our bountiful farmers markets.  

The celebration encourages consumers to pledge to support family farmers by shopping directly from them this summer. A pledge is a commitment to spend $10 at your farmers market that week.

The goal is to collect 1 million dollars in pledges to shop at farmers markets before the celebration concludes at midnight on September 9, 2013.

The first time a consumer pledges they will receive one of American Farmland Trust's free No Farms No Food® bumper stickers to show support for struggling family farmers and raise awareness about development that is paving over America's farm and ranch land. Once an acre of farmland is paved over, it is lost forever.

Farmers markets provide the vital link between shoppers and the family farmers growing our food and as such highlight the importance of protecting farmland. "The I Love My Farmers Market Celebration is about celebrating the unique qualities of farmers markets throughout the nation and the important role that these markets play in keeping family farmers on the land," said American Farmland Trust Vice President of External Affairs, Susan Sink.

I Love My Farmers Market Celebration is part of the American Farmland Trust's No Farms No Food® Campaign. Nationwide, the food and farming system contributes nearly $1 trillion dollars to our national economy. According to the most recent National Resources Inventory, we have been losing nearly one million acres of farmland every year.  For all of these reasons and more, conserving and protecting farmland for future generations is something we can all celebrate.

For more information on the I Love My Farmers Market Celebration or to pledge, visit www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org.

American Farmland Trust is the only national conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect more than 5 million of acres of farmland.

AFT's national office is located in Washington, DC. Phone: 800-431-1499. For more information, visit www.farmland.org.

Contact: Gretchen Mais; (202) 378-1251 [email protected]

SOURCE American Farmland Trust