All posts in Farm to Market
Central Valley Farmers Achieve Ground Breaking Sales to Schools
This year for the first time in his farming career, Donald Sherman made a sale to a school district. Mr. Sherman has been interested in providing fresh produce to local schools in Fresno where he resides and also farms for
CAFF Partners w/ CA Assoc. of Food Banks & Fresh Approach on New Local Food Purchasing Program
This week, the United States Department of Food and Agriculture announced California’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) at the Yolo Food Bank – a member of the California Association of Food Banks. Read USDA’s announcement here. As a
The Future of Farm to School at Twin Rivers Unified School District
This assessment outlines the farm to school program, summarizes procurement, menu and operational analysis, and highlights accomplishments and recommendations for increasing the impact of farm to school programs at TRUSDNS to maximize implementation, student experience and economic support of local
FSMA Y NOP: Animales silvestres y domésticos
Esta hoja informativa proporciona una descripción general sobre lo que las granjas que necesitan estar en pleno cumplimiento con la Ley Federal de Modernización de la Seguridad Alimentaria (FSMA) deben hacer para cumplir con los requisitos de los animales salvajes
Updated Ecommerce Report for the Small Farm
CAFF participates in the CSA Innovation Network who recently updated a report that breaks down how popular eCommerce platforms perform in comparison to one another, based on findings from national farmer surveys in 2020 and 2021. This report was refreshed
Local Produce Processing in the Oakland Unified School District Central Kitchen
A Comprehensive Assessment of Local Fruit and Vegetable Sourcing, Processing and Vending at the Oakland Unified School District Central Kitchen. To view online, click the “expand” symbol on the toolbar at the bottom. Or click the download or print buttons.
De la granja al mercado: Guía rápida para acceder a cinco canales principales de venta
Este Manual de la Granja al Mercado está diseñado para ayudar a la granja familiar a acceder a los mercados. Ofrece información, consejos de venta y enlaces de Internet a los principales sitios informativos de los cinco canales de comercialización
The Farm to Market Handbook: Quick Tip Guides For Accessing Five Major Marketing Channels
This Farm to Market Handbook is designed to help the family farm access markets. It provides information, selling tips and internet links to top informational sites for the five major marketing channels. To view online, click the “expand” symbol on
Exploring CSA Platforms: CSAware and Farmigo
RECORDING. Pronto proporcionará subtítulos en español. Explorando Los Plataformas de Agricultura Apoyada por la Comunidad – CSAware & Farmigo. In this peer-to-peer learning webinar, we will compare two popular online CSA management platforms: CSAware and Farmigo. Participants will have the opportunity to see
The California School District Produce Procurement Guide
A resource developed by Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and Community Health Improvement Partner’s (CHIP) Farm to Institution Center. Use controls at the bottom to flip pages, enter full screen, and more.
Driving Engagement with Instagram & Facebook Shopping
Are you looking to broaden your e-commerce audience beyond visitors to your website? Consider this: In 2021, 130 million Instagram accounts tap on a shopping post to learn more about products every month (source). Instagram is no doubt stepping into
Instragram Basics in 7 minutes!
A 7 minute video going over the basics of Instagram for your farm business. https://youtu.be/W0ZIHiMePJo
RFP: CAFF Seeking Agile Software Developer for School Food Solution
Kids in California schools want more fresh fruits and veggies from local farmers, but schools don’t have the tools to buy them. We’ve created and vetted the first contracting tools to address school food purchasing needs in California and have
Persevering Through COVID-19: Schools Support Food Access in San Mateo County
PERSEVERING THROUGH COVID-19: Schools Support Food Access in San Mateo County California schools, a significant market for family farmers, are critical sources of food access for local communities. CAFF Teamed up with UC Cooperative Extension and Get Healthy San Mateo
Words count! Use these proven “hooks” to attract CSA members
In preparation for CSA Week 2021, CAFF and the CSA Innovation Network hosted a fantastic webinar on how to use proven marketing messages (hooks) to attract and retain new CSA members. Watch the entire webinar here, download the CSA Hooks Guide,
2021 CSA Marketing Resources
The CSA Innovation Network has created a CSA renewals marketing package for 2021. Download your package below with themed assets for social media and print, including: Facebook cover photo Facebook picture frame Facebook and Instagram posts Email header image Overlay
CSA / Farm Box Survey
CSA/Farm Box Operators, Raise Your Voice! By taking just a few minutes to complete our 2020 CSA / Farm Box Survey, you help guide CAFF’s CSA-related work and help us capture the trajectory of the CSA model. PLUS: you’ll automatically be entered to win
How to be a Good CSA Member This Season
Your partner farm provides fresh, healthy, safe food every week. Here are ways you can ensure you’re helping maintain a safe and responsible environment for yourself and for other members at the CSA pickup.
What is a “sliding scale” you ask?
A document that helps people determine where they fall on the “sliding scale” and what they should fairly pay. If CSA farms are considering using a sliding scale payment system for their shares, this is a great tool for learning
Plataformas de software de venta directa
Mientras mercados, restaurantes, y otros canales de distribución de comida cierran o reducen operaciones para prevenir el contagio de COVID-19, granjas en todo el país han expresado interés en usar plataformas de software que apoyen las ventas directas para consumidores
Take Your Local Food Online (Webinar)
Take Your Local Food Online provided practical information and tips from farmers using online sales platforms. Platforms covered in this video include: Woo Commerce — Kat Becker, Cattail Farms Graze Cart — Remi Keaston, David’s Pasture Shopify — Cherie Shenker,
Direct Sales Software Platforms
This publication highlights product options and sales models that farmers may find helpful. While markets, restaurants, and other food distribution channels close or reduce operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, farms across the country have expressed interest in using
New CAFF Resource: How to Run CSA Pick Up Sites during COVID-19
CAFF has created a new resource for farmers that have Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick up locations. The guide has tips for farmers and a sign that farmers could post at pick up locations and/or share electronically with CSA members.
Direct Marketing in CA: Rules & Regs
Learn the various laws and regulations that govern direct marketing in California, including CSAs, farmers markets and farm stands.
Farm to Freezer: The Logistics of Online Sales & Shipping Meat
Webinar: Apr 2, 2020 at 9AM. Topics will include: setting up an online store, different web platforms, accepting payments, updating inventory, meat selection, subscriptions versus ala-carte orders, boxes, insulation, dry ice, maintaining cold chain, shipping carriers, costs, regulations. This will
RoadWarrior
Navigation software to make deliveries more efficient, taking into account traffic, drop-off priorities, school zones, tolls, one way trips, and more.
Kabbage
Through Kabbage Payments, any business can sign up to sell gift certificates online, and anyone can purchase them to support participating small businesses. Once registered, businesses can send a custom link to their customers
FRESHr
A Marketplace for Farms, Distributors, and their Customers online that aggregates and updates supply and demand for fresh local produce in real-time. Created for farmers, distributors, restaurants, and grocers advancing the farm-to-table movement, FRESHr can be used on any Internet-connected phone,
Credibles
Credibles goes beyond mainstream crowdfunding. It’s ongoing support of local business and a stronger relationship between the business and customers. The upfront payments are paid back in-kind – as edible credits. We call them Credibles. You’re a fan of a
Square
The one-stop run-your-business shop. While not farm-specific, many small businesses use Square for everything from payments to payroll.
Everything you need to know about online farmers markets
Online farmers markets are becoming increasingly popular with the rise in demand for locally sourced produce. With an industry that makes hundreds of millions annually, online farmers markets provide consumers with fresh food at their door for minimal costs. From how
Workplace CSAs Deliver Healthy Eats to the Office Set
Most of the people working at Spacesaver, a shelving company based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, hadn’t heard of community supported agriculture (CSA). That was until Anna Calloway, the company’s human resources partner, found a CSA subscription service from nearby High Meadow Farm that would allow
Selling Real Farm Products in a Virtual Marketplace
There are myriad options to explore, from a personal online store to a collective online farmers’ market. Four years ago, I was using a common mix of marketing channels for my small diversified farm: a farmers’ market and restaurant accounts,
5 Ways to Start Selling Online
Today’s sellers have a ton of options to sell online. Take a look at the five most popular options. The U.S. ecommerce market brought in more than $504 billion in revenue last year. And it’s expected to grow to more
CSA & Online Sales during Covid-19
SELLING DIRECT & ONLINE DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, many farmers are being forced to reconsider their sales outlets. While there may be no shortage of food and certainly no shortage of demand (in
Local Line
Streamline your farm’s sales process. Local Line helps food suppliers doing direct marketing sell their products online, access new markets, and keep organized.
Local Food Marketplace
LFM will help you streamline your business from start to finish – including planning production, harvest lists, packing lists, invoices, and payments, supporting producers and food hubs selling to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores, institutions, and CSAs.
Food4All
Free tools, technology and an online marketplace giving you everything you need to market and sell to buyers in your community. Specifically designed for selling CSA’s, value added items and farm/ranch goods
Farmigo
Software designed to grow and manage your CSA or Food Hub. Designed specifically to look great and work well on smartphones since over 30% of eCommerce is taking place on phones. Member signup wizard supports multiple payment plans, payment methods,
Cropolis
An ordering platform built for direct farm food sales. Connect with your customers. Tell your story. Sell your food. An all-in-one order management platform built to be simple enough to get started in 10 minutes and powerful enough to manage
Barn2Door
Customers Easily Order From Your Farm on Any Channel or Device. Convenient self-service purchasing. Web, mobile, social, email, newsletters. Automated pick & pack Lists.
CSA discussion group, facebook
Farmers ONLY! From crop production to marketing to discussions of the CSA model itself: what is going on in your neck of the woods?
GrazeCart
We help small farms sell directly to their customers. Whether you sell grass-fed beef, pasture-raised eggs, or natural produce, we provide the solutions to facilitate delivery, inventory, pickup and more.
Harvie
Harvie helps farms selling through a CSA / farm share model increase retention and meet sales growth targets while increasing overall profitability. Harvie focuses on providing a better member experience that includes customized shares, flexible share sizes and flexible weeks
Reko: DIY Facebook-based pre-ordering system
Reko stands for ‘Fair Consumption’ and is a trade model originally created in Finland. In short, it is a Facebook-based pre-ordering system for local products. Imagine being able to shop a variety of fresh, local and ethical produce from the
The CSA Solutions Hub
The CSA Solutions Hub is everything we know about CSA farming. We want to share with you, so you can get better at what you do. Join our community of curious and successful CSA farmers.
California CSA Members
A simple infographic breaking down the basics of CSA members in California. Why do they join? Why do they leave?
How to Bring EBT / SNAP to your CSA
Interested in bringing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) known as CalFresh in California, to your CSA? EBT is currently available at 600 authorized Farmer’s Markets, CSAs and Direct Marketing Farmers statewide providing clients’ access
My Digital Farmer
An online resource for CSA farmers by a CSA farmer, this website (videos, podcasts, etc.) is invaluable, offering marketing strategies that help CSAs clarify their message, find new customers, and increase sales.
Choosing the Right CSA Model for Your Farm
Before you decide on distribution, there are some fundamental questions to ask when you are designing your CSA program: How much risk do CSA members actually have? What happens if there is a bad crop year? How much flexibility do
Understanding CSA Members
Survey data: Who supports Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in California? Comparisons of current and former CSA members, including members’ backgrounds, relationships to food, membership experiences, reasons for joining, importance of and satisfaction with CSA attributes as well as conditions interfering
Findings from CA CSA farmer survey
Check out the findings from a survey of over 100 CSA farmers throughout California, including type of production, business models, demographics, retention rates, labor, finances and more.
CSA Marketing Discussion Group on Facebook
With 2,600+ members, in this facebook group members discuss CSA marketing topics w/ active conversations and Q&A.
Finding Your First 10 CSA Customers (VIDEO)
If you’re JUST starting out as a CSA farmer, how do you find those first 10 customers? I think this is the MOST frequently asked question I get. So I finally made a video about it! I share 10 tips
47 Tips & Tricks for CSA Farm Marketing
From mailing lists to online searchability, websites to in-person outreach in the community, check out these 47 tips and tricks to help you market your CSA.
Marketing Plan: Where to Start (VIDEO)
When you’re just starting out in digital marketing, it’s easy to get side-tracked and overwhelmed. What does this digital marketing strategy look like at a high level? And if I could do it all over, what would I work on
Beginning Farmer Biz. Training, Marin County Jan 2018
Sustainable Agriculture Starts with a Sustainable Business The sun, soil and glory called you to the farmer’s vocation; a well-organized desk might just keep you there. Join the Farmers Guild along with an all-star line-up of agricultural advocates, educators and
Looking Back at Fifteen Years of Local Food Systems Distribution Solutions
The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) has a more than fifteen-year history in the field of food hubs and local food distribution, experimenting with a number of models grounded in increasing the economic viability of family scale farmers and