Farmers Share Real-World Lessons in Direct-to-Consumer Sales
Across the Southeast, more consumers are buying food straight from the farm. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reports that U.S. producers sold $17.5 billion worth of food directly to consumers, a 25% increase since 2017.
To help farmers tap into this growing market, Alabama Extension created the Faces of Direct-to-Consumer video series. Each of the five featured farms raises beef cattle for direct-to-consumer sales, and several also produce other commodities. The farmers share their experiences on everything from processing and packaging to pricing and building relationships with customers.
“The idea for this series came from recognizing how many producers turned to direct sales during the pandemic,” said Extension agent Calen Monroe. “When farmers see other Alabama producers succeed, it can give them the confidence they need to try it themselves.”
If you’re interested in learning more or looking for inspiration from other farmers, check out the Faces of Direct-to-Consumer series on the Alabama Extension YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkNoAmOtt__8pxlmY4tWkiiQQgdMPJ0Up
