Sustainable
Farming Connection |
Where
farmers find and share information. | 'Net Marketing How farmers are using the
Internet to reach and satisfy customers.
From simple email
messages to elaborate websites, farmers are using the Internet to reach and
satisfy customers. It's not too surprising that CSAs
(Community Supported Agriculture operations) are leading the way. But producers
are also tapping the 'Net to sell livestock products,
grains, fruits and vegetables,
specialty items and even compost.
You can also glean good ideas from food company websites.
In
August '98, five western Minnesota farms working with the Land Stewardship
Project (LSP) and the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) of Western Minnesota
created prairiefare.com, a website
that helps them sell their meat, fruit and other products to consumers who want
to help support sustainable agriculture.
Below are some of the best examples we've found. But we're also
building a page of additional marketing links. Let us know about your site or
others you think should be on the list.
See also
Internet Marketing for
Farmers at the
Publications for Farmers
page at the King County (Washington) Cooperative Extension website.
CSAs
Eatwell Farm
-- This website for Frances and Nigel Walker's California CSA is one of the best
on the 'net. In addition to the usual info for current and prospective
shareholders the site also features newsletters, recipes, information about the
farm (including a diary and weather info) and much, much more. Don't be
intimidated if you think you need to achieve these high standards to market your
CSA on the net. Surf the Walkers'
links to other CSAs
around the country to see a variety of approaches that can help you can succeed
in net' marketing with a more modest site.
Full Circle Farm -- Marcie Rosenzweig 's weekly email
message helps keep shareholders in her California CSA informed and involved.
Here's a sample.
Livestock
 prairiefare.com -- Five western
Minnesota farmers, working with the Land Stewardship Project, use this site to
sell beef, pork, poultry, apples and other products. They also share
information about their goals and farming practices.
Kaehler's Mill Farm
-- Wisconsin graziers Kay and Steve Castner describe how they produce beef and
lamb on quiet, chemical-free pastures, and provide a print-out, mail-in form for
customers. They also sell wool and purebred Galloway cattle and Targhee sheep
at the site.
 Hog Wild Specialties
-- Deb and Earl Hagman raise European Boars on their Alberta ranch, and use this
website to help promote sales of their fresh and processed meats and certified
breeding stock, as well as barbecue services and bowhunting. Good stories and
pictures profiling their operation and an on-line order form.
Egg Farm Dairy --
Cheesemaker Jonathan White and Chef Charlie Palmer founded Egg Farm Dairy in
1993 by to return butter and cheese to their lost grandeur. Offerings include
mail-order cheese samplers and the sure-to-please Box O' Butter -- 12 pounds,
shipped frozen. "Toss it in your freezer, and you're set for at least a few
weeks!" Also info about the "Jonny Applecheese" project, which
is designed to help farmers boost profits by making and marketing unique dairy
products.
Grains
 Lundberg Family Farms
-- In addition to a mail-order catalog, great rice recipes and this famous
organic farm's newsletter (aptly titled "The Lundberg Rice Paper"),
this site features a beautiful on-line brochure,
A Partnership with
Nature detailing the family's farming practices and their positive impact on
wildlife.
Fruits and Vegetables
Troy
Bogdan's Home Page -- Troy tells potential customers about his
Pure Earth Organic Farm via
@griculture Online's
Homestead. This free service helps you build and maintain a simple homepage
on their server. Troy also maintains a site there for the
Western Pennsylvania
Chapter of the Organic Crop Improvement Association . Also check out
Troy's new page.
Homer Produce Auction
-- This fledgling effort is providing new diversification opportunities for
dairy farmers.
Specialty Items
 Twin C Shiitake Mushrooms
-- An attractive logo and background, ordering information, recipes, and even
some shiitake history and links. This site stresses the health benefits from
eating certified-organic shiitake mushrooms, while enjoying gourmet meals.
Farmer's
Market Online -- If building your own website never seems to make
it to the top of your to-do list, consider renting a booth at this virtual
marketplace. The site also features
Shopping
Lists, where potential customers list products they're looking to buy.
Compost
Whitney Farms
-- When you turn 30,000 pounds of manure a week from the Portland, Oregon's
Metro Washington Park Zoo into composted organic fertilizer, it helps to have a
good sense of humor. And this site is one of the funniest (as well as most
informative) on the 'Net. Lots of good advice here for Whitney Farms' customers
(primarily organic gardeners) in the
Ask the Dirt Doctor and
All About Organics columns,
and be sure to check out the latest entries in the
Name That Poo contest.
Food Companies
Cascadian Farm --
Cascadian Farm is more than a farm, it's a diversified organic food processing
company. So you'd expect that it's website would be something more -- and it
is. In addition to the usual product descriptions, you'll find a database that
helps customers locate nearby health food stores, updates on the progress of
USDA's National Organic Standards Board, clip art stores can download and use to
create ads, a helpful FAQ, related links, and more. They even offer a free "...
Farm Like You'll Farm Forever" bumpersticker. Worth checking out.
Walnut Acres --
This site offers an interesting history of this pioneering farm and mail-order
food business. Founded in '46 by Paul and Betty Keene, Walnut Acres
established the first organic certification program. Site also features
extensive product listing and ordering and shipping information.
 Rocky Mountain Flour Milling
-- Rocky Mountain's new and growing site serves two audiences. Bakers and food
producers can learn about the mill's products, analytical services and seminars.
And prospective growers can find out what it takes to grow the high quality
organic wheat the mill seeks.
©1998 Committee for
Sustainable Farm Publishing
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usage permission policy and disclaimer.
Send
comments, suggestions and questions to the site author:
Craig Cramer
cdcramer@clarityconnect.com
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