Grow Your Farm or Food Business
Distribution Channels to Increase Your Revenue Streams
Are you a small- to mid-size farm business, a backyard grower, or a new food producer looking to grow your business and create steady revenue streams? We’ve collected some valuable resources on how to grow your food business, and the many distribution channels available to help you sustain your farm operation or food business.
Entry Points for New Farmers and Food Entrepreneurs
You’ve put in the work, built your business infrastructure, and are ready to reach consumers to sell your produce or food products. What channels are available fortofor you to learn the ropes of growing/producing on demand whileandwhile marketing and selling to the public?
Selling at Farmers Markets
Curious about learning how to sell your produce and products at a farmers market and where you can find a farmers market in your neighborhood? Check out this great resource.
Starting CSAs
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an excellent option for growers and farmers who want to build a loyal consumer base, feed their community, and grow with purpose.
Food Cooperatives
You’ve established a CSA program, you’re selling at farmers markets, and want to leap into retail, what’s the next step? Check to see if co-ops are the right distribution channel for you.
Sustaining Your Farm and Food Business
At this point in the game, your farm or food business is established, you’ve ironed out all the business kinks, and are now ready for a larger distribution channel. What’s next?
Retail/Wholesale Channels
Is the end goal being able to find your products at supermarkets and other retail outlets? Check out this resource we’ve pulled together, outlining some of the steps that you should take before you make your big pitch.
Farm to Food Bank
How do you sell or donate surplus produce to food banks? And, did you know there is an amazing farm-to-food-bank program that purchases Arizona-grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and meat for food banks and pantries?
Arizona Food Bank Network’s Friends of the Farm program buys directly from Arizona growers to supply food banks statewide, providing another market channel for farms while increasing food access.
Community Food Bank- Local Food supports Southern Arizona’s local food system through farmers markets, farm partnerships, gardens and local purchasing, connecting producers with community members who want to buy fresh local food.
Farm to School
Navigating the ins and outs of supplying produce to schools can feel overwhelming, if not impossible. Not to fear — there is support to help you and an overwhelming interest in getting more local food into schools.
Purchase Local Arizona is a local food purchasing program that helps schools and community organizations buy more food from Arizona producers, creating reliable institutional markets for local farms.