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Alternative Marketing and Business Practices

Grocer's scale loaded with vegetables
Farmers are finding new ways to shorten the marketing route, delivering products directly to their customers. Farmers' markets, CSA, agri-tourism, farm entertainment, direct sales to businesses and home delivery are only a few ideas. Fun, hands-on activities include: pick-your-own, educational tours, pumpkin patches and agricultural mazes.
AFSIC Highlights
A man holding bunches of vegetables in his hands. [Source: IStock International Inc.]Community Supported Agriculture
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Explore CSA, find local farms and learn about eating seasonally and regionally. Locate Organizations and Web Sites Related to Community Supported Agriculture. Review CSA Resources for Farmers.
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Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
The Guide to Organic Marketing and Trade How-to Publications lists references and links to organic/alternative marketing and business planning resources for organic producers and retailers, direct marketing, international trade, and small business and market development.
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Information from Other Sources
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
The publication, Direct Marketing, discusses marketing options and business planning for alternative crops and enterprises. Provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.
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Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers
USDA. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
Highlights farmer success stories for direct marketing ventures, provides tips on selecting alternative marketing channels and links to helpful programs and resources. Marketing options include adding value, agri-tourism, CSA/co-ops, direct marketing, evaluating new enterprises, Internet sales, pick-your-own/farm stands, remote marketing and restaurant sales.
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Teaching Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability: Resources for Instructors
University of California. Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.
Training manual focuses on business planning skills. Addresses CSA management, crop selection, financial management, markets and marketing, and small farm issues.
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Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook
University of Arizona. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Covers a wide range of agricultural opportunities and business issues to assist agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers and individuals directly market their products and services to the consumer.
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Pick Your Own. Raspberries. Pumpkins. Mums.Farmer Direct Marketing
USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.
Helps farmers and ranchers with direct marketing resources, publications on farmers markets and direct-to-consumer marketing, a direct marketing action plan and a farmers market directory.
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National Farm to School Program
UEPI. Center for Food and Justice.
Highlights U.S. state Farm to School programs, discusses related national policies, describes case studies, surveys and evaluation tools and identifies funding opportunities.
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Innovative Strategies for Benefiting from both "Direct to Consumer" and Traditional Marketing Channels
Purdue University. Sustaining Family Farms and Rural Communities.
Outline and bibliography focus on niche market identification, promotion strategies and collaborative marketing strategies.
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Establishing and Operating a Community Farmers' Market
University of Kentucky. College of Agriculture.
Details "thoughts to consider" for many aspects of operating a community farmers' market. Discusses market feasibility, essential government and business contacts, customers, optimal site locations, financing, supplies and equipment, product inventory, pricing, packaging, legal concerns and more.
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Farmers Market Consortium
Farmers Market Consortium (FMC).
Provides information on funding and other resources to help farmers markets. Publishes the Farmers Market Resource Guide, a directory of "more than 100 projects and grants available to help start or improve farmers markets" and presents an overview of agencies and foundations that participate in the Consortium.
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Last Modified: Apr 16, 2008  
Alternative Marketing and Business Practices
  On-farm Enterprises and Value-added Products
  Direct Marketing
  Farm Business Planning and Management
  Food Industry and Trade
See Also
  CSA Farm Directories
  U.S. Farmers Markets
  Community Food Systems
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