NEAFP Blog

One of the biggest obstacles in selling finished Alpaca products is getting them in front of consumers without spending a massive amount of time and money. As the industry begins to mature, it is important for us to constantly seek new avenues to showcase our animals, their fleece, and the products they produce. With the Eco-Conscious movement, the Farmer’s Market venue has been revitalized with “Green” consumers looking for local, home grown quality.

Guess What? Our animals and their finished products are the definition of Home Grown Quality and the people who prefer Farmer’s Markets to National Grocery Chain stores are the same who will become early adopters of your products. These types of markets also provide a lot more than just direct sales increase. They serve as a weekly trading post, where you can network with local farmers and help build a communal bond between like-minded individuals.

In the middle of the summer consumers are less motivated to buy warm clothing, but are more likely to pick up a pair of socks, check out the look and feel of other “warmer” items, and grab a business card or two. Some Farmer’s Markets will even allow you to bring an animal or two and we all know nothing sells better than their natural charisma.

Next Steps

Finding a Farmer's Market near you - http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm

More Information about the recent Growth in Farmer's Markets - http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/FarmersMarketGrowth.htm

Have a Farmer's Market success story? We would love to hear it and share it with the rest of our community!