Marketing Your Horticultural Products

Marketing Your Horticultural Products

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is currently gauging the interests of producers in marketing horticultural and other agricultural products directly to large retailers. We also want to know what information/tools you might need to better make that decision. The survey should take roughly 10 minutes to complete. Please complete this short survey below. Those who complete the survey will be eligible to win one of two $100 prizes.

You only need to include your name at the end if you would like us to follow up with you or if you would like to be considered in the prize drawing. Your individual responses will never be released. Only responses aggregated across groups of producers will be released. Thank you for taking the time to complete this short survey!

1.	Please tell us where your farm is located? Select the state from the drop down list.

Please enter the county where your farm is located?

What is the size of your farm in acres?

acres

Do you operate a greenhouse(s)?

Yes

3.a

What is the total square footage of your greenhouse(s)?

square feet

Are you the owner of your farm?

Yes

4.a

Do you employ hired workers on your farm?

Yes

What best describes your role on the farm? Please check all that apply.

Owner

Operator (the person responsible for operating the farm)

Hired Worker

6.	Please put a check mark next to each product you raise on farm. Also indicate whether or not you actively market that product.
6.		Raise on Farm	Actively Market Product
	Orchard (apples, pecans, etc)

	Vegetables

	Christmas Trees

	Berry Crops

	Honey

	Watermelons

	Tomatoes

	Livestock Products

	Pumpkins

	Other - check box(es) then list other product:

Other - check box(es) then list other product:

7.	In what ways do you market your products? Please rank the following marketing channels by placing a ‘1’ next to the channel you use most often, a ‘2’ next to the channel you use the next often, a ‘3’ by the next channel, and so on until you have ranked all of the channels you currently use. If you do not use a listed marketing channel, leave that space blank.
	Pick Your Own

	Direct Retail Stores: Grocery, etc

	Farmers Markets

	Roadside Stands

	Restaurants

	Wholesale/Processor

	Schools/Institutions of Higher Education

	Other Institutions: Corporations, Hospitals, etc

	Other - rank and list other marketing channel:

Other - rank and list other marketing channel:

8.	What percent of your total harvest is marketed through each of these channels or grown for home use? Note, the sum of all products marketed/consumed at home should equal 100.
	Harvest for Home Use

	Pick Your Own

	Direct Retail Stores: Groacery, etc.

	Farmers Markets

	Roadside Stands

	Restaurants

	Wholesale/Processor

	Schools/Institutions of Higher Education

	Other Institutions: Corporations, Hospitals, etc.

	Other - enter percent then list other marketing channel:



	Other - enter percent then list other marketing channel:



	Other - enter percent then list other marketing channel:



	Total

Have you ever produced products under contract?

Yes

9.a	Please list the products you have produced under contract?

10.

Are you or would you be interested in selling your products directly to large retailers?

Yes

10.a	Which products are/would you be interested in selling directly to large retailers? List products below:

Next, we would like to ask you some questions about using computers.

13.

Please rate your level of computer skills.

Never used a computer

Beginner (use computer occasionally)

Intermediate (use computer regularly)

Advanced (use almost daily)

14.

Please rate your internet skills.

Never used the internet

Beginner (use internet occasionally)

Intermediate (use internet regularly)

Advanced (use almost daily)

15.

Would you be interested in using an online, electronic direct marketing system designed to connect producers to buyers such as large food retailers, restaurants and other institutions?

Yes

16.	Are you familiar with online marketing resources?
16.		Yes	No	Not Sure
	University or Agriculture Department Sponsored Sites:

	Marketmaker - Online National System:

	Local Harvest:

	Online Community Supported Agriculture (Csas):

Other: