COLUMBIA, Mo. – In celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 4-10, University of Missouri Extension has resources to help improve your local food systems awareness and polish your farmers market presence.

Learn about local food systems

Consumers are increasingly searching out healthy and safe food that supports their local community. Farmers can meet this demand by taking advantage of local food systems.

Download “Introduction to Local Food Systems” at extension.missouri.edu/publications/dm271 to learn how to create food systems that are profitable and sustainable while connecting farms to consumers.

Mind your marketing channels

There are several market channels that Missouri producers can access when selling their agricultural products. From community supported agriculture operations, U-pick sales and farmers markets to restaurants, institutions and supermarkets, opportunities abound. Determining the appropriate market channels depends on one’s interest and capacity to interact with customers and handle postproduction activities.

“Market Channels for Locally Raised Foods,” at extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6221, helps producers understand the key features of available market channels to determine what avenues are well-suited for their businesses.

Plan for farmers market success

Those who are considering starting a farmers market from scratch or expanding an existing market need to develop a management structure, understand regulations and provide guidelines for vendors.

“Starting and Operating a Farmers Market: Frequently Asked Questions” (extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6223) answers common questions asked by farmers market operators around the country and shares tips about how to start or improve a market to make local food available to the community.

Sample safely at your next farmers market foray

Offering samples at a farmers market booth is a powerful way to attract customers and boost sales. Samples allow customers to taste the quality and freshness of products. It also allows the business owner to meet potential customers and get feedback on taste, price, packaging and other customer preferences.

To safely offer samples and give customers the best tasting experience, review the “Sampling Safely at Farmers Market” fact sheet at extension.missouri.edu/publications/n1308. Learn more about sampling regulations as well as how to establish and estimate costs for handwash stations and washing and sanitizing stations.

Brush up on selling and relationship-building skills

Take time to reflect on your farmers market presence and make the most of this market channel. By understanding customers’ needs, communicating effectively, creating an appealing display and sharpening your sales skills, you can boost sales and create longstanding customer relationships.

Ready to review your selling skills and revive your relationship management abilities? Find best practices in “Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers,” which is available for free download at extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6222.

National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets proclaimed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), a membership-based nonprofit that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance and network-building. FMC’s annual National Farmers Market Week campaign highlights the vital role farmers markets play within our nation’s local food systems.

For more information to help farm operators and agricultural businesses make sound management decisions, visit the Agricultural Business and Policy Extension website or connect with your local field specialist. Technical assistance is also available to value-added agricultural producers through the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center.