farm marketing — Plant & Pest Advisory

June 11, 2021 Rick VanVranken

Montclair State Univ Seeking Participants for Survey on Farm Marketing Distribution Channels

Renata Blumberg, PhD, Associate Professor in the Dept of Nutrition & Food Studies at Montclair State University is conducting a survey of farmers who engage in direct-to-consumer marketing (farmers’ markets, CSA, etc.) about their distribution practices and any changes that have occurred since the start of the pandemic. [The survey also implies she wants to know if you’ve switched from wholesale to direct marketing methods over the past year as well.] The survey should take only about 20 minutes of your time.

To participate in the survey, please click here.

Please note that you must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the survey. There is also an incentive gift card if you participate.

This study has been approved by the Montclair State University Institutional Review Board (IRB- IRB-FY20-21-1996).

Dr. Blumberg thanks you in advance for your participation!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: agritourism, community farmers market, community supported agriculture, CSA, direct marketing, farm marketing, marketing channels, survey

June 7, 2021 Rick VanVranken

Rutgers Resources to Help Your Customers Safely Preserve Your Farm Fresh Produce

Our Ag & Natural Resources (ANR) Chair Nick Polanin shared that our Rutgers Cooperative Extension Family & Community Health Science Department (FCHS) has developed social media posts (below) and the attached mini posters for use by on-farm & community farm markets to promote safe home food preservation. These direct users to the NJAES home food preservation webpage. The posters are provided in full color and less color versions for websites or printing.

Face Book: Please share this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/SCNJFCHS/posts/2008602745963285

Instagram text to copy & paste the jpg photo attached and the following text:

Preserve Your Farm Fresh Produce

With the help of @fchs.rutgers, you can now access a harvest of free information for preserving your farm fresh produce!

Filled with webinars, events, videos, and all kinds of other resources, the home food preservation website is great for making everything easy to understand and digest, all while helping you learn through tutorial, expert publications, and more.

You can access the full site here: njaes.rutgers.edu/food-safety/home-food-preservation/

This is also a valuable way of finding specific classes or speakers, as well as learning more about your county’s local FCHS office, their programs and events.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: community farm markets, direct marketing, farm marketing, farm markets, fresh produce preservation, home canning, home freezing, marketing

May 26, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella

Reminder for Tonight’s On-Farm Direct Marketing, Farmer Panel Webinar

Tonight at 7:00PM – Last Session for the On-Farm Direct Marketing May Webinar series.

Covid directions Farmer Panel: Tracy Duffield-Duffield’s Farm Market, Dave Specca- Specca’s Pick-Your-Own Farm and Jess Niederer – Chickadee Creek Farm and CSA will discuss what they have changed on their farms due to COVID-19.

Please join us online at https://go.rutgers.edu/k0d59m8h

On the phone 1-650-429-3300 with Access code: 226 795 368 # and then # again.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: farm marketing, Immediate

April 28, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella

On-Farm Direct Marketing in 2020 Webinars – Every Tuesday Night in May

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents are hosting a 4-par Fruit stand t webinar series, every Tuesday in May from 7:00-8:00PM to assist farmers with on-farm direct marketing operations to develop strategies for the 2020 season. This 4-part, weekly program will present and discuss the following topics:

Session 1 (May 5th): Maintaining Social Distancing and Safe Food Handling Practices: Guidance for Farm Markets – Wesley Kline, Ag Agent, RCE of Cumberland Co. and Meredith Melendez, Ag Agent, RCE of Mercer Co.

Session 2 (May 12th): Sales and Distribution Strategies – William Bamka, Ag Agent, RCE of Burlington Co. and Stephen Komar, Ag Agent, RCE of Sussex Co.

Session 3 (May 19th): U-Pick Operation Guidelines under COVID-19 – Meredith Melendez, Ag Agent, RCE of Mercer Co.

Session 4 (May 26th): Farmer Panel – Strategies We Are Using – (Farmers TBD) Moderators: Michelle Infante-Casella, Ag Agent, RCE of Gloucester County and Meredith Melendez, RCE of Mercer Co.

To Participate online for All 4 Events:
Use the link: https://go.rutgers.edu/k0d59m8h

Or join by phone:
+1-650-429-3300 USA Toll
Access code: 226 795 368 # and then # again

We suggest visiting at least 15 minutes before the session start time to confirm system requirements

For more events hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension check out the NJAES Events Calendar.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Food Safety, Fruit, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: farm marketing, webinar

April 27, 2020 Rick VanVranken

E-commerce During COVID-19 Webinar – Recording Now Available

From C-FARE, the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics — Whether you registered and were told this webinar was full on Friday, or just couldn’t make it then but are still interested in the topic, the sponsors of E-Commerce During COVID-19: Opportunities for Food Producers to Make Direct Market Sales Online apologized for the limited capacity and invite you to PLEASE WATCH THE WEBINAR HERE.

——–

The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) along with the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA), hosted a free webinar at 12 p.m. EST April 24 to discuss the value of e-commerce for farmers, food gatekeepers and retailers at a moment when customers are shifting their buying habits overnight to minimize exposure to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a situation that is rapidly changing, with guidance for safe gathering thresholds dwindling from thousands, to hundreds, to fewer than 10. The isolation and uncertainty have precipitated changes in consumers’ shopping behaviors, from bulk-buying to e-commerce and more. Limiting in-store interactions is now a chief comparative advantage.

This webinar will discuss ways farmers, food gatekeepers and retailers can benefit (or hedge their losses) by adapting to consumers’ behavioral changes. C-FARE board member and Rutgers University economist Gal Hochman will moderate the 45-minute discussion. He will be joined by three panelists.

Jeffrey O’Hara will discuss what USDA Agricultural Marketing Service resources are available for producers to develop e-commerce sales, the latest data and research, along with examples of ways farmers have migrated online. He is an AMS specialist.
Chyi Lyi “Kathleen” Liang will discuss various online platforms, the merits of using digital sales strategies, and sample innovative aggregated venues online. She is the W. K. Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and the director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Gary Matteson will talk about the need for business planning with clear goals for inputs such as time and money, and clear expectations for sales and profitability when approaching new markets. He is vice president for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach at the Farm Credit Council.

The webinar will conclude with questions from attendees. Those who register but cannot attend will be invited to view a recording of the webinar at a later date. Please join C-FARE and the NAREA for this special program.

The Vision of the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics

Catalyzing informed decisions through applied economics.

The Council on Food Agricultural & Resource Economics, 502 C Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: e-commerce, farm marketing, on-line sales

April 24, 2020 Rick VanVranken

TODAY at Noon! E-commerce During COVID-19 Webinar

My apologies for the last minute notice as I missed forwarding this earlier in the week. Gal Hochman, Rutgers Professor of Agriculture, Food, & Resource Economics, and current President of the Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, shared the following webinar announcement to assist agricultural producers in exploring online marketing opportunities. The meeting is co-sponsored by her association and The Council on Food, Agricultural & Resource Economics.

In my rush to get this to you, the links in the attachment below may be broken so please Register Here.

WEBINAR

E-Commerce During COVID-19: Opportunities for Food Producers

to Make Direct Market Sales Online

Friday, April 24, at 12:00 p.m. EST

The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) along with the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA), will host a free webinar at 12 p.m. EST April 24 to discuss the value of e-commerce for farmers, food gatekeepers and retailers at a moment when customers are shifting their buying habits overnight to minimize exposure to COVID-19.

Jeffrey O’Hara will discuss what USDA Agricultural Marketing Service resources are available for producers to develop e-commerce sales, the latest data and research, along with examples of ways farmers have migrated online. He is an AMS specialist.
Chyi Lyi “Kathleen” Liang will discuss various online platforms, the merits of using digital sales strategies, and sample innovative aggregated venues online. She is the W. K. Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and the director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Gary Matteson will talk about the need for business planning with clear goals for inputs such as time and money, and clear expectations for sales and profitability when approaching new markets. He is vice president for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach at the Farm Credit Council.