For many fruit and vegetable producers, this is a good time to take a look at your current marketing strategies. Marketing of vegetables and small fruits should be continuous and a constant part of the producer's job. It is not done once and for all and then forgotten. Farmers must always be on the lookout for new markets and analyzing their market strategy so they can improve their position in the market. The key to successful marketing is having a plan and following it. In developing a plan, farmers should go through a certain amount of analysis to determine the goals of the farm and family. Use the following steps to develop a marketing plan:

1. Know the cost of production for the commodities currently produced and for commodities the grower intends to produce.
2. Know past production history.
3. Know past marketing history.
4. Establish future goals.
5. Provide market research for new commodities.

Whatever marketing strategy you choose, it is important to build in flexibility while maintaining the basic structure of the plan. The process of developing and executing a plan can be educational and assist producers in improving their marketing skills. Always remember, the way to spell profits in fruits and vegetables is:

E-mail address: Nelson_Brownlee@ncsu.edu

Mailing address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 11/12/97.
Date Revised 1/27/99.