Customers | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: June 4, 2021

A Booth at the Farmers' Market: Profit or Loss

Farmers' Markets are an increasingly popular form of direct marketing for both farmers and customers alike. Farmers' markets differ from other direct marketing operations due to the fact that growers share insurance, advertising, and marketing costs. Successful farmers' markets can substantially increase the incomes of participating vendors. Maryland now has farmers’ markets operating in every county of the state and the City of Baltimore. During 2010, there were more than 6,100 farmers’ markets operating in the United States.

Updated: February 21, 2021

Food Preferences and Purchasing Trends─Getting Out Ahead of the Curve

During a recent webinar that I led addressing vending at Farmers’ Markets, a participant asked how to discover food trends and consumer purchasing preferences. While we discussed several resources for searching out “what’s hot and what’s not”, the real key to keeping our customers engaged is more about understanding their wants and needs than trying to capitalize on any one trend or specific product. Peter Drucker’s timeless adage that “the purpose of any business is to have a satisfied customer”, still holds today in our multi-channel, wireless, 24/7 shopping arena.

Updated: February 17, 2021

How to Accept SNAP/EBT and WIC Payments as a Farmer

With increased direct-to-customer sales, and changes to farmers' markets, some farmers have been asking about how to accept SNAP/EBT and WIC food payments (previously called “food stamps”).

Fruit being sold at a farmers market with people paying for their produce under one of the white tents

Updated: January 9, 2021

Farm to School: Increasing Sales by Local Famers for Healthier School Lunches (FS-933)

There is increasing interest in the sale of local farm products in county and city school systems. Students can benefit from fresh, local produce and farmers can benefit from diversifying markets and increasing sales. However, increasing the sale of local farm production to schools – also known as Farm to School – has its challenges. This fact sheet examines different ideas for overcoming those challenges and improving farm to school sales.

Updated: January 9, 2021

Farm to Hospital—Selling Farm-Raised Meats and Poultry in Maryland (FS-929)

Farm to Hospital -Selling Farm-Raised Meats and Poultry in Maryland (FS-929) Fact Sheet is to assist livestock and poultry producers in developing products and marketing tools to increase meat and poultry sales directly to hospitals and extended care facilities or to distributors who handle hospital food purchasing accounts. By Ginger S. Myers, Marketing Specialist, University of Maryland Extension and Director of the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center.