photo credit: Farmers Markets of Napa Valley 

This week is National Farmers Market Week, and a new farmers market initiative is launching in Napa County. 

It's called the Farmers Markets of Napa Valley

"Which is a collaborative of the six California certified farmers markets in Napa County," said Cara Mae Wooledge.

Wooledge leads the Napa Farmers Market, which makes up the new collaborative along with the Kaiser Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Farmstead, and Calistoga farmer's markets.

The Farmers Markets of Napa Valley aims to strengthen local agriculture in Napa County and nearby communities, support small family farms, and grow market share for local farmers.

Wooledge said the grant will help with outreach and marketing for the six markets - all of which are certified farmers markets.

"The way that the California Certified Farmers Markets work is that any small farm that is growing in the State of California that has a certified certificate, that proves or that you know demonstrates that they are growing what they sell," Wooledge said.

Wooledge said there's about half a dozen Napa County-based farmers who sell at the market she runs in the City of Napa, but she said lots of the produce sold at farmers markets in Napa doesn't travel far.

"The average distance from the farm to Napa Farmer's Market to the County of Napa is about 60 miles," Wooledge said.

Wooledge said farmers from Sonoma and Yolo County often sell at farmers markets in Napa, and she said the collaboration hopes to educate buyers about how their food is sourced.

"On average, food travels in the U.S. 1,500 miles before it reaches your plate," Wooledge said. "So I would say that around 60 miles is a lot better than that."

The Farmers Markets of Napa Valley is funded by a 2 year US Department of Agriculture Grant, and is one of four recipients in California.