"The topic of market failure is rarely addressed in the literature. This report represents a starting point. It describes the dynamics of farmers' market startups, closures, and manager turnover. It focuses on two important resources--administrative revenue and labor--used by farmers' markets. Data for a sample of markets that failed are...
Published February 1983. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
A number of researchers view farmers’ markets as an appropriate vehicle for
re-embedding food markets into communities (O’Hara & Stagl, 2001, Feenstra, 2002,
Lyson, 2005). Amidst astounding growth in the number of farmers’ markets in the
United States in recent decades, many markets struggle and fail. Recent research
suggests that...
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), piloted in Oregon in 2001, provided $100 worth of vouchers (aka coupons) to low-income seniors to buy fresh local produce from farmers at farmers' markets and roadside stands. Presented in a political ecology framework, this research integrated the perspectives of beneficiaries and their...
Most farmers’ markets lack information to make effective
changes and improvements. We have designed three
simple, low-cost methods to address the information gaps.
The first two—attendance counts and dot surveys—are
quantitative and can be used independently by markets.
The third method is the more complete Rapid Market
Assessment (RMA), which...
"Farmers' markets are valuable market channels for small farmers and important venues for the economic, nutritional, and social lives of communities. Efforts to make farmers' markets sustainable should focus on two influences on markets: external (related to public policy) and internal (related to market management). Well-crafted public policy is needed...
This thesis explores the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at the Corvallis and Albany, Oregon Farmers' Markets and its role in food access for SNAP participants. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach combining a farmers' market survey and household interviews, the study investigated who uses SNAP at the farmers'...
The first objective of this research is to develop primal and dual models of firm
behavior that incorporate firms' conjectures of their market power positions. The second
is to empirically test for the presence of market power in eastern Oregon's stumpage and
lumber markets. Eastern Oregon was chosen since it...
Managing the financial affairs of a direct marketing operation includes:
• Raising capital
• Identifying financial objectives and creating plans to achieve them
• Budgeting for the future flow of cash receipts and disbursements (cash
management)
• Controlling the use and distribution of funds
• Protecting the operation’s assets
Capital...
Selecting the right people to meet and serve customers is an important
decision in establishing and operating a direct farm market outlet. When
selecting and training employees, remember that customers expect a cordial atmosphere and friendly service. You want employees who are alert for opportunities to be of service, who...
Selecting a good location for a direct farm‑to‑consumer enterprise is of primary importance in direct marketing. Although roadside stands, U-pick operations, and farmers markets can and do operate in different locations and settings, certain key factors contribute to a satisfactory direct market location:
• Being on a well‑traveled road near...
A successful direct farm maketing business requires a knowledge and understanding of effective marketing and management practices. This publication discusses what services and choices to offer customers and how to price and promote items for sale.
Strategies for managing production and marketing costs ensure greater
profitability and stability, especially for direct marketers who decide to expand and diversify their operations. In developing these strategies, it is important to understand concepts such as fixed and variable costs, depreciation, and interest. These concepts can help you develop budgets...
With the renewed interest in direct marketing activity, more and more farmers are asking, Is direct farm‑to‑consumer marketing the answer? This question can best be answered after assessing:
• Personal abilities and desire to sell directly to consumers
• The farming operation’s compatibility with direct marketing
The assessment should also...
An investigation was conducted to determine the impact of economic and
non-economic factors on the off-farm work efforts of Oregon farm husbands and
wives. A total of 283 Oregon farm households (with husbands and wives) were
randomly selected from lists of persons deferring taxes for farm purposes, obtained
from County...
Among the changes farm families have faced during the past two
decades has been the dramatic increase in off-farm employment. Historically,
women's involvement has been essential to the functioning of the family
farm, and as off-farm income has increased in importance, increasing
numbers of farm women have joined the ranks...
In the midst of double-digit growth in market demand for organic products, there is a lag in the growth of certified organic production in the United States. This thesis investigated the motivations and barriers farmers face when making the transition to organic agriculture. Three distinct organic farmer typologies were identified:...
The report integrates a survey of organic farmers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; conversations with focus groups made up of southern Oregon organic farmers and organic farming stakeholders; and interviews with Oregon State University organic agriculture researchers. It highlights research, education, and policy issues identified by organic farmers and researchers....