Direct To Consumer Still A Viable Option

This is Tim Hammerich of the Ag Information Network with your Farm of the Future Report.

Direct-to-consumer marketing models like farmers markets and CSAs have evolved a lot over the years, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. But just because a model isn’t trending nationally doesn’t mean it won’t work locally, says owner of Twisted River Farms, Steve Strasheim.

Strasheim… “You hear a lot like in the industry, in the, like in the niche vegetable world, about CSAs, about farmers' markets and how all those models have went through their various areas of decay and comeback and I don't know. I think it's hard to paint a typical model with a broad brush and say, oh, farmer's markets are dead, don't do those anymore. That's not the case everywhere. And maybe, this little market, you can still make that work. CSA models kind of were the huge fad, and I think nationally they've seen some decline over the years just because people want more choice or whatever. And those models have changed a lot, but a lot of farms still do them. We do one, you know, so I don't usually prescribe to this style of doing things as completely dead when it comes to direct marketing. I think you just kind of have to try them and you know, see what your local, you know, what your resources are, what you have available to you. If you have a little market that looks like it could use a little life, well get involved with it and put some life into it.”

Strasheim says success in direct marketing largely comes down to understanding your community and audience.