Farmers’ Success Stories Project
The following resources were developed by the BCAFM in partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) to support new, current, or potential farmers in adopting best business practices, as identified through 15 case studies of successful farmers selling at BC farmers’ markets. The resources feature lessons learned, examples, pictures and prompts drawn from the real-life experiences of farmers producing a variety of crops and products in all regions of the province.
Farm Business Tools:
Marketing Toolkit: Best Business Practices in Marketing for Farmers’ Market Farmers
This easy to use four-page document highlights the must-do’s when it comes to marketing your farm business through the farmers’ market and beyond. It uses real life on-farm examples of best business practices, as well as questions to help you take the next steps to successfully market your farm.
Guidebook: Successful Farmers’ Market Farmers in British Columbia – Business Management Lessons from 15 Case Studies.
This guide takes an in-depth look at the tried and true best business practices and farming operations of 15 successful farmers selling at BC farmers’ markets. The practices and examples shared in this guide aim to provide valuable and scale-appropriate business information for current and potential farmers selling at farmers’ markets in four key performance areas: financial management, human resources, marketing and farm operations.
The guide features farm profiles, photos, quotes, and real farm examples, and also aims to help consumers better understand the motivations, intentions, and challenges faced by farmers selling at farmers’ markets. We hope that such understanding will lead to stronger support for the local food system and farmers’ market sector in BC and beyond. *Contact info@bcfarmersmarket.org if you are interested in getting a hard copy of the guidebook.
webinar: Best Business Practices for Farmers Selling at BC Farmers’ Markets
Join the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems and BC Association of Farmers’ Markets for this free recorded webinar, as we guide you through the tried and true best business practices of farmers selling at BC farmers’ markets. The featured lessons have been gleaned from the experiences of 15 farmers across BC, that vary in production model, land tenure, farm scale, and marketing strategies. The common thread is that all of the farmers produce and sell fresh, local products direct to consumers through BC farmers’ markets.
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Thank you to our project funders:
Vancity and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia.
Funding provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through programs delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.
The Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, are pleased to participate in the delivery of this project. We are committed to working with our industry partners to address issues of importance to the agriculture and agri-food industry in British Columbia. Opinions expressed in this webinar and report are those of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and not necessarily those of the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia or the Investment Agriculture Foundation.
Support for this project does not necessarily imply Vancity’s endorsement of the findings or contents of this report.