Do you know local food producers or farmers who want to sell to restaurants, grocery stores, schools, or wholesale distributors? I am letting you know that we’re offering the Market Ready program as an all-day, in-person workshop on October 30th at the Allen County Purdue Extension office (4001 Crescent Avenue, Fort Wayne, Indiana). Participants…Read more about Market Ready Training[Read More]
Marketing
Local food producers interested in selling to restaurants, grocery stores, schools, or wholesale distributors can join the virtual MarketReady Producer Training this August. Participants will learn how to meet buyer expectations and prepare their businesses for new market opportunities. The 3 sessions will take place on Zoom on August 4, 11, and 18 from 7:00…Read more about MarketReady Producer Training[Read More]
Our team is launching a new webinar series, “Vegetable Chat,” focused on vegetable crop production. The series is designed primarily for commercial vegetable growers, though producers of all scales may find the information valuable. Each session will feature an expert presentation followed by a Q&A discussion. The first session will feature Dr. Thomas Björkman, who…Read more about Vegetable Chat: Broccoli[Read More]
How many times have you watched as a potential buyer walks away from a fruit or vegetable they are unfamiliar with? On the flip side, have you noticed how a quick explanation about proper storage at home and recipe ideas—can turn hesitation into a sale? Imagine something that easily tells the customer about selecting, storing,…Read more about Boost Your Produce Sales with FoodLink: A Free Resource for Farmers[Read More]
Most Americans use social media to share information, find entertainment, and engage with businesses, which has made social media an important information source for all generations. Figure 1 shows findings from the Pew Research Center on the use of social media platforms, with Gen Z and Millennials more inclined to use Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok,…Read more about Marketing & Social Media for Vegetable Farms[Read More]
Americans are eating more greens, and salad mixes (i.e., spring mix, salad kits, packaged salad) are among the top drivers of this increased consumption. Salad mixes include different varieties of lettuce, spinach, cabbage, arugula, and other leafy greens. Salad mixes have gained popularity as a modern alternative to traditional vegetables, primarily due to their nutritional…Read more about The US Market for Salad Mixes[Read More]
Running a CSA can be a long journey throughout the season, requiring one to stay on top of many weekly tasks and decisions. Some are more important to think about than others. Here is a list of what the Purdue Student Farm sees as some of the most essential tasks in the decision-making process and…Read more about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Top six recommendations for your farm market[Read More]
USDA is implementing updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for producers of agricultural commodities marketed in 2020 who faced market disruptions due to COVID-19. This is part of a larger effort to reach a greater share of farming operations and improve USDA pandemic assistance. The CFAP 2 signup period has reopened as part…Read more about CFAP 2 Application Open[Read More]
A list of articles and publications are available at the Purdue Horticulture Business website. Articles range from weekly reports about prices of fruits and vegetables sold at farmers markets, the economic feasibility of plant growth regulators, the importance of relationships in the organic certified markets, and how to strategize your social media marketing. To access…Read more about Update from Purdue Horticulture Business[Read More]
Hoosier Food Market, an online sales platform where farmers can sell directly to consumers with no overhead costs. COVID-19 has changed the way we do a lot of things. Purdue Agriculture recognized that many farmers markets may not be operating at the same capacity, and restaurants may not be purchasing the same amount of product…Read more about Online Sales Platform – Hoosier Food Market[Read More]