CARBONDALE, Ill. — Three Midwest states – after the top populous states of California and New York – host the largest number of farmers’ markets in the United States, and the number in the Heartland is expected to continue to grow.

At one of the oldest in Illinois, in the southern Illinois college town of Carbondale, its Saturday morning market continues to draw larger crowds each year, said Ann Stahlheber, the market’s manager.

Started in 1975 by a small group of farmers, Stahlheber first became involved with the market two years later. It’s now in its 37th year, one of the longest-running in the state, and is open Saturday mornings from May-November. The quality of the produce and other items, as well as a strong appreciation for locally grown foods, keeps the market popular, she said.

“I just think the community really appreciates locally grown fruits and vegetables and it’s grown from that,” she said. “The community has grown to love the atmosphere, being able to talk to the farmers and knowing where their produce is coming from.

“Through the years, it’s really taken off. I think all the extra advertising that’s happened with the push for fresh foods and vegetables and knowing who your farmers are is really helping our market.”

At the statewide level, Illinois has taken several steps in recent years designed to help new markets get started, and to help existing ones flourish even more. One new law allows for some home-baked and -produced items such as jams and breads to be sold at farmers’ markets; previously, such items were banned because no permitting and inspection process existed.

The state’s new lieutenant governor, Sheila Simon, is the only statewide office holder who comes from outside the Chicago area. The rural Jackson County resident, who serves as the chair of the state’s Rural Council, is pushing to increase sales of locally produced foods. She has led an effort to help every farmers’ market to begin accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding.

The USDA continues to be a strong supporter of farmers’ markets, and is pushing for additional funding for markets in the new farm bill being negotiated in the U.S. Senate.

“The remarkable growth in farmers’ markets is an excellent indicator of the staying power of local and regional foods,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. “These outlets provide economic benefits for producers to grow their businesses and also to communities, by providing increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other foods. In short, they are a critical ingredient in our nation’s food system.”

As of August 2011, the most recent data available from the USDA indicated there were more than 7,000 farmers’ markets in the United States. California and New York ranked at the top with 729 and 520 markets, respectively.

Others in the top 10 include Illinois with 305, Ohio with 278, Pennsylvania with 266, Massachusetts with 255, Iowa with 237, Wisconsin with 231 and North Carolina with 217.

The states with the fastest-growing number of markets in the past two years were Alaska (up 46 percent); Texas, Colorado and New Mexico (all increased 38 percent); Indiana (37 percent); Oklahoma (32 percent); South Dakota (32 percent); Pennsylvania (31 percent); Ohio (31 percent); and Michigan (30 percent).