The Common Market’s Farmer Champion Program

Our Farmer Champion Program celebrates schools, hospitals, corporate cafeterias, and other partners who source consistently from small, local farms and engage their communities in supporting a sustainable food future. Learn more about our 2024 Farmer Champion program in a recent blog post here.

Farmer Champions 2024
Agnes Scott College, Mercer University, Oglethorpe University, & Spelman College were honored with a 2024 Farmer Champion Award.

How It Works

Building on the success of expanding Georgia Organics’ Farmer Champion Program to colleges and universities in 2024, The Common Market is proud to extend the Farmer Champion Award to institutions across all sectors—including K–12 schools (public and private), healthcare, corporate cafeterias, and higher education.

Eligible institutions will be awarded a Partner, Bronze, Silver or Gold level award based on purchases in September 2025 through May 2026. In addition to prioritizing local purchasing, awardees may receive bonus recognition for:

  • Actively supporting the local farming community
  • Engaging their institutional community in building a local, sustainable food system
  • Promoting food and nutrition education for students
  • and more!

Become a 2025 Farmer Champion

Agnes Scott Tour Farmer Champion

Institutions that average at least $400/week in purchases from September 2025 through May 2026 will be eligible for a 2025–2026 Farmer Champion Award.

(Given their unique funding structure and recent federal cuts to support local sourcing, the purchasing requirement for K-12 public school district participation is at least $400/month.)

Existing customers will use their 2024-2025 baseline data to determine award tiers. New customers who reach the purchasing threshold will be recognized at the Partner level.

Pictured: Kimberly Reeves, left, Executive Director at Agnes Scott College's Center for Sustainability, leads a local food tour on campus.

 

20250730 Common Market Aps School 25

Partner: $400 average weekly minimum order (except K-12 public school districts, $400 average monthly minimum order*)

Bronze: 25% increase in average weekly order compared to last year

Silver:
50% increase in average weekly order compared to last year

Gold:
75% increase in average weekly order compared to last year

To be considered for a 2025 Farmer Champion Award, please sign up your institution before December 31, 2025.

Sign Up Here.

Farmer Champion Award Level Tiers

Farmer Champion Tiers
Group Shot College Uni Web

2024-2025 Farmer Champions

  • Agnes Scott College
  • Mercer University
  • Oglethorpe University
  • Spelman College

Members of the 2024 Farmer Champion pilot cohort, chefs from Oglethorpe University, Mercer University, and Agnes Scott College, participate in a celebratory photoshoot.