FACTSHEETS & PUBLICATIONS

These fact sheets are an online resource intended to improve the user's understanding of food marketing and provide better access to regional food markets. In order to view many of the fact sheets, Adobe Reader must be installed (see the link below).

National MarketMaker and USDA

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass was unveiled by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan via a live webinar on February 29, 2012. A paramount objective of Deputy Secretary Merrigan is to encourage a national conversation of how to improve food systems and recognize the resources that are available for this purpose. Because of the presence of synergistic objectives, National Food MarketMaker and AgMRC have joined forces to expand the reach of the Compass goals relative to stimulating a national conversation about local and regional foods. This concept has manifested itself in exciting new ways.

National MarketMaker and USDA (955 KB)

Melon Food Safety Resources for Producers & Consumers

If contamination occurs in melons, removing or killing pathogens is difficult. Therefore, prevention at all stepsfrom production to consumptionis strongly favored over treatments to eliminate contamination after it has occurred.

Melon Food Safety Resources for Producers & Consumers (66 KB)

Steps to Marketing Your Product

Most agricultural producers are used to marketing their products by taking them to the local elevator, grain terminal, or livestock market. The concept of marketing your product to the consumer is an entirely different process.

Steps to Marketing Your Product
Steps to Marketing Your Product (294 KB)

Preparing the Business Plan

If you're thinking of starting a new agricultural venture, a logical first step is to get all of your ideas on paper and organize them into a strategy. This strategy is called a business plan.

Preparing the Business Plan
Preparing the Business Plan (387 KB)