Marketing & Selling Food

General Marketing Resources

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Local Food Research and Development – This USDA program has many resources about farmers markets, direct to consumer marketing, food value chains and food hubs, wholesale markets and facility design, local food directories, grant programs, and the local food and regional food sector.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country.

Farmer to Consumer Marketing Series
#1 / #2 / #3 / #4 / #5 / #6 – (6 publications – pdf)
A successful direct farm marketing business requires knowing and understanding effective marketing and management practices. This series of Extension publications, PNW 201–206, provides information about establishing and developing a direct farm marketing business. Production and marketing costs, management practices, personnel management, and financial management are among the topics discussed. Pacific Northwest Extension Bulletin, 2009

Build Your Markets & Grow Your Business – USDA provides resources and tool kits at their online New Farmers Resource center.

ATTRA Marketing, Business, and Risk Management – Resources to guide agricultural business planning and help farmers manage the amount of risk in their enterprises. In addition, some of these resources offer advice on diversifying, developing new markets and adding value to farm products to increase income.

Marketing Alternatives for Fresh Produce (pdf)
This publication provides basic information necessary to develop a plan for marketing fresh produce and other specialty products. Pacific Northwest Extension Bulletin, 2008

Fruit & Vegetable Marketing for Small-scale & Part-time Growers (pdf)
Small-scale fruit and vegetable growers generally have more difficulty finding established markets; therefore, they usually develop marketing systems tailored to their unique situations. It is strongly recommend that you identify and research your market before you become a fruit and vegetable grower. Pennsylvania State University, 2009

WSDA Direct Marketing Farm Products fact sheet (pdf) – Washington State Dept of Agriculture provides a Direct Marketing Strategies fact sheet for farmers.

NCAT Marketing Tip Sheet Series (pdf) – Produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology. This publication contains 13 tip sheets, each of which describes a particular marketing channel and notes some of the considerations associated with that approach to marketing.

SARE_Marketing Strategies for Farmers & Ranchers (pdf) – This 20-page bulletin offers snapshots of the many alternatives to marketing commodities through conventional channels.

SARE: How to Direct Market Your Beef (pdf)
This book portrays how one couple used their family’s ranch to launch a profitable, grass-based beef operation focused on direct market sales. Jan and Will Holders’ compelling real-life experiences, with numerous instructional guideposts along the way, provide valuable tips for direct marketing beef from slaughtering to sales.

Selling at Farmers Markets

Selling at Farmers Markets in WA State (pdf) – overview of selling at Washington State Farmers Markets from WSU and Washington State Farmers Market Association. Download the full Farmers Market Management Toolkit.

Sell More! Farmers Market Vendor Guide (pdf) – The tips and ideas in this Vendor Booth Guide, produced by WSU Small Farms Program and WSDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, are designed to help farmers and other vendors improve their specialty crop sales at farmers markets.

Farm Stands

Social Media for Farms

How to Use Social Media for Your Farm Business  – Social Media Toolbox provided by University of Arkansas designed for all skill levels to help you make the most of social media marketing for your farm business.

10 Tips for Farm Social Media – Land Grant Press helpful hints, resources and videos on how to market your farm via social media.