The German Coast Farmers’ Market has been named Louisiana’s Favorite Farmers Market and ranked 8^th in the United States for small markets, by American Farmland Trust.  More than 80,000 people across the country voted in the this year’s America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest. “Every one of the 1,700+ farmers markets enrolled in the contest helps ensure communities have nearby farms growing the delicious, fresh and local food we all crave,” said Gretchen Hoffman, American Farmland Trust Manager of Engagement and Communications. New to the 2011 contest, the top farmers market in each state will receive a prize package which includes a special logo to use in promoting their farmers market and a supply of free promotional stickers.  “Winning the contest for the second consecutive year demonstrates our exceptional patron loyalty and their appreciation for our local, hard-working farmers and vendors,” commented Roxanne Fisher, GCFM P.R. Coordinator.  “The market board was humbled by the hundreds of patrons who took the time to comment on why they thought our market should win.  The central theme of the comments further validated our mission to serve as a community gathering place and tourist destination while offering a wide range of fresh produce and fruit, value-added items, local entertainment, and educational opportunities to our patrons.”

The German Coast Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday at Ormond Plantation in Destrehan from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and every Wednesday at St. Charles Plaza in Luling from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  For more information about the German Coast Farmers’ Market, visit their Facebook page or their website at www.germancoastfarmersmarket.org.

Plant a Carrot to build community support and market local foods

Are you looking for a creative fundraiser to promote your farmers’ market?  Or do you have another project for which you want to raise support in your community?  Maybe a simple marketing icon is just the solution!

Tom Goddu, a marketing designer for toys, consumer products, fundraising systems and logos, worked with the folks in  New Hartford, CT to generate interest and local media publicity for their farmers’ market.  In this video that explains the concept, Tom shares how the “Plant a Carrot” campaign can create curiosity, funding and support for local food growers and farmers’ markets across the country.  These bright carrot driveway markets are sold by markets to their supporters to say with a simple symbol “I support my local farmers and farmers’ market!”

According to the website, “Farmer’s Markets gain free publicity when they sell these driveway markers. Created to help Farmer’s Markets with PR and fundraising, the Plant A Carrot campaign was launched in 2009 and helped double the foot traffic to the New Hartford Farmer’s Market. Overall, nearly 1000 carrot signs were ‘planted’ in the town, while generating income for the Market.

“The cheerful carrot triangle with green heart on top is a friendly reminder and an iconic show of support for local food growers. An icon without any text, the signs pique the curiosity of passersby until they find out, usually by word of mouth, that the signs are distributed by their local farmer’s market. Pretty soon they become another proud supporter of the market!”

More information about promoting your local market can be found at the Farmers Market Coalition website or by joining the listserv, which frequently sends out interesting information about what is going on in the world of retail ag at farmers’ markets.

Article source: http://ruralcommunitybuilding.fb.org/2011/09/08/plant-a-carrot-marketing/