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Jared Luhman was full-time Farming with his dad when he married Valerie in 2018. The family raised bulls and wanted to move to direct sales. In 2019, the couple saw Grass Fed Cattle Company for sale online, and decided to buy it. The Farm was 8 years old, and they found it helpful that systems were already put in place to start their direct sales operation. They signed on with Barn2Door to handle sales, and have created a successful Farm business where they can serve local Buyers while raising their kids. Valerie shared her tips for balancing life on the Farm as a family. Listen to her podcast episode:

Offering a Subscription bundle box from your Farm - often referred to as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) -  can help you attract recurring orders, increase cash flow and build Buyer loyalty for your entire season. It is important to create a system for your Subscriptions that is streamlined and diminishes stress instead of creating more complexity. Farmer’s Choice CSA boxes eliminate the chaos of Buyers choosing each individual item included in their box, and puts the power back into the Farmer’s hands to assemble complementary products to meet Buyer expectations. Your Farm can greatly simplify its operations, and reduce labor costs with a Farmer’s Choice CSA model to effectively scale and manage your program long-term.

Farmers Markets can be a crucial avenue for many Farms to build their brand, meet new Buyers and sell their products. For other Farmers, some may see Markets as time-consuming, costly, and a lot of work with little return. 

It is important to ask yourself if Farmers Markets are profitable and worthwhile, or something to skip altogether. Setting aside your personal bias, be sure to ask yourself these 3 questions to determine if attending a local Farmers Market is profitable for your business.

Yoder-Way Farm in McVeytown, Pennsylvania was established in the 70s as the Yoder family’s commercial dairy. Lois and her husband, Jeremy, decided they could no longer maintain a sustainable living with the milk prices they received on the commodity market. After switching to direct sales, the Farm has now built a 6-figure beef operation. We recently met with Lois to discuss their transition to direct sales, and how they maintain a consistent ordering process:

Combined Inventory means your Farm store can offer a single item --- regardless of price(s), unit size(s) and / or price sheet (retail, private or wholesale) --- and ensure it pulls from the same inventory. Your inventory counts per item can now update automatically, accurately across multiple sizes, regardless of amount paid or type of Buyer. Combined Inventory works across both in-person and online purchases.

To sell more products and meet Buyer expectations, your Farm must provide a simple and easy shopping experience, online and in-person. Your Farm must be accessible from a variety of avenues to serve a multitude of Buyers. Offer convenient fulfillment options that will serve Buyers with a range of routines and schedules.

As an Independent Farmer, the capability to seamlessly serve your Buyers online and in-person is crucial. Your online and in-person sales must be fully synced to allow for a streamlined ordering process, avoiding any confusion or loss of profits or product. You will miss out on Buyers when they are not given multiple ways to shop. Not every Buyer will have cash to pay for your products at your Farm stand, nor will every customer have a credit card on hand.

A “Butcher Cut Sheet” is a set of instructions for the butcher detailing how you would like a certain piece of livestock to be cut, processed and packaged. Cut Sheets can apply to various types of livestock (e.g. cows, pigs, goats) and game (e.g. deer, moose or bears). But, “Cut Sheets” are most popularly utilized with a cow or pig.

The most successful Independent Farms offer their products for Pre-Order ahead of season, to capitalize on market demand, simplify their harvest schedule and to increase cash flow. There are some simple steps to help your Farm sell out before harvest. To begin with, you must build a base of local Buyers eager to pre-order your goods, market to them regularly to stay top-of-mind, and offer an easy ordering system - online and in-person.

Farmers Markets are a great way to interact with your local community, build a base of loyal Buyers, increase Brand awareness, and form partnerships. However, there are several mistakes that successful Farmers are glad to share with others to avoid. To ensure a profitable visit to the Market, follow these best practices to minimize your losses.

There are many ways to sell beef. The most common avenue to market is selling your animals at auction to a major wholesale buyer (aggregator). However, many Farms and Ranches, also sell directly to Buyers under their own brand, whether it’s selling quarters, halves and whole beef, selling beef cuts or pushing various cuts in a Bundle Box. There is a wide variety of options to consider - each with their benefits and challenges.

Farms selling Direct-to-Market find success in offering convenient pick-ups and home delivery options to local Buyers. This can spur purchases from busy customers, attract new Buyers through word-of-mouth marketing and reinforce their support of local businesses. Farm delivery day does not have to be a stressful ordeal. Simplify your delivery day routine with systems designed to prep all orders in advance.

Peter of Bartlett Farms has learned to increase their Average Order Value (AOV) by communicating the health benefits of their products, pricing at a premium and offering attractive fulfillment options (direct-delivery to the doorstep). Now, the Farm maintains a profitable 6-figure business through their direct Sales of milk and protein.

In 2020, Joe made the switch to Barn2Door’s software built for Farmers. Instead of using analog records or a horizontal ecommerce solution (formerly Shopify), he moved the business to an order management solution, designed to support Retail (consumer) and Wholesale (restaurant) buyers. While Joe has seen other Farms constrained by commodity prices, he has maintained premium prices for his products by selling Direct-to-Market.

Julie and Michelle joined forces in 2019 to bring sustainable Farm products to their community in Texas. Now, Veteran’s Liberty Ranch serves Buyers throughout central Texas, with in-person and online sales.

Every Farm is different, selling varying products, serving different markets and establishing their own, unique business plan. However, to scale and increase sales for your Farm business, it is important to implement tactics that have proven successful across the country.

In 2021, Benoit Family Farmstead made the decision to partner with Barn2Door to expand their reach to access new Buyers with Farm eCommerce and streamline their operations. The Farm has been able to add more products and serve their community, without having to spend extra hours in the office.

Many of the most successful Farms in the country drive consistent revenue with recurring orders, also known as Ongoing Subscriptions. These Farms are successful due to the fact that Buyers can make a one-click purchase to secure recurring orders from your Farm (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly as you see fit).

Farms in all 50 states find success in online and in-person marketing, such as weekly newsletters, social media posts or physical flyers and word-of-mouth. The opportunities to market your Farm business to your local community are endless, but to stand out, consider creative marketing strategies to attract potential Buyers.

Independent Farmers have more freedom in their business. Instead of relying upon auction houses to purchase products at commodity prices, they have full control. When selling direct, you determine the prices and packaging, meaning you can optimize your profit margins (and still move all your products).

Though every Farm business is unique, it is helpful to gain insights from successful Farmers who have been in your shoes. Ensure you are prepared to start your business, by taking crucial steps to organize your Farm operations and grow strategically. Trying to change too quickly may result in failure, while avoiding all risks may put your Farm in a box. Rachel Shenk recently shared how their Farm started and successfully scaled in a matter of years.

Growing a microgreens business for profit is now accessible for most Farmers, as they have become popularized. Selling microgreens may be more nuanced than common produce, since some Buyers are still unaware of their advantages. It is important to plan ahead of selling microgreens, and to be prepared for the growing process, as well as marketing them to your local community.

Barn2Door released a Point of Sale (POS) device in early 2023, giving Farmers the ability to accept an array of in-person payment options, and connect in-person purchases to their online store. The POS will sync inventory, payments and customers across a Farm’s online and in-person store. With the Barn2Door POS, Farmers can offer wholesale and retail pricing to Buyers, apply discounts or promos, and include a tipping option. As an independent Farmer, it is crucial that you have the power to customize your sales, no matter where they occur.

Every business has a Brand. Your Farm Brand reflects your values, practices and mission. Each aspect of your marketing should revolve around your Brand image - from the imagery you share to your communication with Buyers. We recently talked with Josie from Dan & Debbie’s Creamery to discuss the importance of a Farm Brand, how to establish your Brand and how to effectively market it to Buyers.

Jared Luhman was full-time Farming with his dad when he married Valerie in 2018. The family raised bulls and wanted to move to direct sales. In 2019, the couple saw Grass Fed Cattle Company for sale online, and decided to buy it. The Farm was 8 years old, and they found it helpful that systems were already put in place to start their direct sales operation. They signed on with Barn2Door to handle sales, and have created a successful Farm business where they can serve local Buyers while raising their kids. Valerie shared her tips for balancing life on the Farm as a family. Listen to her podcast episode:

Offering a Subscription bundle box from your Farm - often referred to as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) -  can help you attract recurring orders, increase cash flow and build Buyer loyalty for your entire season. It is important to create a system for your Subscriptions that is streamlined and diminishes stress instead of creating more complexity. Farmer’s Choice CSA boxes eliminate the chaos of Buyers choosing each individual item included in their box, and puts the power back into the Farmer’s hands to assemble complementary products to meet Buyer expectations. Your Farm can greatly simplify its operations, and reduce labor costs with a Farmer’s Choice CSA model to effectively scale and manage your program long-term.

Farmers Markets can be a crucial avenue for many Farms to build their brand, meet new Buyers and sell their products. For other Farmers, some may see Markets as time-consuming, costly, and a lot of work with little return. 

It is important to ask yourself if Farmers Markets are profitable and worthwhile, or something to skip altogether. Setting aside your personal bias, be sure to ask yourself these 3 questions to determine if attending a local Farmers Market is profitable for your business.

Yoder-Way Farm in McVeytown, Pennsylvania was established in the 70s as the Yoder family’s commercial dairy. Lois and her husband, Jeremy, decided they could no longer maintain a sustainable living with the milk prices they received on the commodity market. After switching to direct sales, the Farm has now built a 6-figure beef operation. We recently met with Lois to discuss their transition to direct sales, and how they maintain a consistent ordering process:

Combined Inventory means your Farm store can offer a single item --- regardless of price(s), unit size(s) and / or price sheet (retail, private or wholesale) --- and ensure it pulls from the same inventory. Your inventory counts per item can now update automatically, accurately across multiple sizes, regardless of amount paid or type of Buyer. Combined Inventory works across both in-person and online purchases.

To sell more products and meet Buyer expectations, your Farm must provide a simple and easy shopping experience, online and in-person. Your Farm must be accessible from a variety of avenues to serve a multitude of Buyers. Offer convenient fulfillment options that will serve Buyers with a range of routines and schedules.

As an Independent Farmer, the capability to seamlessly serve your Buyers online and in-person is crucial. Your online and in-person sales must be fully synced to allow for a streamlined ordering process, avoiding any confusion or loss of profits or product. You will miss out on Buyers when they are not given multiple ways to shop. Not every Buyer will have cash to pay for your products at your Farm stand, nor will every customer have a credit card on hand.

A “Butcher Cut Sheet” is a set of instructions for the butcher detailing how you would like a certain piece of livestock to be cut, processed and packaged. Cut Sheets can apply to various types of livestock (e.g. cows, pigs, goats) and game (e.g. deer, moose or bears). But, “Cut Sheets” are most popularly utilized with a cow or pig.

The most successful Independent Farms offer their products for Pre-Order ahead of season, to capitalize on market demand, simplify their harvest schedule and to increase cash flow. There are some simple steps to help your Farm sell out before harvest. To begin with, you must build a base of local Buyers eager to pre-order your goods, market to them regularly to stay top-of-mind, and offer an easy ordering system - online and in-person.

Farmers Markets are a great way to interact with your local community, build a base of loyal Buyers, increase Brand awareness, and form partnerships. However, there are several mistakes that successful Farmers are glad to share with others to avoid. To ensure a profitable visit to the Market, follow these best practices to minimize your losses.

Farms selling Direct-to-Market find success in offering convenient pick-ups and home delivery options to local Buyers. This can spur purchases from busy customers, attract new Buyers through word-of-mouth marketing and reinforce their support of local businesses. Farm delivery day does not have to be a stressful ordeal. Simplify your delivery day routine with systems designed to prep all orders in advance.

In 2020, Joe made the switch to Barn2Door’s software built for Farmers. Instead of using analog records or a horizontal ecommerce solution (formerly Shopify), he moved the business to an order management solution, designed to support Retail (consumer) and Wholesale (restaurant) buyers. While Joe has seen other Farms constrained by commodity prices, he has maintained premium prices for his products by selling Direct-to-Market.

Julie and Michelle joined forces in 2019 to bring sustainable Farm products to their community in Texas. Now, Veteran’s Liberty Ranch serves Buyers throughout central Texas, with in-person and online sales.

Every Farm is different, selling varying products, serving different markets and establishing their own, unique business plan. However, to scale and increase sales for your Farm business, it is important to implement tactics that have proven successful across the country.

In 2021, Benoit Family Farmstead made the decision to partner with Barn2Door to expand their reach to access new Buyers with Farm eCommerce and streamline their operations. The Farm has been able to add more products and serve their community, without having to spend extra hours in the office.

Farms in all 50 states find success in online and in-person marketing, such as weekly newsletters, social media posts or physical flyers and word-of-mouth. The opportunities to market your Farm business to your local community are endless, but to stand out, consider creative marketing strategies to attract potential Buyers.

Independent Farmers have more freedom in their business. Instead of relying upon auction houses to purchase products at commodity prices, they have full control. When selling direct, you determine the prices and packaging, meaning you can optimize your profit margins (and still move all your products).

Though every Farm business is unique, it is helpful to gain insights from successful Farmers who have been in your shoes. Ensure you are prepared to start your business, by taking crucial steps to organize your Farm operations and grow strategically. Trying to change too quickly may result in failure, while avoiding all risks may put your Farm in a box. Rachel Shenk recently shared how their Farm started and successfully scaled in a matter of years.

Growing a microgreens business for profit is now accessible for most Farmers, as they have become popularized. Selling microgreens may be more nuanced than common produce, since some Buyers are still unaware of their advantages. It is important to plan ahead of selling microgreens, and to be prepared for the growing process, as well as marketing them to your local community.

With software built for Farmers, you can now be prepared in any situation. Barn2Door recently debuted the ability for Farmers to edit Subscription quantities for Buyers with the click of a button. Whether they need more or less product in a given week, you can apply that to their order details on your online store. Built with Farmers in mind, editing Subscription quantities gives more power back to Independent Farmers to control their sales commitments.

Barn2Door released a Point of Sale (POS) device in early 2023, giving Farmers the ability to accept an array of in-person payment options, and connect in-person purchases to their online store. The POS will sync inventory, payments and customers across a Farm’s online and in-person store. With the Barn2Door POS, Farmers can offer wholesale and retail pricing to Buyers, apply discounts or promos, and include a tipping option. As an independent Farmer, it is crucial that you have the power to customize your sales, no matter where they occur.

Every business has a Brand. Your Farm Brand reflects your values, practices and mission. Each aspect of your marketing should revolve around your Brand image - from the imagery you share to your communication with Buyers. We recently talked with Josie from Dan & Debbie’s Creamery to discuss the importance of a Farm Brand, how to establish your Brand and how to effectively market it to Buyers.

Farm Marketing is important for building your businesses’ brand. Buyers have to know your Farm exists before they purchase your products. While there are tools to improve your marketing efforts and give you tips to implement, it is important to understand that you ‘own’ your marketing.

If your Farm sends more than 5,000 emails from your domain on any given day, then read carefully! Google and Yahoo announced stronger guidelines against unwanted emails to better protect users, which could significantly impact the ability of your Farm to send email to your customers.

2024 is here, and it is important to reevaluate the Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy for your Farm. Many Farms are eager to increase sales, access more customers and save time, while achieving their growth goals in the new year. When determining how you plan to run your business this year, consider products, software and innovations that will make operations and sales streamlined.

Combined Inventory means your Farm store can offer a single item --- regardless of price(s), unit size(s) and / or price sheet (retail, private or wholesale) --- and ensure it pulls from the same inventory. Your inventory counts per item can now update automatically, accurately across multiple sizes, regardless of amount paid or type of Buyer. Combined Inventory works across both in-person and online purchases.

To sell more products and meet Buyer expectations, your Farm must provide a simple and easy shopping experience, online and in-person. Your Farm must be accessible from a variety of avenues to serve a multitude of Buyers. Offer convenient fulfillment options that will serve Buyers with a range of routines and schedules.

As an Independent Farmer, the capability to seamlessly serve your Buyers online and in-person is crucial. Your online and in-person sales must be fully synced to allow for a streamlined ordering process, avoiding any confusion or loss of profits or product. You will miss out on Buyers when they are not given multiple ways to shop. Not every Buyer will have cash to pay for your products at your Farm stand, nor will every customer have a credit card on hand.

Barn2Door is pleased to announce a new Farm Legal Academy! This Academy class is designed to help Independent Farmers better understand the primary legal rules and regulations that affect local food production and consumer sales. Farmers will gain better insight into various federal and state laws that may affect your Farm operations. The Academy classes will be led by Alexia Kulweic, the managing director of Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF). She has decades of experience working to protect and support Farms across the country.

In 2021, Benoit Family Farmstead made the decision to partner with Barn2Door to expand their reach to access new Buyers with Farm eCommerce and streamline their operations. The Farm has been able to add more products and serve their community, without having to spend extra hours in the office.

There has been recent discussion in the agriculture industry about moving towards electronic ear tags for livestock moving across state lines. While ear tags are already the norm for operations across the country, these new RFID (radio frequency ID) tags would enter information on animal and Farm details into a new government database. While the intent of electronic ear tagging is to improve traceability, access to government databases by other non-authorized individuals and organizations raises potential privacy and competitive concerns.

With software built for Farmers, you can now be prepared in any situation. Barn2Door recently debuted the ability for Farmers to edit Subscription quantities for Buyers with the click of a button. Whether they need more or less product in a given week, you can apply that to their order details on your online store. Built with Farmers in mind, editing Subscription quantities gives more power back to Independent Farmers to control their sales commitments.

There are two things you cannot avoid in life: death and taxes. As a business owner, taxes are always in the background of every purchase and sale you make. Finances are an inevitable part of running a Farm. We recently spoke with Taylor Bridges, a Quickbook Pro Advisor that works with Farmers across the country. She shared her advice for tax preparation, and a checklist to ensure your Farm is in control of its finances.

We’re excited to announce that Barn2Door has recently rebranded our Direct Farm Podcast to the Independent Farmer Podcast! When we launched our podcast years ago, we wanted to make it clear that Barn2Door was building a company to help Farmers who are promoting their own Brand and selling Direct. Now 145 episodes and a few years into our podcast --- including the growth of our own Business --- we knew it was time to shift the focus from Farmers selling ‘Direct’ to the entirety of whom we serve: the Independent Farmer.

The Direct Farm Podcast hosts successful Farmers and Barn2Door partners, sharing tips for Farms looking to save time, increase sales, and access more customers. Each week, product updates, marketing tactics and Farmer spotlights are shared, to highlight successful Farming practices and stories.

Each year Barn2Door releases eBooks that compile data and tips from successful Farms from all 50 states, or Buyers in your area. These eBooks serve as an educational resource for Farms looking to grow their Direct-to-Market business.

Barn2Door consistently release content with advice from our most successful Farmers, including data from local Buyers. Barn2Door offers a library of free resources and information to help Farmers of all sizes succeed. We have compiled a list of the Top 5 blogs from the past year, packed with tips and best practices to help grow your Farm business in 2024.

Throughout 2023, Barn2Door produced numerous blogs, ebooks, podcasts, and infographics to help New Farmers accelerate the growth and success of their business! We are honored to serve 1000’s of Farmers and more than 1M+ Buyers across all 50 states. We release content and features to help fuel your Farm success.

Barn2Door made several improvements to help Farmers streamline their sales and operations in 2023, including numerous product releases and feature updates. These innovations include Ongoing Subscriptions, Refunds for Farm Products and POS Built for Farmers.

Barn2Door’s Pick and Pack Lists make it easy for Farmers to pick products for orders, and pack them depending on who is receiving the package or the delivery location. These lists offer features to streamline your Farm business and save time.

Buyers are eager to find a Farm they can trust when choosing to buy local. Your Products, Branding and Practices all contribute to the trustworthiness of your Farm business. We surveyed 25,000+ Buyers to seek their input on what they look for when purchasing local Farm Products.

Branding is one of the most important aspects of creating your Farm business. Before selling to Buyers, you must have your business details in order, including how your Farm Brand is perceived by others. How do you want Buyers to describe your Farm business?

Zoe Pappas initially joined Barn2Door in December 2019 as an Account Executive, before eventually being promoted to lead, then manager, and now our National Sales Manager. Over the past 3 ½ years, her career has flourished at Barn2Door, as she has grown professionally as an individual contributor, manager and leader in the business.

Barn2Door works exclusively with Farmers and is attentive to the unique needs of your business and products through easy-to-use software. Forms and surveys are sent out to gather farm feedback and suggestions to improve our Software and Services. Barn2Door has seen how important it is to give farmers a clean and intuitive refund process. We’re delighted to debut a new simple and easy Refund Experience, to streamline your farm operations and give you peace-of-mind.

We conducted a survey across 10,000’s of to better understand what places were convenient for a Farm Pick-up based on their activities, habits, and routines in their local community - also known as the “Local Loop.” Here’s what the survey has to tell us about Buyer expectations for local Farm Pick-ups.

We are thrilled to share that our Barn2Door Point-of-Sale (POS) device now supports Mobile Wallet applications from Apple Pay and Google Pay. All existing Barn2Door POS applications were automatically updated to expand support for these new payment methods earlier this month.

It is important to build a network to provide your Farm with the best practices, data, insights, and counsel, so you can make the best-informed decision for your business. To set your Farm up for success, here are 5 Resources Your Farm Can’t Live Without.

Buyers are conditioned to “tip” at check-out when purchasing a variety of products and services. Farmers that utilize Barn2Door can choose what ‘tipping verbiage’ they prefer Buyers see at check-out. 

Point-of-Sale (POS) is essential for any Farm business that sells direct-to-market through in-person channels. Whether your Farm sells at farmer’s markets, from the back of your truck, at events, or at on-Farm kiosks and stores – you’re probably aware not all Point-of-Sale systems are designed for Farm products.

At Barn2Door, we’re constantly developing ways for Farmers to create a thriving business. Knowing that the best way to learn is from your peers, the Barn2Door Academy provides Farmers with the tools and tactics they need to win in today’s market.

At Barn2Door, we had a wide range of conversations during 2022 with industry-leading Farmers, business experts, agriculture organizations, and personnel to learn the tips and tricks of how Farmers can build thriving direct-to-market businesses. Grab your headphones and give the top 3 episodes of 2022 a listen!

Wow - the past year went by fast! During 2022, Barn2Door’s Marketing team compiled Farmers’ tips and tricks, strategies, and go-to-market tactics that fueled their success. Check out the top 5 Blogs of 2022!

2022 was a big year for Farms running on Barn2Door! We’re thrilled to support millions of transactions across 1000’s of Farm businesses every year. Here are 5 Barn2Door Features that debuted in 2022 that made it possible for Farmers to increase sales, access more customers, and save time & money.

At Barn2Door, we surveyed over 30,000 local buyers to learn how and where they prefer to shop from local Farms, what they think about shopping for Food online, and how they want to interact with local Farm businesses. Let’s dive into some of the biggest buying trends Farmers should know for 2023.