RESOURCES
GENERAL INFORMATION
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program.
SARE studies and spreads information about sustainable agriculture
via a nationwide grants program and practical publications. (301)
504-5230; sare_comm@sare.org;
www.sare.org. See the Direct Marketing
Resource Guide at www.sare.org/publications/dmrg.htm.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC).
Provides on-line information resources, referrals and searching
on alternative marketing topics. (301) 504-6559, afsic@nal.usda.gov;
afsic.nal.usda.gov. See
comprehensive directory, Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing
and Trade Resources, www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/OAP/srb0301.htm,
or request free CD.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Information
resources for value-added agriculture. www.agmrc.org.
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA. Information
on direct markets, funding sources and publications about sales
to schools/restaurants. www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/MSB/publications.htm.
ATTRA. National information service offers 200+
free publications. Call (800) 346-9140; Spanish: (800) 411-3222;
or go to http://attra.ncat.org
for:
- Direct Marketing Business Management Series
- Adding Value to Farm Products: An Overview
- Fresh to Processed: Adding Value for Specialty Markets
- Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions
Growing for Market. National monthly newsletter
for direct market farmers. $30/yr. growing4market@earthlink.net;
(800) 307-8949; www.growingformarket.com/.
North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association,
Southampton, MA (413) 529-0386 or (888) 884-9270; www.nafdma.com
FARMERS MARKETS/AGRITOURISM
Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California
by University of California, Davis. http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5327/3866.pdf.
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
Lists publications on running farmstands, promoting “agri-tainment,”
etc. www.caed.uga.edu/
Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook by
the University of Arizona.
http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/dmkt/dmkt.html
Farmers Market Promotion Program. Grants program
from USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for farmers markets,
roadside stands, CSA. http://www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp/.
Also see Farmers Market Consortium Resource Guide, www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/Consortium/ResourceGuide.htm
Managing the Liability and Risks of Farm Direct Marketing
and Agritourism by USDA's Risk Management
Agency. Resources for understanding and analyzing potential liability
risks. www.communityagcenter.org/Risk_Liability/Risk_Introduction.htm.
Market Decision Making Toolbox for farmers markets
Michigan Food & Farming System. www.miffsmarketline.org/projects/greeen.html
Resources for Farmers Markets by the Northeast/Midwest
Institute. Includes market locators and funding sources. www.farmersmarketsusa.org.
The New Farmers’ Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas For
Producers, Managers & Communities by Eric Gibson.
Tips for farmers and market managers and city planners. $24.95 +
$3.95. www.sare.org/publications/newfarmer.htm;
(301) 374-9696.
Sharing the Harvest: A Guide to Community-Supported
Agriculture by Elizabeth Henderson with Robyn Van
En. Lays out the basic tenets of CSA for farmers and consumers.
270 pp; $24.95. (800) 639-4099; www.chelseagreen.com
Tourism and Community Development Resources and Applied
Research Clearinghouse , University of Wisconsin, Madison.
www.wisc.edu/urpl/people/marcouiller/projects/clearinghouse/Tourism%20Resources.htm
DIRECT MARKETING MEAT AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
CSU Chico Grass Fed Beef Website. Includes research
articles reviewing the documented health benefits of grassfed beef,
information on how to create a label for your meat that complies
with federal regulations, recipes and more. www.csuchico.edu/agr/grassfedbeef.
Farm Fresh: Direct Marketing Meats and Milk by
Allan Nation. Answers to how, how much, when, or where to sell grass-fed
meat or milk for the highest profits. 251 pp; $35.60. www.stockmangrassfarmer.net/cgi-bin/page.cgi?id=361.html
How to Direct Market Your Beef by the
Sustainable Agriculture Network. Practical tips for selling grass-raised
beef to direct markets. 96 pp; $14.95. www.sare.org/publications/beef.htm;
(301) 374-9696.
VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS/PROCESSING/SELLING DIRECT
Farmers and their Diversified Horticultural Marketing
Strategies by the Center for Sustainable Agriculture. 48-minute
video, $15. www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Videos/marketvideo.htm;
(802) 656-5459.
Food Marketing & Processing Food Map. A comprehensive
clearinghouse of marketing and processing information on identifying
new markets, locating processing equipment, etc. www.foodmap.unl.edu.
Safe Sell Dairy: Creative Ways to Sell Dairy Products at
Farmer's Markets by Courtney Haase. Product presentation,
sampling and good market etiquette. 76 pp.; $8. www.nunsuch.org/safesell.htm
Selling Directly to Restaurants and Retailers by UC-SAREP.
Tips for a successful, entrepreneurial relationship with local restaurants,
retailers. www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cdpp/selldirect.pdf
BUSINESS PLANNING & MANAGEMENT
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a
Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses, by the Minnesota
Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Agriculture
Network. A guide for agricultural entrepreneurs. 272 pp; $17 + s/h.
www.sare.org/publications/business.htm;
(301) 374-9696.
Farming Alternatives: A Guide to Evaluating the Feasibility
of New Farm-Based Enterprises (NRAES-32). $8 + $3.75 s/h
to Natural Resource, Ag & Engineering Service.
http://extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu/ePOS/form=robots/item.html&item_number=1036&store=413&design=413;
(607) 255-7654.
The Legal Guide for Direct Farm Marketing by Neil
Hamilton. Tips about legal issues when direct-marketing farm products.
$20 + $3 s/h to Agricultural Law Center, Drake University. www.amazon.com;
(515) 271-2947.
New Farm Options University of Wisconsin Extension.
New niche markets and business start-up issues. www.uwex.edu/ces/agmarkets.
NxLeveL This agricultural entrepreneurs program
module offers in-depth training and materials for farmers seeking
marketing opportunities. www.nxlevel.org;
info@nxlevel.org; (800) 873-9378.
USDA Rural Business Cooperative Services. Supports
cooperatives in areas such as marketing. www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs;
(202) 720-7558;
SARE works in partnership with Extension and Experiment Stations
at land grant universities to deliver practical information to the
agricultural community. Contact your local Extension office for
more information.
This bulletin was written by Laura Sayre, a freelance writer based
in Bucks County, Pa., for the Sustainable Agriculture Network and
was funded by USDA-CSREES under Coooperative Agreement 2004-47001-01829.
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