| | Coming events | What is farm direct? | Specialists-who to contact? | Publications and resources | Scholarships and awards | Farm direct marketing links | Examples of farm direct marketing | General marketing links
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Coming Events
Country Roads Network
Country Roads Network is eastern Alberta's answer to the need for agri-business peer networks. This group supports agri-preneurs in sharing information with peers. The ultimate goal is to support the growth of businesses that include experiences, products and services connected to agriculture. Meet other agri-preneurs, share your experiences, practice presenting your ideas to a small group, test your products. Come on out - "one tip can make it worth the trip!"
Meeting Dates: November 4, December 2, 2008; January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, 2009.
Contact: Lisa Sharp for more information
Learn Agri-Food Network is a peer-to-peer network for agripreneurs in the Peace. It builds communication and collaboration between rural entrepreneurs and facilities business mentoring, networking and alliances. Meet other agripreneurs, share your experiences and discuss current business issues. Come on out! It's free! Everyone is welcome!
Meetings Dates: December 9, 2008; Frebruary 10, 2009; April 14, 2009.
Contact: Sherry Smith for more information
Audio CDs Available for Grow West, NAFDMA Convention
Did you miss out on the farm direct marketing event of the year? No worries. All of the sessions were taped and are now available to purchase at www.nafdma.com
Wondering how to market in rural areas? Cash in on ag-tourism? Work with regulations? From 'Christmas Chef's Night' to 'loyalty' cards for carrots: you'll find it in the audio CD collection. The 2007 North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Associations Grow West Convention that was held in Calgary, Feb. 12-19, 2007.
Learn from a host of North America's lead farm direct marketers including John & Laura Hughes from Milton, Ontario. From their roots as a small pick-your-own to not only growing fruit & pumpkins but hosting 18 birthday parties a weekend, offering school tours to 25,000 children, selling gift ware from their restored 19th century barn and running a busy food department with scratch bakery, lunch menu and gourmet food.
You can order sessions separately or the entire set. For more details on the sessions check out the session descriptions on the convention pages first. www.nafdma.com
To see video interviews go to www.farmtv.ca
Branded Beef Marketing Opportunities
Several existing branded beef programs are currently looking for suppliers who can provide them with a uniform, age verified and traceable group of 50 calves or more that meet their protocol. More information, click here. (pdf 9KB)
What Is Farm Direct?
Buying products like fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, bedding plants, herbs, meat and other farm products, including jams, pies and sausages, at a farm or ranch gate, a farm or ranch store or stand, a roadside stall, a greenhouse on a farm, a U-Pick farm, or by Internet or mail from a farm.
Many farm direct marketing businesses add Ag Tourism activities to their marketing mix to bring more customers to the farm and to get them to stay longer and spend more money. For example, farm festivals and children's activities.
Farm Direct Marketing Specialists
Key contacts (toll free when calling within Alberta by dialing 310-0000) are:
On Farm Retailing
Farmers' Markets
Direct Marketing Meats
Investigating a New Idea
If you are just staring up a new venture and need the necessary guidance to assess your business idea, then start with the New Venture Specialists at the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM, toll-free in Alberta, Kathy Bosse, Jan Warren and Elaine Stenbraaten.
Online information
Launching and operating any successful business venture requires solid business and market planning. Sound development and preparation can take months, and it can take years before a business turns a profit. Be realistic in your expectations, in terms of both time and money.
For more online information on business planning, feasibility, financing and more go to Starting and Growing a Business.
See also the Publications, Research, Important Links and other information on this site.
Publications, Resources and Articles
Newsletters
- Explore Direct E-News- Creative Nuggets and News for Alberta's Farm Direct Marketers
- Learn Agri-food Network Newsletter - Peace region agripreneurs share information to build businesses of ag or rural based experiences, products and services.
- Series
- Bob Cobbledick series of Controls for on-farm retailers.
Grow West Conference and Tour (February 12 - 17, 2007) Session CD's Available
Articles
- Food Safety Articles Coming Soon
Regulations
Direct Marketing Meats
Farmers' Markets
E-Commerce Marketing
Community Shared Agriculture
Community shared agriculture (CSA) is part of a growing social movement that encourages urban and rural citizens to share responsibility for the land where their food is grown as well as for how their food is produced. In simplest terms, CSA is a partnership between agricultural producers and consumers.
Cluster Development
Conferences
Scholarships & Awards
Agri-Preneur Scholarship Guidelines and Application Form 2008/09
The Industry Development Sector of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and the Renewal Chapter of the Agricultural Policy Framework will sponsor agri-preneurs to attend educational out-of-province, national and international conferences, tours or workshops. The scholarships for the 2008/09 fiscal year are now CLOSED FOR THE SEASON! Watch here for details for 2009/2010.
Farm Direct Marketing Links
North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association - The North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association is the perfect place for family farmers, extension agents and farm market managers to network with each other on the profitability of direct marketing. Increase your farm income by learning from each other through conferences, international farm tours, newsletters, workshops, National media events and trade publications.
The New Farmers' Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers, Managers and Communities - In one complete volume, this must-have resource for direct market producers covers the latest tips and trends from leading-edge sellers, managers and market planners all over the country. Learn about the "hottest" products to grow and sell as well as how best to display and merchandise your products, set prices and run a friendly, profitable business.
Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association - AFFPA is dedicated to supporting the production of farm direct market vegetable crops, berry and fruit crops, bedding plants, perennials, herbs, flowers, meats, poultry, eggs and other specialty items in Alberta.
USDA Farmer Direct Marketing
Appropriate Technlogy Transfer for Rural Areas - This publication on direct marketing alternatives—with emphasis on niche, specialty and value–added crops—features many farm case studies, as well as information on enterprise budgets and promotion/publicity. A new section discusses implications of Internet marketing and e–commerce for agriculture.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Examples of Farm Direct Marketing
American Farmland Trust
American Small Farm Association
Apple Annie’s Orchard
Arizona Nursery Association
BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation
Becker Farms
Belvedere Plantation
Berry Patch Farms
Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, Inc.
Boley Farms
Brooks Farms
Cagles’s Dairy/Etowah Maid Dairies
Calhoun Produce Inc.
Cherry-Crest Farm
Cider Hill Farm
Cloverdale Produce Farm Ltd.
County Line Orchard, Inc.
Cowichan Bay Farm
Craven Farm
Curtis Orchard Ltd.
Downey’s Farm Market
Duncan Family Farms
Eagle Mills Cider Co & Family Fun Center
Eckert Orchards
Eplegaarden
Erie Orchards & Cider Mill
Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard Inc.
Ganyard Hill Farm
Garson Farm
Great Country Farms
Harvest House
Heartland Meats Inc.
Hill Ridge Farms
Hollabaugh Bros. Inc
Hollow Trees Farm Shop
Honey Pot Hill Orchards
Hurds Farm
Kellers Farmstand Inc.
Kent Kreek Berries
Keown Orchards Farms Stand
Kurtz Orchards Country Market
Lattin Farms
Liberty Ridge Farms
Long Acre Farms
Maple Lawn Entertainment
Mead Orchards LLC
Melissa’s World Variety Produce, Inc
Milburn Orchards
Monadnock Berries
Pete’s Produce Farm
Portland Farmers’ Market
Puddicombe Farms
Red Apple Farms
Redhouse Farm
Reed Valley Orchard
Remlinger Farms
Roba’s Tree Farm
Robinette’s Apple Haus
Rowley’s South Ridge Farm
Santa Monica Farmers’ Market
Santa Rosa Downtown Market
Saunders Farm
Seaquist Orchards Farm Market
See-La.Hollywood Farmers’ Market
Soergel Orchards Inc.
Southern Grace Farms
Stockton Certified Farmers’ Market
Sunshine Fruit Company
Tanners Orchard, Ltd.
The Apple Barn + Country Bake Shop
The Vollmer Farm
The White Post Modern Farm Centre
Tom’s Maze
Tulleys Farm
Tweite’s Pumpkin Patch
Uncle Johns Cider Mill
Underwood Farm Market
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
Waldvogel’s Farm Market
Watt Farms County Market
Wauconda Orchards
Wood Orchard Market
Your Local Farmers’ Market Society
General Marketing Links
Marketing Library - KnowThis.com is a "marketing virtual library" for beginners and professionals. They have links to full-text articles on advertising, education, market research, the internet, and more. Learn how to set up an e-business, or how to thoroughly research competing companies. You can also find information on conferences and trade shows, or join one of the many online discussion groups.
If you are member of the Alberta Farmers' Market Association, the Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association and/or the Dine Alberta program you will automatically be linked via those groups to a website called Chomp Around Alberta. This site is set up as a one stop shop launching pad to locally raised food experiences across Alberta. |
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