U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has declared Aug. 3-9 as “National Farmers Market Week.”

This year marks the 15th annual National Farmers Market Week, recognizing the important role that farmers markets play in the agricultural and food economy.

“Farmers markets play a key role in developing local and regional food systems that support family farms, and help grow rural economies,” said Vilsack. “They bring communities together, connecting cities with the farms that support them and provide Americans across the country with fresh, healthy food.”

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Farmers markets increasingly offer electronic benefits transfer technology that can be used by recipients of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – including the Rifle Farmers Market – as well as those participating in the Women, Infants and Children and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs – to get fresh, seasonal ingredients.

The weekly Rifle Farmers Markets are held from 4 to 8 p.m. each Friday at the community lot, West Second Street and Railroad Avenue, through Sept. 26. Along with local and area produce, local businesses offer their goods for sale and local musicians entertain.