Due to a lapse in federal funding, this USDA website will not be actively updated.
Once funding has been reestablished, online operations will continue.
Today's farmers are exploring new enterprises for diversification or considering alternative marketing strategies that increase a customer's perceived value of existing agricultural products.Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC).
Defines value-added agriculture and discusses market opportunities. AgMRC also maintains an Agritourism subject resource and produces online directories: Agricultural Innovation Centers, State Resource Directory and Value-Added Agricultural Businesses.
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Lists alternative crop and livestock species and related enterprises with links to Extension sources that help evaluate and start non-conventional farming enterprises.
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Assists farmers identify goals and explore the decision-making and planning processes to select alternative agricultural enterprises. Discusses 16 key points to consider for several enterprises and charts the relative costs for each.
University of Tennessee. Agricultural Extension Service.
Subtitled "Concepts, Principles and Practices for Planning, Developing, and Marketing New Opportunities," this publication serves as a primer for farmers who are considering new marketing strategies.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC).
"Provides information to help you understand and analyze the food industry in terms of value-added markets and industries." Topics include organics, community supported agriculture, e-markets, farmers' markets and market trends.
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - A National Sustainable Agriculture Assistance Program.
Several publications on value-added operations, food processing, and specialty agricultural products are accessible under this topic.
National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Provides links to federal and state regulatory, technical and business information and Cooperative Extension Service publications on food products.