Marketing to the Community
Marketing to The Community
Historically, farmers' markets have been perceived as a place of commerce where farmers sell their produce to city folk. Today, organizers of farmers' markets recognize that farmers' markets can mobilize community support and civic participation, positively influence surrounding businesses and combine shared visions of the different community building players.
Farmers' markets are as diverse as the towns where they reside. Farmers' markets build upon the town's historic values, leveraging the traditions and ethnic diversity of their communities. Organizers and market managers must continuously build alliances between governments, neighboring businesses, farmers, state health agencies and of course, the market shoppers.
Unpaid Advertising Opportunities
- #1 Advertising Method - Promote the market spirit by Word of Mouth
- Have a volunteer booth at the market
- Provide free community booths for non-profits to share their programs
- Hang posters in business windows
- Door hangers
- Write articles for local neighborhood newsletters
- Create market event bookmarks for the library
- Street signage
- Windshield flyers
- Share Dot Survey results with community members
- Church bulletins
- Special events at the market (i.e., salsa contests)
- Invite school bands and chorus groups to perform
- Flyers at tourist attractions
- Real Estate Broker mailings
- Invite reporters when a market does a Dot Survey in their market
