Want to help save California farmland for the low, low price of just $10 a week?

That’s the latest campaign from American Farmland Trust, which is urging people to show their love for their farmers by spending at least that much at their farmers markets. The trust asks supporters to make the pledge at www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org through Sept. 9. The first time someone pledges, he or she will receive a free American Farmland Trust No Farms No Food bumper sticker.

The campaign — “I Love My Farmers Market” — marks the fifth year that American Farmland Trust has hosted a summerlong event to honor this nation’s hard-working family farmers and to help consumers raise awareness about development that threatens America’s remaining farm and ranch land.

This year, the campaign aims to put $1 million in pledged dollars into the pockets of family farmers by the close of the contest.

“American Farmland Trust is profoundly changing how people think about farmers markets with this campaign,” said Randii MacNear, manager of the Davis Farmers Market, which takes place twice weekly in Central Park. “Not every farmers market shopper makes the connection between shopping at farmers markets and keeping family farmers on the land. But it is something that everyone who eats should feel passionate about.

“Shopping at farmers markets allows us to make a real difference,” she continued. “How often do we have a chance to make an impact on how the world works? The ‘I Love My Farmers Market’ campaign highlights the important role that farmers markets play to keep family farmers on the land.”

The trust estimates that farmers get just $1.58 out of every $10 spent on overall food purchases, but that rises to $8.50 from purchases at farmers markets. It also notes that most of that market income stays in the local economy.

The Washington, D.C.-based organization, which is active throughout California, sees farmers markets as a way for farmers to increase their income while helping to preserve farmland throughout the country.

Small farmers are often pressured by development that consumes fertile farmland, and many are in the path of destruction, a news release said. According to the most recent National Resources Inventory, the United States lost more than 4 million acres of agricultural land — an area the size of Massachusetts — to development between 2002 and 2007 alone.

“Once an acre of farmland is paved over, it is lost forever,” the news release said.

The “I Love My Farmers Market” campaign replaces the trust’s “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” campaign of the past four years. Davis Farmers Market won the first of those four contests in August 2009.

The Davis market runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays in Central Park, Fourth and C streets. In addition to farm-fresh produce, the market features live music, a crafts fair, children’s activities and food vendors.

A third market takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday during the summer — this year, through Aug. 29 — at the entrance to Sutter Davis Hospital, 2000 Sutter Place in West Davis. During spring and fall quarters at UC Davis, a fourth market is offered from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays on the Silo Patio.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.farmland.org. For information about the Davis Farmers Market, visit www.davisfarmersmarket.org.

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Capay Organic co-owner Thaddeus Barsotti inspects one of the fields at his family farm in Capay. The farm was founded in 1976 by Barsotti’s parents, Kathy Barsotti and Martin Barnes, who turned it into the valley’s first organic farm. Courtesy photo

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