- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC’s 2011-2012 Agritourism planning classes are now finished. Preparations for next year’s classes are currently underway. Classes will be held later this year and early next in Sacramento, Sonoma, and San Diego Counties.
In the meantime, class materials are currently online. Topics include:
- Tourism development outline
- Farm stay agritourism 101
- How to start a pick-your-own operation
- Sample budget for on-farm festival
- Developing a hunting program on a ranch or farm
- Evaluating the financial potential of an entertainment farming/farm tourism business
- Internet marketing for your agritourism business
- Agritourism health and safety guidelines for children
- And much more
Are you a non-farmer interested in visiting a farm or ranch? Please visit UC’s CalAgTour website to learn of opportunities throughout the state.
California farm and ranch operators can also use the site to advertise their agritourism offerings at no cost. Ventura County growers can contact their local UCCE office for assistance in posting their business online.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The first Small Farm News of 2012 is ready for viewing! As always this newsletter is full of relevant and practical information to assist small-scale farmers and ranchers.
Topics in this issue are:
- Workshops to prepare growers for food safety
- Building statewide support for California agritourism
- Selling wholesale at a farmers market
- Tips for growing, selling organic
- CSA operators offer tips
- How to identify ‘snake-oil’ products
- Pedro Ilic Award honors Paul Vossen
The newsletter can be found on this page of the UC Small Farm Program website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The first Small Farm News of 2012 is ready for viewing! As always this newsletter is full of relevant and practical information to assist small-scale farmers and ranchers.
Topics in this issue are:
- Workshops to prepare growers for food safety
- Building statewide support for California agritourism
- Selling wholesale at a farmers market
- Tips for growing, selling organic
- CSA operators offer tips
- How to identify ‘snake-oil’ products
- Pedro Ilic Award honors Paul Vossen
The newsletter can be found on this page of the UC Small Farm Program website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The recent issue of UC’s California Agriculture is packed with interesting and informative articles. Two articles help to directly connect farmers and consumers. All articles can be accessed online.
Please see topics below:
- 150 years after Morrill Act, land-grant universities are key to healthy California
- Uncertain future for California’s biomass power plants
- Community Supported Agriculture is thriving in the Central Valley
- UC Cooperative Extension explores a farm-to-WIC program
- Crop rotation and genetic resistance reduce risk of damage from Fusarium wilt in lettuce
- Citrus growers vary in their adoption of biological control (availible only in E-Edition)
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The recent LA Times article, Farm Team: Two chefs spend a year at Windrose Farm, lending labor and know-how, and learning from the ground up is an interesting and entertaining article related to the business of farming.
Farmers are busy, multi-talented people. They must have skills in a wide variety of areas for their business to survive. As the LA Times article explains slight adjustments in operations have the potential to make a profound difference on the bottom line.
UC’s Farm Business and Market Place has many resources to help food producers strengthen their business. Including:
- Customer Service and Relationships
- Building trust with consumers
- I’m right and you’re wrong: Do’s and don’ts in customer service
- Selling strategies for local food producers
- Strategies to attract and keep customers
- Promotion & Branding
- Adding value to agriculture: Branding and certification
- Building your brand
- Creating a winning display for your farm products
- Reputation as your brand
- Budgeting
- Projecting costs and returns – enterprise budgeting
- Cost and return studies
- Determining prices for CSA share boxes
- Enterprise budgets – 100 foot rows
- Partial budgeting
- Using enterprise budgets to make decisions about your farm
- Marketing Channels & Strategies
- A guide to understanding the value chain
- Adding value to farm products: An overview
- An overview of Small Farm direct marketing
- Bringing local food to local institutions
- Community supported agriculture
- Direct marketing of farm produce and home goods
- Guide to marketing channel selection: How to sell through wholesale and direct market channels
- Marketing 101
- Marketing alternatives for fresh produce
- Marketing strategies for farmers and ranchers
- New markets for your crops (available in Spanish)
- Niche market pricing and strategies for maintaining price
- Pricing for profit
- Selling directly to restaurants and retailers
- Selling to institutions: An Iowa Farmer’s guide
- Selling to Restaurants
- Strategic marketing management: Building a foundation for your future
- Value added agriculture: Is it right for me?
- What are niche markets? What advantages do they offer?
To be successful, farmers must have skills and knowledge in a wide variety of areas.
