Direct Marketing

This publication discusses direct marketing and the benefits and risks associated with selling agricultural products directly to customers. It covers popular direct marketing strategies, including  farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and direct sales to restaurants, institutions, and food hubs, as well as agritourism and Internet-based direct marketing. It contains information on marketing plans, pricing strategies, and creative marketing techniques.

Are you thinking about starting a local food business or conducting a food system assessment and not sure how to evaluate the market? Are you considering a new food venture and want to better understand its profitability potential, or how well suited an existing facility might be to your vision? The NVA Toolsite is the place to get started!

Highlights from the 2015 Local Foods Marketing Practices Survey.

Provides brief descriptions of marketing channels with links to related resources and more direct marketing topics.

Recognizing the potential of buyers to support local and sustainable meat production, whilst reducing industrial food waste, The Northwest Food Buyers Alliance and local chefs created a guide for utilizing the entire pig. From buying to butchering and meal planning, the "Going Whole Hog" guide looks beyond bacon, to imagine what is possible for holistically utilized pork in the kitchen.

Helps farmers and ranchers with direct marketing resources, information about farmers markets and direct-to-consumer marketing, and searchable Local Food Directories.

This project was envisioned as a way to aggregate multiple poultry producers in Western Iowa to haul their birds to a USDA plant to help expand wholesale and retail markets as well as sales outside of Iowa.

Training manual focuses on business planning skills. Addresses CSA management, crop selection, financial management, markets and marketing, and small farm issues.

Discusses direct marketing, marketing plans, promotion and branding, and the benefits and risks of direct marketing. Marketing channels covered include agritourism, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmers markets, internet-based marketing, and direct sales to restaurants, institutions, and food hubs. Additional publications about direct marketing are available. 

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.