On-line Articles and Publications About Direct Marketing

For USDA direct marketing publications available on line, go to Publications

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Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN)
USDA - Agricultural Marketing Service - Marketing Outreach Conference 1999
Analysis and Feasibility Studies
Guides - Handbooks about farmers markets
Guides - Handbooks about direct marketing
Guides - Handbooks about marketing (general)
Presentations from USDA's Agricultural Outlook Forum 1999
Commentary & Miscellaneous

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) - Funded by USDA, 
ATTRA offers many of its publications on line such as "Community Supported Agriculture", "Direct Marketing",
and "Farmers Markets".  All can be found at:  http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/index.html

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Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) - The communications and outreach arm of the USDA/SARE
(Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Program offers many publications on line in HTML and PDF 
format.  Visit http://www.sare.org/san/htdocs/pubs to view publications such as "Marketing Strategies for Farmers 
and Ranchers" and "How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch". 

Also available is the PowerPoint presentation of "Reap New Profits:  Marketing Strategies for Farmers & Ranchers"

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USDA - Agricultural Marketing Service - Marketing Outreach Conference Training Manual -
From the Agricultural Marketing Outreach Conference held in Memphis, TN on March 24-26, 1999
Training Manual is available on line at  http://marketingoutreach.usda.gov/info/99Manual/99manual.htm

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Analysis and Feasibility Studies:

Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers' Markets 

- An USDA Economic Research Service publication

"Reports from the Field" 

- Northeast SARE Farmer Grants results

Specialty Food and Drink Marketing on the Internet 

- Website with papers and presentations by Dr. Greg White, University of Maine

Grocery and Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Study 

- Study by the Practical Farmers of Iowa 

Farmers' Market Produce Prices: A Multivariate Analysis 

- Working paper by Bill Blake (UC Cooperative Extension)

The Economic Benefits of Farmers Markets (.pdf file) 

- Written by Friends of the Earth (UK)

Farmers Markets in Kansas: A Profile of Vendors and Market Organizations

- Kansas State University study by Megan Hughes and Richard Mattson.

Production, Processing, and Marketing Opportunities for Athens County, Ohio Farmers: Assessing Needs and Creating Solutions

Development Feasibility Study for a Mid-Atlantic Agri-Business Incubator and 
Local Food Processing Center 

- Phase I and II Final Reports - Maryland Food Center Authority

Ohio Consumer Opinions of Roadside Markets and Farmers' Markets

- On-line publication by Dr. Tim Rhodus, Janet Schwartz, and James Hoskins
at the Department of Horticulture, The Ohio State University

Articles by Dr. Ramu Govindasamy et al. at Rutgers University (NJ)

- Articles include: 
    "Quality of Agricultural Produce: Consumer Preferences and Perceptions" 
    "Farmers' Markets: Consumer Trends, Preferences, and Characteristics"
    "Farmers' Markets: Managers Characteristics and Factors Affecting Market Organization"
    "Farmers' Markets: Producers' Characteristics and Status of Their Business"

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Guides - Handbooks about farmers markets:

Good Canopy Weight, Bad Canopy Weight

- A guide to farmers market canopies from the Washington Farmers Market Association

- A short flyer by Colorado State University which introduces the tasks of setting up a farmers market (.pdf document).

A Guide to Starting, Operating and Selling in Farmers Markets

- A Kansas State University publication with ideas and information on starting an market (.pdf document).

Establishing and Operating a Community Farmer' Market

- Outline of how to plan a farmers market by the University of Kentucky  (.pdf document)

"Selling Fresh Fruit at Farmers' Markets"

"Food Safety for Farmers' Market Vendors"

- On-line publication from Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Written by Dr. Julie A. Albrecht, Extension Food Specialist

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Guides - Handbooks about direct marketing:

North Central Initiative for Small Farm Profitability

- A four-state, multi-institutional, farm-to-fork effort designed to improve the profitability and competitiveness of small farms in the Midwest.

Alternative Enterprises and Agritourism

- A toolkit published by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service

University of Wisconsin Research Briefs on Product Production and Marketing Articles  

- Articles from the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, University of Wisconsin.  Primarily about CSAs.

Direct Farm Marketing - Opportunities for Rural Development  

- A University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension publication

Selling Your Products Through Mail Order  

- A Massachusetts Department of Agriculture publication

Direct Marketing  

- A Maryland Cooperative Extension publication

Alternative Markets for the Individual Producer  

- A North Dakota State University publication (.pdf format)

Marketing Alternatives for Specialty Produce  

- A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication

Local Food Connections:  From Farm to School  

- A publication by the Iowa State University Extension and the Practical Farmers of Iowa

Growing and Marketing Bedding Plants

- A publication with a few notes about marketing by Alabama Cooperative Extension (.pdf document).

Marketing Maple Syrup

- Chapter 10 from the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual by Ohio State Cooperative Extension.

Community Supported Agriculture in Maryland

- A University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet about CSAs (.pdf document).

Community Supported Agriculture: Local Food Systems of Iowa

- An Iowa State University publication that explains the basics of how a CSA works (.pdf document).

Direct Marketing of Farm Produce and Home Goods -   Direct Marketing Alternatives and Strategies for Beginning and Established Producers

- University of Wisconsin Extension which provides an overview of direct marketing options (.pdf document).

Article from "The Future is Abundant, A Guide to Sustainable Agriculture"

- An article by Louise Dix about marketing, including an overview of direct marketing options.

"Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook"

- University of Arizona's great guidebook about many direct marketing options.  
  Also direct marketing short stories and the Arizona Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Directory. 

"Roadside Marketing on the Information Highway"

- Article that discusses internet marketing.

"Weights and Measures Guidelines for Sales at Farmers' Markets,
Roadside Stands and Other Commercial Outlets"

- On-line publication from Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Written by Dr. Laurie Hodges, Commercial Vegetable Specialist

Community Supported Agriculture: Growing Food...and Community - Research Brief #21 

- On-line publication from the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems,
University of Wisconsin - Madison

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Guides - Handbooks about marketing (general):

Northeast Sheep and Goat Marketing Program 

- Cornell University

Developing and Implementing a Successful Marketing Plan 

- A Purdue University publication

Developing a Sensible and Successful Marketing Attitude 

- A Purdue University publication

Adding Value Through Environmental Marketing -

- Conference proceedings from the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy

Greenbook 2000: Marketing Sustainable Agriculture -

- A Minnesota Department of Agriculture publication

Developing Your Marketing Plan and Sales Goals 

- A University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension publication

Marketing Research for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Managers 

- A Montana State University publication

Marketing Skills 

- A Maryland Cooperative Extension Service publication

Marketing: What Needs to be Done 

- A Kansas State University publication (.pdf format)

Understanding Marketing 

- An Ohio State University publication

Conducting Marketing Research 

- An Ohio State University publication

Marketing Your Farm or Ranch 

- A Colorado State University Cooperative Extension publication

Marketing Strategies for Vegetable Growers 

- A University of Florida publication

Marketing Specialty Forest Products 

- A University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension Service publication

Fresh Produce Marketing Alternatives for Oklahoma Fruit and Vegetable Growers 

- A publication by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

A Guide to Marketing Organic Produce 

- A publication by Texas A&M University

Niche Marketing 

- A publication by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service

Finding Customers: Market Segmentation 

- An Ohio State University publication

On-line workbooks from the Small Business Administration

Marketing Options for Commercial Vegetable Growers

- A University of Kentucky publication for producers looking to compare marketing channels for fruits and vegetables (.pdf document)

Cornell University's Smart Marketing Series

- Publications such as "Travel the Road to Success with a Marketing Plan", "Can Labels Increase Sales of Perishable Products?", "Service with a Smile is Good Business" and more!

Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan for Horticultural Firms  

- Publication by Gerald B. White and Wen-fei L. Uva of Cornell University

Steps to Marketing Your Product  

- A University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Publication

Marketing New Crops  

- A publication by Emerson Babb on the macro forces and micro factors behind marketing new crops

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Presentations from USDA's Agricultural Outlook Forum 

February 22, 1999, Washington, DC 

"'Home Made'" - The Paradigms and Paradoxes of Changing Consumer Preferences: Implications for Direct Marketing"

- Desmond A. Jolly, Ph.D.  Agricultural Economist, University of California Davis

"Overview of Farm Direct Marketing Industry Trends"

- Monika Roth, Agricultural Extension Service, Cornell University

"Direct Marketing Options: Farmers Markets, Restaurants, Community Supported Agriculture and the Organic Alternative"

- Steve Gilman, President, Northeast Organic Farming Association

"Farm Direct Marketing from a Producer's Perspective"

- Jane Eckert, Vice-President, Eckert's Country Store & Farms (Illinois)

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Commentary & Miscellaneous:

Building Better Rural Places

- A guide to federal programs for sustainable agriculture, forestry, conservation and community development

Agricultural Tourism

- A project of the Small Farm Center at University of California - Davis

Guidelines to Increase the Use of Local Foods at Meetings (.pdf)

- A brochure by the Society for Nutrition Education

List of Alternative Crops and Enterprises for Small Farm Diversification

- Information from the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center at the National Agricultural Library

Expanding Economic Opportunity for Farms, Families and Communities in the New Market Based Economy

- White paper by USDA-CSREES

"Cabernet Among the Corn"

- Article on direct marketing from "Progressive Farmer" magazine

Guidelines to Increase the Use of Local Foods at Meetings

- A short guide from the Society for Nutrition Education

A Primer for Selecting New Enterprises for Your Farm 

- A University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publication

Massachusetts Food Processors Resource Manual 

- A practical guide for specialty food and start-up food processors by the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture

Farmer's Guide to Processing and Selling Meat or Poultry

- A Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension publication

Adding Value to Agricultural Products  

- A Texas Agricultural Extension Service publication

- Article in Smithsonian Magazine - June 1999

Farmers Markets Coming on Strong in the UK

- Article on UK farmers markets by Monika Roth, Cornell Cooperative Extension

"Enjoy Your County's Fresh Bounty"

- Article on buying local produce by Carl Davis, Delaware Cooperative Extension

Internet Farmers Reap Profits on the Web - A mouse click away from veggie delivery

"Fresh produce, fresh conversation: 
Buyers find quality at state Farmers Market"

- On-line article about the state farmers market in Raleigh, North Carolina. 
Written by Nicole Valentine, Enloe High School

"Variety hits Farmers Market: Choices range from ordinary to rare"

- On-line article about the state farmers market in Raleigh, North Carolina. 
Written by Suchi Joshi, Enloe High School

"Take a bite of summer"

- On-line article about the state farmers market in Raleigh, North Carolina. 
Written by Joelle Henderson, Mary E. Phillips High School

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