The two-day conference is called Market Growth: Farmers' Markets One Decade On.

Hosted by the Victorian Farmers' Markets Association, the event will mark 10 years of the markets in the country and also look at making the food movement stronger in the future.

Since beginning in Australia in 1999, there are now more than 120 farmers' markets in the country, including ones at Kyneton, Lancefield, Riddells Creek and Trentham in the Macedon Ranges.

The conference will have a series of workshops that will provide market managers, stallholders and hospitality and food industry members with practical advice on sales.

They will also cover best-practice market management, media management skills and tips on how

to supply food to restaurants.

There will also be international guest speakers including US-based community development specialist Richard McCarthy, who founded Market Umbrella and the Crescent City Farmers' Market in New Orleans in 1995, and New Zealand Greens MP and safe food campaigner Sue Kedgley.

Victorian Farmers' Markets Association president Miranda Sharp said the conference was particularly timely, given that accreditation - to ensure stallholders actually produce the food they sell at the markets - was a hot topic.

"Recent debate about authenticity highlights both the success and challenges facing farmers' markets today," she said.

"The VFMA has just introduced our accreditation program and we are really looking forward to the opportunity to present it at the conference and discuss authenticity and other common challenges with farmers' market stakeholders from across Australia."

The conference is at Glen Erin, Romsey, on August 22-24. Details: www.vicfarmersmarkets.org.au or 94162090.