direct-marketing Archives | Alberta Farmer Express

This photo was taken last year at The Jungle Farm. Things are much different this spring and summer, even though it’s been a very busy year for the Red Deer-area operation.

Pandemic has seen business — and challenges — soar for U-picks

By Alexis Kienlen September 17, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes U-pick operations across the country have seen a surge in business this year as people look for family-friendly, safe outings during the pandemic. But the season was not without its challenges. “The business has been busy,” said Leona Staples, who owns and operates The Jungle Farm near Red Deer with husband Blaine. Busy is good, […] Read more

Steph and Ben Campbell, owners of Grazed Right, have already pre-sold 15 per cent of next year’s meat sales as a result of higher-than-normal demand.

News

Demand soars as consumers find new appreciation for local food

Consumers are stocking up these days and increasingly looking towards local food producers

By Jennifer Blair May 4, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes Demand for local food products has exploded in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. “We’ve seen a very big spike in interest and demand for our products,” said Steph Campbell, who owns and operates Grazed Right, a grass-fed beef company, with husband Ben near Calgary. “People are panic buying, and that’s spilling over into the […] Read more

The pigs raised by Steph Campbell and husband Ben arrive in spring and are butchered in the fall.
Selling pork and eggs allows the couple to generate more sales from their customer base.

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock

Couple weren’t millionaires — so they found a different way to farm

It’s not for everyone, says Ben Campbell, but direct marketing is a low-cost route to farming

By Alexis Kienlen August 3, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes Although Ben Campbell is a third-generation rancher, he didn’t have an operation he could take over. And when he looked at the math for starting his own ranch, it was worse than ugly — he figured he’d need $3 million in assets to generate an income of $50,000. “I didn’t have enough money to do […] Read more

Mark Gibeau credits the success of his organic heritage grain business to the connections he’s built with bakers and chefs.

Cereals, Crops

You can direct market grain, too — but it’s more complicated

Mark Gibeau sells flour to bakers and chefs while selling direct helped Steven Snider get started

By Jennifer Blair August 1, 2018

Reading Time: 4 minutes Mark Gibeau wouldn’t be a farmer today if he couldn’t direct market his grains. “Having small acres in the big-boy system doesn’t work,” said the owner of Heritage Harvest near Strathmore. “We had to find something different right from the get-go.” Gibeau, who farms with his wife, began growing certified organic heritage grains on his […] Read more

Elna Edgar knew that direct marketing at farmers’ markets was the only way to make a go of selling her asparagus.

Fruit/Vegetables, News

Better together: Innisfail Growers is a testament to teamwork

The five farm families in the group have been successfully selling direct for more than 25 years 

By Jennifer Blair August 1, 2018

Reading Time: 4 minutes Beck Farms took an unorthodox approach to getting into the wholesale market when it was starting out in the mid-1980s — by selling directly to consumers. “We actually went to a few small farmers’ markets and had people try our carrots,” said Shelley Bradshaw, who owns Beck Farms with husband Rod. “We would say, ‘If […] Read more

Leona and Blaine Staples have grown their U-pick operation to a full-blown agritourism venture.

Heartland, News

Shop local trend has changed the game at the Jungle Farm

Leona and Blaine Staples have continually diversified their farm  to capitalize on changing consumer shopping trends

By Jennifer Blair July 7, 2017

Reading Time: 3 minutes Leona and Blaine Staples produce a bit of a different kind of commodity on their operation near Penhold. “We really farm people,” said Leona Staples, who has been running the Jungle Farm with husband Blaine since 1996. “One of the passions in our life is sharing our farm with the rest of the world. We […] Read more

News

Top farm direct-marketing conference comes to B.C.

By Alberta Agriculture January 21, 2016

Reading Time: < 1 minute The continent’s top farm direct-marketing event is coming to Canada for just the fourth time in its 31-year history. The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association convention runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 5 in Vancouver and Abbotsford. It attracts about 1,000 attendees and more than 40 per cent of event participants said their farm […] Read more

News

Learn the ins and outs of direct marketing

Marketing Made Easy workshop in Calgary on Nov. 5

By Alberta Agriculture October 29, 2015

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Marketing Made Easy workshop takes place Nov. 5 in Calgary and Jan. 20 in Fort Saskatchewan. “This workshop examines selling products at Alberta-approved farmers’ markets and beyond,” said Delores Serafin of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “You will learn strategies for creating a lasting first impression, clearly identifying your target clients, and how to make […] Read more

Forging one-on-one connections with customers has helped Dick and Sue Pearson create Seeds to Greens, a successful community-supported agriculture program.

Crops, Livestock

Direct-farm marketing, a steep learning curve with big rewards

By Alberta Farmer Staff July 6, 2015

Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s a phenomenon that has swept across the continent — farmers selling direct to consumers. Some are seeking a bigger share of the food dollar or a way to grow without expanding their land base. Others love dealing with people or are energized by the entrepreneurial challenge. And for every farmer who opts to sell […] Read more

Black Diamond rancher Ben Campbell doesn’t know what the future holds for his fledgling beef business — but he’s confident enough to leave his engineering career to pursue it.

Crops, Livestock

Forging deep bonds — one customer at a time

It’s a whole different world, but these Alberta farm entrepreneurs  say direct marketing gets in your blood

By Jennifer Blair July 6, 2015

Reading Time: 7 minutes Grazed Right Grass Fed Beef / Black Diamond As one of four children of one of seven brothers who jointly own the family ranch, Ben Campbell knew a farming career was simply out of reach. Even if he had the land base, the cost of starting a commercial-size herd is huge. “Cattle are so expensive […] Read more

Canada left with very tight canola, barley stocks

U.S. grains: Corn, soy futures hit multi-year highs on supply fears

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures up on beef prices, demand

GFM Network News

Canada left with very tight canola, barley stocks

U.S. grains: Corn, soy futures hit multi-year highs on supply fears

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures up on beef prices, demand

Tag Archives direct-marketing

Pandemic has seen business — and challenges — soar for U-picks

Demand soars as consumers find new appreciation for local food

Couple weren’t millionaires — so they found a different way to farm

You can direct market grain, too — but it’s more complicated

Better together: Innisfail Growers is a testament to teamwork

Shop local trend has changed the game at the Jungle Farm

Top farm direct-marketing conference comes to B.C.

Direct-farm marketing, a steep learning curve with big rewards

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AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending April 30, 2021.

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