Blog Category: Marketing

What is sliding scale payment? Why are we using it?

Posted by Michalina Hunter on May 25, 2021

Thank you to Underground Alchemy, Albany, NY for providing the sample text that this post is based on. Sliding scale payment is a tool for building economic justice, and it requires your active participation and reflection. The core principle is to provide a price range that makes an event more broadly accessible to people with diverse financial means, while ensuring fair compensation for the organizers and educators. You are asked to pay according to your available resources. When everyone participates in this way, we are able to create a more equitable, diverse, and supportive farming community. Young Agrarians has been … Continue reading What is sliding scale payment? Why are we using it? →

Beyond the Market: Selling to Retailers

Posted by Jolene Swain on March 18, 2021

Have you outgrown the farmers’ market? Can you produce more than you can sell direct to customers? Are you ready to branch out to retailers? Here are some tips and tricks from retailers and producers to help assess your readiness and provide some considerations when it comes to moving your product beyond the market. Flexible farm business incubators Farmers’ Markets are a great incubator for local producers to fine tune their growing practices while building up a customer base and brand. Direct to customer sales offer a short supply chain and forge valuable relationships with the community. Cutting out the … Continue reading Beyond the Market: Selling to Retailers →

Online Marketplaces for Farmers and Food Producers in BC

Posted by Hailey Troock on December 04, 2020

Are you an enterprising farmer or food producer looking for more ways to sell your locally-made products online, to your community and beyond? Read on! In other blog posts, we cover general ecommerce tricks, tips and tools and small farm software tools for farmers and food producers. These resources are helpful for anyone in and outside of BC! In BC, multiple online platforms, directories and marketplaces where farmers and food producers (and other businesses!) can sell their fare have popped up in the last year to address increased demands for buying local, including healthy food. This post features two of … Continue reading Online Marketplaces for Farmers and Food Producers in BC →

Customer Relationships During Farm Transition

Posted by Hailey Troock on October 06, 2020

Photo credit: Sole Food Street Farms Successful customer relationships are at the heart of successful businesses. Informing customers and nurturing these relationships during the transition period (and before!) is crucial for a smooth transfer. Many farms sell their products through a variety of sales channels. Indirect sales occur when sales are Business-to-Business (B2B), and the customer is a buyer from a store or distributor, rather than the end consumer. Direct sales channels occur when a farm is selling directly to the person who consumes the products (B2C), and may include Farmers’ Markets, CSAs, farmgate and online sales. Your approach to … Continue reading Customer Relationships During Farm Transition →

SEPT-NOV, 2020: ONLINE – SCALE YOUR PROGRESSIVE FOOD BUSINESS

Posted by Michalina Hunter on August 25, 2020

Give your progressive food business a leg up with Feeding Growth! This series of five workshops provides practical tips for progressive retail and packaged goods companies to reach and maintain success. Each workshop follows the Feeding Growth recipe: personable and caring food industry mentors share advice; participants engage in hands-on exercises; and the helpful community of progressive change-makers connects over tasty local food. The series culminates with a keynote event celebrating our graduates and the local food movement. WORKSHOP DATES Brand & Marketing, September 24, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Online via Zoom Sales & Distribution, October 8, … Continue reading SEPT-NOV, 2020: ONLINE – SCALE YOUR PROGRESSIVE FOOD BUSINESS →

Software Tools for Small Farms

Posted by Melanie Buffel on April 29, 2020 19 Comments

Software Tools for Small Farms This article was originally written by Chris Bodnar, and was published in COABC’s BC Organic Grower, Volume 16, Number 3, Summer, 2013. It has since been expanded and updated by YA staff. Find more farm business resources on our FARM BUSINESS TOOLS PAGE Many organic farms have a special binder. The binder holds field records, crop plans, a multitude of to-do lists and miscellaneous notes. The binder is sacred; should it ever go missing, the following year’s organic inspection would be a nightmare. The farm’s operations depend on a bundle of papers that, with one drop in … Continue reading Software Tools for Small Farms →

DIY Website Toolkit for Farmers & Food Producers: Ecommerce Tricks, Tips & Tools!

Posted by Hailey Troock on April 21, 2020 4 Comments

20 minute read Are you looking to move your business online, transition from what you’re currently using, or integrate Point of Sale with your online sales for your farm or food business? This article will provide a toolkit for farmers and food producers who would like to build or manage their own online business, or be better equipped to work with a web or marketing professional. Consultants and agencies can be hired to build your site for you or customize certain aspects of plug-and-play software or standard theme designs. Marketing professionals can help you build out an amazing plan and … Continue reading DIY Website Toolkit for Farmers & Food Producers: Ecommerce Tricks, Tips & Tools! →

Training Courses Covered Through Wildfire Recovery Program in BC

Posted by Michalina Hunter on September 06, 2019

Community Futures Wildfire Business Transition Program Business and Not-For-Profit Training The Wildfire Business Transition – Self-Directed Training Program is intended to help businesses and not-for-profits (organizations) impacted by the 2017 wild fire season to identify their training needs and provide financial and advisory support to meet those needs. Courses such as the “The Market Gardener’s Master Class” with Jean-Martin Fortier can be paid for, if completed by Nov 15, 2019. For a list of more information and eligible communities, click the document below: How to apply and find if a certain training is eligible: Application forms are available at cfwildfire.ca Contact … Continue reading Training Courses Covered Through Wildfire Recovery Program in BC →

New Farmers: Here’s What You Need to Know About Organic Marketing in BC

Posted by Michalina Hunter on July 26, 2019

Have you checked your website and packaging to ensure it’s aligned with the new Organic Certification Regulation? A new Organic Certification Regulation came into effect in BC on September 1, 2018. The term “organic” is now a protected label within BC. This means producers and processors must have organic certification from an accredited certification body if they want to make any sort of organic claim on a product, including “grown following organic principles”, or “made with organic ingredients”. Claims such as “uncertified organic” or “more than organic” are not permitted. Greater clarity around what organic means is something consumers in … Continue reading New Farmers: Here’s What You Need to Know About Organic Marketing in BC →

OCT 25-26, 2019: ROSSLAND, BC – Columbia Basin Mixer

Posted by Michalina Hunter on July 15, 2019

Join us at Red Mountain Resort and the new Nowhere Special Hostel for two days of workshops and networking at the Columbia Basin Mixer! This year’s mixer will be integrated with the Basin Food Summit’s Agriculture Forum on Friday October 25th, and continue on Saturday October 26th with more in-depth programming for new and young farmers. In the spirit of YA mixers, this will be an opportunity to engage and network, share ideas and access the knowledge and experience you need to build your farm and business for success. Let’s dive in deep together and create future resilience within the … Continue reading OCT 25-26, 2019: ROSSLAND, BC – Columbia Basin Mixer →