May 5, 2022

UF/IFAS program connects small-scale growers with digital marketing tools

A team from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is offering a free series, How to Market in a Digital Era, through the month of May for agricultural entrepreneurs in the southeast and southwest Florida markets.

The series will offer webinars, followed by in-person trainings, in English and Spanish. UF/IFAS experts will take participants through a step-by-step process to create marketing plans, utilize social media and set up online and electronic sales.

The program starts off with webinars, each in English and Spanish, then offers a follow-up in-person training in English and Spanish on May 18, 19 and 20. In-person trainings will take place in Estero, Bartow, Homestead and Fort Pierce, respectively.

To attend the free program, registration is required. Choose from the following English or Spanish webinar links:

May 10: Mercadeo en la Era Digital: Descripción General y Ventas Electrónicas: 10 a.m. – noon
https://bit.ly/3DkDKZX

May 12: How to Market in the Digital Era: Using Social Media & Selling Online: 10 a.m. – noon
https://bit.ly/3qF4Hmc

May 12: Mercadeo en la Era Digital: Utilizando Redes Sociales y Ventas En Línea: 10 a.m. – noon
https://bit.ly/3qF4Hmc

“The USDA has estimated the number of farmers’ markets increased by 180% between 2007 and 2014 and the number of regional food hubs increased by more than 288%,” said Trent Blare, an assistant professor in food and resource economics at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead.

Consumers’ demand for food products has evolved too, said Blare. There is a growing demand for locally, sustainably produced goods, organic or otherwise, that are of the highest quality.

“In fact, the sale of local agricultural products in the US increased by 26% from 2015 to 2017 totaling $11.8 billion, 3% of all agricultural sales (Martinez, 2021),” he quoted from a report.

For more information or to register, visit
https://ruralengagement.org/digital-marketing-toolkit.