Archive for November, 2009
Why Should Agritourism Farms Consider Blogs?
My recent fall farm survey found that 23.1% of the respondents currently are using Blogs as part of their farm marketing strategy. The farms using this technology told me that they feel that it brings people to their website more frequently, develops an exchange of information with their customer base and may possibly increase their page ranking on an “organic” search. Three very strong reasons for agritourism operators to consider blogs.
About 45% of these farmers post new information to their blog weekly and 50% of them believe it increases their business. While farmers may have limited time to be reading online blogs, it does not mean that they shouldn’t create one for their farm. I’ve heard farmers tell me how much they enjoy telling people about farming and their business.
The blog content can be as simple as “what are you doing today?” With the ease of adding photo’s to the blog farmers are showing the city folks the fields, the animals, the equipment and the barns. I certainly plan to continue to encourage more farms to consider blogging as part of their marketing plan. It sure can’t hurt and in fact as I’ve been told “it can even increase business.”
Family Farm Co-op Sells Directly to Charlotte Restaurants
I recently came across an article in the Charlotte Observer telling about the Farmers Fresh Market that was established by the North Carolina Economic Development Center. The farm co-op is selling their products directly to chefs in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Chefs can simply log onto the co-op website to find out what is fresh and have the produce delivered direct to their kitchens within 24 hours of harvest.
This initiative is now in the third year and both the small farmer and the chefs say it’s a WIN-WIN for everyone. The small farmer is growing and delivering a broad variety of fresh produce that would not always be available and can do so on a frequent basis. Many of these farmers are even growing crops they had never heard of until they started working with the local chefs.
The chefs are excited because they are able to source local foods and some exotic offerings regularly and plan their menus based on the co-op supply of product. Many of these are high-end products that also provide a very good return for the small farmer. The program is showing these farmers that you don’t always need large acreage to produce a reasonable income.
There is no doubt that alternative marketing channels can benefit the small farmer. The Farmers Fresh Market Co-op is doing a great job of putting local fresh fruits and vegetables in the hands of local restaurants.
