Farm 2 Facts

Earlier this month we got together as a lab to celebrate all of our accomplishments throughout the school year! Lots to be proud of, look back on, and get excited for 🎉

Each year we also award the Kaufman Lab Fellow to a stand out lab member who exemplifies the notable characteristics of our namesake, Jerry Kaufman. This year, Olivia Nygaard was chosen as the recipient. We are so grateful for her contributions to the lab and for all of her hard work 💛

Join us in celebrating the graduation of 9 seniors in the Kaufman Lab 🎓 We are so proud of all that they have accomplished and wish them the best on their next chapter!

Dating back to 1791, French Market is one of the oldest public markets in the US.

Influenced by French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean food traditions, it became a melting pot of flavor long before that term defined America.

Markets like this remind us that food has always carried culture, identity, and exchange.

🇺🇸 As we mark America’s 250th birthday in 2026, we honor 250 years of markets, farmers, and food innovation: highlighting the traditions and modern practices that continue to connect fields, families, and communities.

This morning, Olivia Nygaard with the support of Farm2Facts founder, Alfonso Morales, hosted a facilitated discussion at the 2026 Data Science Research Bazaar.

💬 Their talk was titled, "Applied data science for food access: Farm2Facts and FEAST" and explored how farmers market and local food system data can help us better understand food access and community impact.

Through tools like Farm2Facts, we can make applied data science more accessible to researchers, market managers, and policymakers; helping turn everyday market activity into insights that strengthen local economies and improve food access 🧑‍🌾

🙌 Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation this morning!
If you missed it, you can watch it here:

Applied data science for food access: Farm2Facts and FEAST | 2026 Data Science Research Bazaar Applied data science for food access: Farm2Facts and FEAST

📊 On Thursday, Kaufman Lab staff members Ella Mitchell and Olivia Nygaard presented their research on Farm2Facts and FEAST at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Data Science Research Bazaar - Poster Symposium.

We love to see students sharing their insights and passion for data-driven solutions.

Established in the early 1800s, Charleston City Market has served as a hub for regional produce, seafood, and artisan goods for over two centuries.

Public markets like this shaped early American food access, long before refrigeration, highways, or chain grocery stores.

🇺🇸 As we mark America’s 250th birthday in 2026, we honor 250 years of markets, farmers, and food innovation: highlighting the traditions and modern practices that continue to connect fields, families, and communities.

Not all food labels are created equal 🍎🥦

In our newest blog, learn what organic, local, and natural really mean, which labels reflect real health and environmental benefits, and which are mostly marketing.

🛒 Learn how to decode for your next grocery run: https://farm2facts.org/food-label-decoding/

Founded in 1873, Eastern Market has been bringing fresh food directly to city residents on Capitol Hill before supermarkets existed.

Today, it remains one of the oldest continuously operating public markets in the US, proving that markets are more than places to shop: they’re civic spaces where food and democracy meet.

🇺🇸 As we mark America’s 250th birthday in 2026, we honor 250 years of markets, farmers, and food innovation: highlighting the traditions and modern practices that continue to connect fields, families, and communities.

🙌 Exciting news from our community partners!

At last week’s Wisconsin Idea Conference, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture, home to the Kaufman Lab, was honored alongside partners at Mendota Community School, Mindfulness in MMSD, Rooted, and Groundswell Conservancy as a co-recipient of the 2026 Community-University Partnership Award.

The recognition celebrates the longstanding collaboration supporting the Mendota Community School Garden & Outdoor Classroom, where students engage in hands-on learning about food, nature, and community 🌱🏫

We’re proud that Kaufman Lab alum, Nathan Larson has been a part of this impactful partnership and we're grateful to all the partners who make this work possible!

🤝 Farm2Facts is prioritizing outreach in 2026 to help more farmers’ market managers access the tools and data they need to strengthen their markets and communicate their impact.

A recent feature in Morning Ag Clips, written by Olivia Nygaard from the Kaufman Lab, highlights how our data collection toolkit puts accessible data collection and reporting tools directly in the hands of market managers.

📰 Read the full article:
https://www.morningagclips.com/data-collection-toolkit-that-puts-power-in-market-managers-hands/

Data Collection Toolkit That Puts Power in Market Managers’ Hands MADISON, Wis. -- Farmers markets are vital to local and regional food systems, providing direct access for farmers while supporting community food access and engagement....