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FDMA Hosts
Membership Meeting and Farm Tour
On July 14, 2010, the Association hosted a special membership meeting and farm tour at Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market & Bakery in Winchester, Virginia.
The Marker's 850-acre farm boasts a variety of peaches, plums, and apples. All are sold in their large farm market on the property, as well as through pick-your-own and wholesale. They also raise vegetables, berries and pumpkins for sale at the market and through pick-your-own. A bakery offers fresh-baked pies, donuts, cakes and cookies. This year, they have added a fudge shop in the market.
It was a beautiful summer day at the orchard, and John, Carolyn and their daughter were great hosts.
Carolyn and John Marker provide a tour of their farm market.
The Markers have quite a collection of apple crates along one
long wall in their market. There are crates from most Virginia
orchards, both past and present.
Make a Great First Impression
You have the best fruits and vegetables, meats, jams and jellies, or Christmas trees on your farm. You want your customers to come and try your great products. But are you making a great first impression with your signage and displays?
A professional sign and attractive entrance will help bring customers into your market. Signage should be large enough to see well ahead of the turn-off to your farm. Landscaping around the sign projects a homey, welcoming feel.
If you're fortunate enough to have an artist in the family, you can make your own signs. Even if you don't have much artistic talent, you can make your own signs using these instructions from Theresa Nartea, marketing and agribusiness specialist at Virginia State University:
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Prime a piece of wood.
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Print the desired text and graphics from your computer onto transparency film.
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Using an overhead projector, project the image onto your primed piece of wood. (Note: Your local Extension office may have a projector you can use.)
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Trace the image onto the wood.
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Paint the image and let dry.
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Seal with outdoor sealant.
If you don't want to make your own signs, there are companies that will custom make them for you. Visit the Resources section of this Web site for suggestions.
For more information and tips on signage and displays, contact Theresa Nartea at tnartea@vsu.edu or call 804.524.5491. |
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Are You a Member?
Well, you should be! And, why?
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The association is gearing up for another big year with its e-newsletter and e-mail marketing to help you market your products and services.
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This Web site, which provides you with plenty of resources and news effecting direct marketers.
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Regional meetings and workshops are being developed.
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Members of the Board of Directors are working with the planning committee of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) on programs and bus tour which will take place in February, 2010 in Lancaster, PA. The association will be sponsoring events, conferences and workshops across the state.
Sound good? Here's what you do.
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Fill out the form, then follow the instructions about the check and where to send it.
Easy! Join now!
FDMA Board Hires Executive Director
 At the January 20, 2010 Board of Directors meeting in Goochland, Catherine T. Belcher was hired on a part-time basis to serve as the Association's executive director.
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