In newly released findings from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the number of farmers markets continues to grow at a significant pace, increasing by 16% in the past year alone. Consumer focus on personal health and green issues are the likely drivers behind this growth, as study after study shows continued interest in these topics.

More great news for healthy food makers! In a nifty, new graphic taken from Reimagining Health & Wellness 2010, the Hartman Group totals up average consumer health and wellness spending and finds that average spending on wellness products has been on an upward trend since 2005.

The healthy food trend is everywhere — calorie counts appear on menus, restaurants and fast food places feature “light” menus, and more and more media attention is directed toward research studies touting the critical importance of a healthy diet. So what does “healthy” mean to consumers?

If you love data and want to know more about the consumers or markets for your products, you’ll be excited to learn about the new Food Environment Atlas launched this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This interesting and useful online mapping tool provides an abundance of data relating to consumer food choices, health and well-being, and community characteristics.

According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), its members are changing the way they reach out to children and reducing the types and numbers of advertisements that promote “obesity-type” trends. Instead, kids today are seeing more ads for healthier food choices, which could be great news for vegetarian food businesses.