Classroom On Wheels -

Reducing Marketing and

Human Resource Risk

John Berry, Ag Marketing EducatorPenn State Cooperative Extension, S.E. Region

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

Educational needs ofwomen farmers

• Financial

• Marketing

• Business planning

• Safety

Barriers to learning

• Cost

• Location

• Format

““Are You Crazy?”Are You Crazy?”Retail Farm Market

Bus Tour

Pennsylvania Retail Farm Market AssociationPenn State Cooperative Extension

Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers AssociationPennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

Educational opportunities

Educational opportunities

Educational opportunities

Inputs

• Cash

• Volunteers

• Host markets

• Administration

• My time

Evaluation

Overall, how would you rate the tour?

• excellent – 45%• very good – 50%• good – 5%• fair -• poor -

Evaluation

Overall, the information was...

• nearly all useful – 20%• quite useful – 70%• somewhat useful – 5%• of little use – 3%• of no use – 3%

Evaluation

Would you attend another tour in the future?

• yes – 85%• no – 5%• possibly – 10%

Evaluation

I learned something today...

• yes – 90%• no – 5%• maybe – 5%

EvaluationHave you participated with this tour in

past years?• yes – 30%• no – 70%• I don't know

If yes, have you made adjustments in your business as a result of something you learned?

• yes – 70%• not yet – 20%• I don't know – 10%

Results/Outcomes/Impacts

• Started selling more value-added products. Started a bakery.

• Put flats on greenhouse floor.• Landscaping. Certain signs. Improving the

petting zoo.• Improved signs, more landscaping around retail

area. This year: more educating general public through farm tours, expanding by adding landscaping trees and apple orchard.

• We supply recipes with every edible item we sell. Put Web site together and improving it to have it reflect our personal business.

Results/Outcomes/Impacts•Product mix. Merchandising. Customer service (made core value).•Some display areas. Signage.•Clearer signage, better displays and use of space.•Brochures, events, signs, displays, products.•Merchandising. Product line. Layout of store.•Setting up displays differently. Improved signs and informational pamphlets.•Growing new items for sale.•Added on to have more display room.

Comments?• A long day.• Very enjoyable tour! Good tour. Very nice tour.• Good to make us think between stops.• Thanks for a great day!• I think it was worth my time.• Tour was possibly too long. By the end of the day I was info-

overloaded! Other than that, great tour!• Great fun and educational. It's nice to see how other people

run their markets.• Thanks.• Great selection of differing markets. Good lunch stop.

Professional farmers/vendors. • The tour was well planned and there were a variety of

markets to see. It is always helpful to talk about farm markets with other people in the business.

• I enjoyed seeing the different markets and ways other people sell their products. I also liked seeing different ideas and would like to implement some of them.

• Nice lunch. Would like to spend more time at lake. I don't get out much!