What's your story?

“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” Muriel Rukeyser

How do you tell your story?

One of the drivers behind the success of farm direct marketing is that people want to connect with the farmer. They want to know where their food comes from. They want to know who grows and makes the food they are eating.

Many NAFDMA members have been selling direct to the consumer for years, generations in fact. They tell their stories to children on school tours and on the walls of their businesses.

You can tell your stories verbally and through pictures. Do you have a:

• rogues gallery? A photo wall of family and staff working at your business.
• history wall? A wall of pictures showing your history. Did you move a building in? Did you refurbish that old barn? Have you rebuilt after a tragedy? Share your story.
• gallery on your website? Use high quality, fabulous photos. Post little video clips.
• scrapbook? Left open in a retail area,to take on bus tours, to tradeshows and other meetings.

The other side of the story...

One of the best parts about visiting an ag tourism operation is in the telling and retelling of the stories. You get home and share your experiences with families and friends.

In telling our stories we feel unique.
“I picked my own fruit.”
“They made it right in front of me!”
“I rode through the orchard.”
“ I saw them make the juice and wine!”

Share your customers stories!

• Post pictures. Link to Youtube and Flickr.
• Share testimonials.
• When you get a great thank-you letter, ask the writer if you can post it on your website.
  

Check out this Australian fruit farm. http://www.beerenberg.com.au/go/visit-our-strawberry-farm

They sell their products commercially and have a farm retail operation. Their Provenance Pathway program allows their customers to trace the origin of each jar's main ingredients, the day it was made, and even who made it.

They have also done a great job of linking their other social marketing activities to their website, You can click directly to Flickr, YouTube and Facebook to see pictures from the farm.