Money is made in the marketplace rhough the sale of the goods and services provided
by the small farm. The successful small farmer takes all the necessary steps to ensure
that the market works to the farmer’s advantage. That means taking all the steps to
communicate with the customer so that the farmer is providing what the customer wants when
and where they want it.
Pricing, quality, packaging, transportation and delivery,
display and advertising all matter in making the small farm a success.
Successful small farmers are also good communicators. They
listen and respond in positive ways to what customers tell them. They also attend trade
shows and keep up with changes in their industry, since the market never stands still.
Successful small farmers provide their high-quality goods and
services to the market today as they prepare to succeed in the market of tomorrow. They
are always listening, learning and applying their innovations to keep up with customers
and competition.
Since they know their costs of production, they know what
their "break even price" has to be. They know how much they can produce and
deliver in the market to make a profit in both the short term and long term. They look to
create a profitable market situation by responding to customer demand.
