Facebook Ads & Boosting for Farmers Markets

A practical, flexible system that works

Facebook remains the most effective paid platform for farmers markets because:

• it’s local
• it’s event-driven
• it rewards consistency
• it reaches people who don’t follow you yet

You do not need complex ad campaigns.
You need two complementary approaches:

1. Boosting posts and events
2. Running one simple monthly ad during the season

Together, these build awareness, routine, and trust.

1️⃣ Boosting Posts, Events & Stories

(done inside Meta Business Suite)

Boosting is the fastest, easiest way to promote content that already exists.

You can boost:

• feed posts
• Facebook Events
• Instagram posts
• Stories

This is ideal for short-term visibility and reminders.

2️⃣ Running Facebook Ads

(done through Facebook Ads)

Ads are better for:

• ongoing awareness
• reaching new people
• reinforcing your market as a regular destination

This is where your monthly “general promotion” ad comes in.

You do not need many ads.
One well-run monthly ad goes a long way.

What to Boost

Boost content that already performs well or features things people love:

• Facebook Events (very important)
• weekly market reminders
• special events (not “festivals”)
• customer loyalty programs
• Kid’s Power of Produce programs
• SNAP/EBT and food access programs
• kids activities
• seasonal features

If it gets good engagement organically, it’s a great boost candidate.

Boosting Goal (This Matters)

• If boosting a post or event → choose “Engagement”
• This helps your content:
  • reach more local people
  • get likes, comments, and shares
  • feel natural in the feed

Engagement is the best objective for most boosted market content.

Boosting Budget: Think by Market Date

Do not think in monthly caps.
Think per market date.

Examples:

• $10 per market date
  • boost the event 10 days out
  • minimum is $1 per day
• $20 per market date
  • boost 20 days out
  • or boost multiple upcoming events at once

Boost events as soon as they are created.
Early promotion performs better than last-minute boosts.

In addition to boosting, run a monthly ad during each month of the season.

What This Ad Is For

This ad is a general reminder that your market exists and is active.

It should:

• highlight what’s happening this month
• reinforce routine
• reach people who don’t follow you yet

This approach has proven to work exceptionally well for farmers markets.

Monthly Ad Budget

• $1–$3 per day, depending on your budget
• Run continuously throughout the month

Consistency matters more than spend.

What to Include in the Monthly Ad

Your ad should clearly answer:

• what the market is
• when it happens
• where it is
• what’s special this month

Monthly highlights might include:

• peak seasonal produce
• live music
• kids activities
• loyalty programs
• Kid’s Power of Produce
• food access programs
• rotating vendors or features

This ad supports everything else you’re doing.

Ad Objective

For monthly ads:

• Choose “Promote Locally”

This:

• prioritizes people near your location
• emphasizes directions and discovery
• works well for physical, recurring events

Images That Work Best (Boosts + Ads)

Use real market photos, not flyers.

You can include:

• up to 5 square images
• 1080 × 1080 size

Best-performing images show:

• people shopping
• vendors interacting
• kids and families
• food and produce close-ups
• art and handmade goods

Avoid:

• empty markets
• dark photos
• text-heavy graphics

Real, lively photos consistently outperform designed graphics.

Choose the button that makes the next step easiest:

• Learn More → link to your website
• Send Message → open Messenger
• Get Directions → ideal for Promote Locally ads

You can change buttons month to month based on your goal.

• target your town and surrounding area
• keep targeting broad, location does most of the work

Age Setting (Important Safety Note)

If your market has vendors selling:

• alcohol
• CBD products

Set the audience to 21+, even if those products are not shown in the ad.

This is a safe, recommended best practice.

• Boost events early → drives attendance
• Boost popular posts → reinforces engagement
• Run one monthly ad → builds awareness and routine

You are not choosing one or the other.
They work best together.

• Facebook ads for farmers markets should feel:

  • welcoming
  • familiar
  • local
  • reliable

  Boost what people already love.
  Run one steady monthly ad.
  Spend small amounts intentionally.

  This approach builds attendance, loyalty, and long-term awareness, without complexity or burnout.

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