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Eckert AgriMarketing Newsletter (click here for directory of past newsletters)
March 2005
I want to plant a few seeds myself with today's newsletter-I am about to start on my next book, and I've got a number of topics that I am considering. I'd like you to help me prioritize these topics, if you would. What would you like to learn next? There is a link at the middle of the column on the right that leads to a short survey. When you finish today's articles, would you take a couple of minutes to rate the 12 topics and formats according to what most interests you? Thanks for your time! Jane Keep the Merchandize Fresh! Our customers are reading these magazines, reading the food sections of the weekly newspaper and going online to find new recipes. Peter Larkin, the Past President of the California Grocer's Association estimates that over 20,000 new food products are being introduced every year to the grocery industry. As farm marketer's we certainly don't want to compete with the same products as the grocery labels, but we do want to always keep looking for the new vendors that are creating products for our industry. Because these vendors can't afford to attend every state and regional trade show put on by farm marketing associations, I decided to bring them to you via a new Eckert AgriMarketing Buyer's Guide Directory. The Buyer's Guide lists dozens and dozens of vendors that provide services for the agritourism destination, and more vendors are signing up each day to be included in our list: specialty food products, gift lines, bakery supply houses, Halloween vendors, activity suppliers -a total of 15 categories. So if you were wondering where to purchase asparagus salsa, fresh Vidalia onion dressings, custom recipe books, chicken shows, cherry pitters, candles, or carving kits; or searching for maze designs, custom packaging, signs, swingsets or slushes-click here to visit the Eckert AgriMarketing Buyer's Guide. By the way, If you happen to see that one of your favorite vendors is not listed, please let me know and I'll be happy to add them. Just give me their name, address, email address, website, product, and phone number, or a quick way to contact them. This directory listing is free to everyone that is a vendor to the farm market and ranch industry. I want this directory to be as inclusive as possible and want you to check back often when you are looking for a new supplier. Check out the Eckert AgriMarketing Buyer's Guide Making the Connection With Tourism
With the creative energy and business smarts of Mark Saunders of Saunders Farm (also on the NAFDMA Board of Directors), the group obtained funding from the city of Ottawa to start its initial effort. Armed with the survey results, Mark and others on the ad hoc committee turned to the main newspaper in Ottawa, the Ottawa Citizen, to produce a quarterly newspaper supplement called Ottawa Routes. The supplement features articles on the farms and rural communities surrounding Ottawa, as well as opportunities for paid advertising. The Ottawa Rural Tourism Council continues to receive tourism funds and grants from other organizations in the area to be able to fund the printing of 120,000 copies of a handy map guide/brochure that will be distributed this spring. The map will encourage urbanites to visit the members and advertised locations. The council is also putting together a TV campaign with these funds to strengthen the "Ottawa's Countryside" brand. It is important to note that while this is a growing dues-paying-membership based organization, they do not have the funding to provide these marketing opportunities without the financial support of other locals groups and grants. At a recent workshop in Ottawa, over 150 farmers, rural community leaders and tourism professionals came together to learn how to strengthen these relationships. Read more about Ottawa's Countryside Agritourism in Singapore? Read about Agritourism in Singapore
Many families will be celebrating Easter this year, and many farms will be opening your gates wide to begin the tourist season with Easter egg hunts and other spring activities. So I just want to wish you the very best season yet, with lots of visitors, lots of fun, and lots of profitable experiences along with your additional revenue! Help Choose My Next Book Finally, let me ask you to just take 2 more minutes to help me determine the subject of my next book. Click here to tell me: "What would you like to learn about next?" Thanks. Be sure to let me know if I can help you this year! Jane P.S. Before you get too busy with your spring season, it's time to have someone look at your website and give it a fresh look. If you do not have a web designer, or you are not pleased with the service you are receiving from your current web designer, please contact us!
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Hope you all are ready for spring! I sure am.
Customers today are always asking "what's new" this year at your farm market. Of course, we certainly want to maintain offering the tried and true products that are the bread and butter of what we sell in our farm markets (no pun intended!). But we need to be on the look out for the new tastes and the new food trends (low fat, low carb, no taste!) that are being propelled by consumer magazines. 
Ottawa's Countryside (Yes, that's in Ontario, Canada) The Ottawa Rural Tourism Council is a grass-roots membership based organization that is specifically designed to promote rural businesses to Ottawa's residents. An initial survey funded by the city of Ottawa found that the urban residents didn't know much about the countryside or what was being grown locally. 
Easter Time 
