Classroom On Wheels - Reducing Marketing and Human Resource Risk John Berry, Ag Marketing Educator Penn State Cooperative Extension, S.E. Region Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.
Dec 13, 2015
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!