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There is unlimited market. For example, in the seven counties surrounding Houston, TX, there
is almost no commercial vegetable production. Those one million people are eating vegetables
from the Texas Rio Grand Valley, California and Mexico. Innercity residents have little access
to fresh fruits and vegetables. Local market surveys would determine what crops have a
market before production is begun or begin on a very small scale to test the market. Ethnic
groups constitute a large market for their specialties.
Market options: roadside/curbside stand can be operated by youths in the innercity,
farmers market, door-to-door, wholesale to health food stores, restaurants, and grocers,
employees of factories, offices, colleges, mail order, weavers, arts and crafts people,
cooperatives, community-supported agriculture (CSA), pick-your-own (PYO), school
cafeterias. For more ideas look at Agtalk/Grassroots Marketing.
Value-added: Using one's own labor to process farm/ranch produce/products to
increase market value. People are looking for farm/ranch foods that are grown without
chemicals and processed without additives. Below are only a few suggestions but the
list is unlimited.
Mini-farming products: Flower petals in pictures, weavings,
dried [solar] fruits and vegetables, flower bouquets [fresh, dried],
cold-pressed oils, stone-ground flours, herbs: dried, vinegars, oils,
soaps; sprouts, brooms, gourds: decorated, birdhouses, dippers; tofu
products, hemp products.
Mini-ranching products: cheese, yogurt, jerky, milk, soap,
pickled eggs, freezer meat, packaged meat, fur and leather products.
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County fairs: Booths for selling and promotion
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Parades: Ride in parades on bicycles, pedal-powered vehicles and trailers carrying farm
animals.
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Trade shows: Same as above
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Radio talk shows
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Street fairs: Booths sell products/produce and/or hand out brochures.
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Television interviews
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Newspapers, magazine articles
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Speakers bureau: schools, civic clubs, youth groups, neighborhood associations, etc.
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Computer Bulletin Boards: local and state-wide
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Copyright © 2000 Ken Hargesheimer
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