Archive for May, 2009
I was just reviewing the On-Farm Marketing study which was completed in Ontario, Canada during the fall of 2008 for the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association. Here are some interesting facts from their research and my responses that I would like to share with my farm friends.
#1. 63% of customers spend from $16 to over $100 per visit at a farm market. (It is important to monitor your average customer sale and to set goals to increase this amount every year. If you don’t, it’s easy to fall behind.)
#2. 95% of customers are “extremely likely” or “likely” to recommend the on-farm market to friends. (As we often hear, word of mouth marketing is our best marketing strategy. What are you doing to impact “praise” for your business?)
#3. 76% of customers take less than 30 minutes to drive to the on-farm market. (For many farms, this means that you might need to expand your marketing reach beyond your own town.)
#4. 30% visit the market at least once per month. (Don’t forget to reward these customers with loyalty programs, coupons, classes, festivals or special V.I.P events. What can you do to get them to make just one more visit per month? I offer 25 of these marketing strategies & how to implement them in my book Fresh Grown Promotions.)
“Family fun, freshness of product and tradition are prime motivators for customers visiting on-farm markets.” We are beginning to come into harvest season and it’s always good to remember the basics and train your employees to do the same.
In order to find agritourism operators in North America, go to the Rural Bounty website.
Filed under: Agritourism Marketing, Agritourism Today | agritourism, Canada, Eckert Agrimarketing, family farms, farm market, Fresh Grown Promotions, Jane Eckert, on-farm markets, Ontario, Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association, word of mouth marketing|No Comments
As a farmer’s daughter raised on traditional production agriculture, I had a hard time a few year’s ago understanding the total organic food movement. Now, I realize it’s all about choice!
My mission in life is to help family farms succeed and grow their businesses through direct sales, and more specifically, by inviting the public to their farms to purchase their products and engage in on-farm activities. The word for this specialized type of producer is an “agritourism” operator.
Many conventional and organic producers today engage in agritourism, as well as those selling their products direct through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription program such as Tangerinis Farm in Massachusetts or Family Farm Fresh in Visalia, California. Therefore, whether consumers make a choice of organic production versus conventionally grown, they are always supporting local farmers.
Once the public takes this to the next step and realizes that purchasing locally produced fresh food is better for both them and the environment than the “shipped in” fruits and vegetables - we all win! The Organic Trade Association just reported that sales of organic food rose by 15.8% in 2008. This continues a double digit growth for organic food sales for over the past decade.
Often the biggest challenges for consumers is to find these local food producers–whether they sell on farm, at a farmer’s market or direct through a CSA. I’d like to suggest two websites that will help you find local producers as well as agritourism providers. Local Harvest is an online database directory helping you find organic producers anywhere in the United States. Rural Bounty is an online North American database directory that features both types of farm producers, as well as an easy way to find those offering agritourism activities.
The bottom line - by supporting your local family farms you are helping them sustain themselves. The choice is yours!
Filed under: Agritourism Marketing, Agritourism Today, Technology | agritourism, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, Eckert Agrimarketing, family farm, family farmers, family farms, Local Harvest, Organic Trade Association, Rural Bounty|No Comments
It’s not often that farmers (and friends of farmers) can travel together to explore agriculture in another country. Eckert AgriMarketing is pleased to announce a very special travel experience to tour Costa Rica from the farming perspective - January 15-22, 2010.
The Costa Rica Agritour will include stops at the Turrialba Farmers’ Market, coffee plantation, a strawberry packing plant, a banana farm, observe an organic producer and the Don Juan Educational farm and many more locations. Agritourism operators abound in Costa Rica just like they do in North America as shown on Rural Bounty.
Of course, we have also allowed time to explore some of the natural beauty of Costa Rica, including the Poas Volcano National Park, Waterfall Gardens, Ectomermales Hot Springs plus walking in a tropical rain forest. The full tour details and pricing can be viewed online at Eckert AgriMarketing.
A special highlight of the trip includes one day of outdoor adventure. Each traveler can choose from one of five adventure options such as: a boat tour of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, a Sky Tram & ZIp Line over beautiful valleys, walk the Arsenal Hanging Bridges, raft down the Sarapiqui River or go horseback riding around the Arenal Volcano.
I’ve been told one of the best parts of the Eckert AgriTours is getting to know your fellow travelers. We already have some people signed up, but a few spots remain. The tour is limited to just 26 guests. You can look at the information online at Eckert AgriMarketing or contact me for a brochure.
Dehoney Travel will be handling all of the tour bookings and can also assist with airplane arrangements. Don’t miss the opportunity to tour Costa Rica through the eyes of a farmer. Call us today!
Filed under: Agritour, Agritourism travel | Add new tag, agritour, agritourism, agritours, Arenal Hanging Bridges, Arenal Springs Resort, Arenal Volcano, Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, CATIE research center, Costa Rica, Don Juan Eduational Farm, Eckert Agrimarketing, Jane Eckert, La Paz Waterfalls, Mirlitons Miniveggies Fields, Poas Volcano National Park, Rural Bounty, Sarapiqui River Rafting, Selva Verde Eco Lodge, Turrialba Farmer's market, Villa Florencia|No Comments
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