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Farmers Markets

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In 1977, California passed the Direct Marketing Act, which enabled small farms to sell at certified farmers markets by eliminating the requirement for standard packing of produce. The Davis Farmers Market opened in 1975, and it became the first certified farmers market in California in 1977. The personal connections and networks among consumers, chefs, cooperative groceries, and farmers that developed at farmers markets was crucial in establishing a cooperative model of food distribution.

Top line reads "Shop Coop" at the top Middle line reads "415 L st Davis" Bottom line reads "Come to the Farmer's Market"
Poster advertisement to shop at the Davis Farmers Market
(Gift of Ann Evans)

The Davis Food Co-op was founded in 1972 by Davis, California residents and UC Davis students. The organization began as a grocery buying club and originally operated out of members’ homes. In 1976, the first store opened on L Street and in 1978 the Co-op moved to Fifth Street. The Co-op officially incorporated as a California cooperative corporation in 1981, and in 1984 moved to its current location on G Street.

Orange-yellow cover of the original "articles of incorporation and bylaws" for the Davis Food Co-op
Cover, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Davis Food Co-op, ca. 1972 (Gift of Ann Evans)
Newspaper clipping from The Daily Democrat advertising the Davis Food Co-op's "good, economical eating"
Davis Food Co-op offers good economical eating, newspaper clipping, The Daily Democrat, 1978 (Gift of Ann Evans)
"Naomi's Birthday Soup" is written on the top left in big, bold font. Ingredients and directions for the recipe are listed below.
Recipe cards created for the Davis Food Co-op and the Davis Farmers Market (Gift of Ann Evans)
Front cover of questionnaire for members asking about their involvement. On white paper
Questionnaire for the Davis Food Coop. Asks about the coop membership, asks about the estimated value and assets, and internal operations
Front of membership card for Ann Evans and Household for the Davis Food Coop. Date of issue is also listed as July 31, 1978
Ann Evans’ original Davis Food Co-op membership card, 1978, front (Gift of Ann Evans)
Back of Ann Evans' original membership card at the Davis Food co-op. Describes the co-op with its logo of two trees in a circle at the bottom left.
Ann Evans’ original Davis Food Co-op membership card, 1978, back (Gift of Ann Evans)
Image of a book cover. The background is the leaves of green, leafy vegetables. A vegetable tag in the bottom has the text "Foreword by Alice Waters" written on it. The title in the center reads "The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook Ann M. Evans" in white, serif font.
The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook by Ann M. Evans, 2012
Green root vegetables and carrots are in the background. A yellow border at the bottom reads "Get Fresh with the Co-op" with the logos of the Davis Food Co-op and Davis Farmers Market on the bottom left corner
Recipe cards created for the Davis Food Co-op and the Davis Farmers Market (Gift of Ann Evans)
An image of pumpkins, squash, and other gourds piled on top of each other is in the background. A green border at the bottom reads "Get Fresh with the Co-op" and logos of the Davis Food Co-op and Davis Farmers Market are in the bottom left corner
Recipe cards created for the Davis Food Co-op and the Davis Farmers Market (Gift of Ann Evans)
Small Farming Food Writing