American consumers love local food, but they enjoy convenience more. Efficiencies realized by large corporations (i.e., Amazon, Target) have created a blueprint for Farmers to implement efficient and profitable delivery services. Delivery can be one of the most lucrative activities for your Farm business as it satisfies Buyers’ expectations of convenience, drives higher monthly orders, and is one of the main contributors to Farms selling out more often.

In 2000, County Line Harvest began with six acres of farmland on the Sonoma-Marin County line. Today, they have grown to over 30 acres in Northern California and over 100 acres in Southern California, growing produce through the winter season.

As consumers spend an increasing amount of time online, your Buyers’ expectations are being conditioned by billion-dollar brands. In fact, 93% of American adults purchased from Amazon in 2020. They have made it easier than ever to buy online, and customers no longer want to waste time purchasing the same products they know they will need next month.

Agricola Family Farm grows and sells organic produce to customers in Cleveland, TX, though they first farmed together an ocean away. Daphne Bicaise joined Barn2Door’s DIRECT Farm Series: Brand Conference to share how she folded their family Farm’s unique story as refugees into their Brand efforts, and how those relationships shifted online during the pandemic.

Angelica Hayton is the 5th generation on Hayton Farms and owner of Hayton Farms Berries, a well-known presence in and around Seattle farmers markets. When covid disrupted sales and re-wrote market expectations for managers and customers alike, Angelica jumped online. Here’s how she successfully transitioned to pre-purchasing, direct home delivery and online brand efforts in a summer.

Dirty Girl Produce is a Certified Organic Farm outside of Santa Cruz, California. They’re well known in the area for their top-tier produce, strawberries and tomatoes. Serving some of the largest markets and well-known restaurants in San Francisco, owner Joe Schirmer shared how they transitioned their long-standing buyer relationships online this summer to keep sales steady despite shutdowns and shifting demand.

In the face of uncertainty due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Barn2Door has witnessed many Farms enjoy success as they bring their products direct-to-market, own their own customer relationships and make more revenue selling to local buyers. We know that 9 out of 10 American consumers want to buy local food, but 99% aren’t going to farmers markets. Furthermore, coronavirus cases have resulted in severe restrictions, causing schools, restaurants, bars and markets to close and open unpredictably and variably across the country.

Lucky Crow Farm cultivates three plots in Monmouth and Salem, Oregon. Founder Eden Olsen launched the Farm in 2016, after studying sustainable agriculture at Scripps College, managing farmers markets in the Bay Area, ranching in California and growing organic produce in Washington. Beginning with CSA and farmers’ market sales, the female-powered farm expanded to serve restaurants last year and began online sales this season. Eden shared her passion for farming and building community relationships—and how she’s engaging buyers online as well.

The Wright Brothers Farm has at once a very long, and very short history. Since Fall 2017, the Farm has been selling fresh produce to restaurants and, more recently, CSA members in various Washington state communities. Craig Wright took time to discuss the Farm’s 1903 origins, it’s new beginning and now rapid growth due to convenient ordering and delivery options.

Kate Canney and her wife own and operate The Neighborhood Farm outside Boston, MA. Their Farm has grown organic produce for the past 13 years, selling to restaurants and at farmers markets in Boston. Their status quo, like many, shifted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Kate explained how The Neighborhood Farm came to be, and how they acted quickly to adapt to new challenges.

Yasukochi Family Farm has been a part of the Oceanside, California, community since 1929, serving their local community fresh produce and berries at farmers markets and through their CSA program. Several weeks ago, they announced direct home delivery for their produce boxes, and it went viral. Britinee Yasukochi explained how their Farm is handling the flood of demand in the San Diego area.