Farmers are involved in lots of different processes to ensure that their crops are healthy and the farm produces a good yield. However, that is not the end goal, except you are farming just for your family’s consumption. In most cases, the end goal of farming crops is to market and distribute them to consumers all around the world for the farmer to make a profit. Large corporations have infiltrated the agriculture industry, acting as the middle man between the farmers and their customers. This has significantly shifted the profits made from farming to these large corporations. Therefore, the farmers need to know how and where to sell their products in order to eliminate the middleman. That is why in this article, we will talk about agromarketing and where farmers can sell their products to make profits.
What is agromarketing?
The term agricultural marketing is made up of two words – agriculture and marketing. Therefore, agricultural marketing or agromarketing denotes a series of activities involved in moving agricultural products from production to the point of sale. A point of sale (POS) is a place where clients pay for goods and services. In the case of agromarketing, POS could include farmers’ markets, online stores, local restaurants or supermarkets, food hubs, and agrotourism.
As we have mentioned above, farmers need a point of sale to be able to sell their products and make profits. However, it is increasingly difficult nowadays due to high competition from mega-corporations. Here are some of the places that farmers can sell their products:
Farmers’ market
Every settlement has one of these. A place where farmers gather to sell the products from their farms. Lots of people love to visit and buy from the farmers’ market because they have the ability to ask questions and know-how and where their food is produced. Here, the farmers can make profits from selling their products and also have the chance to promote their farms and gain more customers.
Digital market
Long gone are the days when the only way to sell your products was to physically move them to a market. With the coming of the internet, marketing has been made super easy. Now, you have the possibility to connect with billions of customers worldwide from your home. There are lots of digital marketplaces where farmers can list their products, interact with customers, and even get a huge following on social media Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Also, you can decide to create your website, which will give a higher ranking on search engines such as Google. On your website, you can present your farm to the general public the way you see fit.
Local restaurants or supermarkets
Local restaurants and supermarkets are also a great way for farmers to offload their products. Forming a trade relationship with them ensures that you have a steady demand for your products every season. With supermarkets, the farmer can not create relationships with consumers or control the price at which the consumers buy the products. However, they will be getting steady pay for their crops and livestock.
Food hubs
It is important for everyone to do what they know how to do best. Food hubs are created to remove the stress of marketing from farmers. This way, they can concentrate on growing healthy crops every season, rather than dividing their attention between marketing and farming. Food hubs help farmers market and distribute their products in local and international markets such as restaurants, schools, hospitals, etc. They act as middlemen who negotiate better prices for farmers and help them make profits.
Agrotourism
Agritourism is any activity that brings consumers or visitors to a ranch or farm. It is a great way to showcase your products and farm in general to the public. This way, consumers can know where and how their food is grown. They will have the opportunity to ask farmers questions about the crops, and farmers will be able to sell directly to the consumers.
Final thoughts
Farming and agriculture are some of the most important activities that ensure the survival of the human race. In most cases, farmers, especially small farm owners, are undermined and do not get the recognition and profits they deserve. However, with the advancement of technology, farmers are now aware of their market and can reach their customers in many different ways. It gives them the possibility to negotiate better prices with large corporations and sell directly to the consumers.
You may be interested in: Transform Your Home Into A Smart Home With A Low Budget