Completed Project Report


Accessing Local Markets: Buyer/Seller Connections, the Key to Success

  • Award Amount: $44,572
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2007 Value Added Enterprises/Farm Diversification Grants

Extension RME Regional Centers
Extension Risk Management Education Region Map

Project Overview

Wisconsin´s small and mid-sized farms struggle to compete in today´s consolidated food system. However, a tremendous emerging market exists for producers who can produce and market value added, local products. Farmers have continually expressed the desire to develop the skills and connections to successfully market products to local food buyers. This project helped 100 farmers develop those skills and linked them with local food buyers, creating new market opportunities. A market consultant met with over a dozen food buyers in five Wisconsin regions to identify barriers and opportunities for farmers selling local foods. Information gathered was compiled into a food buyer report and shared with farmers in three workshops across the state in November, 2007, with two additional workshops planned for November 2008. One third of the participants have already implmented action plans to successfully sell products into local markets, based on the information they gleaned from this project.

Number of Participants: 100

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

There are no promotional materials available for this project.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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INDIVIDUAL STORIES / EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS / QUOTES