Agricultural Marketing/Promotion Organizations in Massachusetts for Farmers

University of Massachusetts Amherst

See the World Crops website for ethnic crop research and production information relevant to Massachusetts. The increase in ethnic diversity has brought an explosion in the amount of ethnic foods consumed in the United States in the last 20 years. A 2002 marketing study of the US supermarket industry found that Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans account for 37% of all supermarket sales (Grow with America, 2002). This trend represents tremendous opportunities for growers.

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)

MDAR has the following marketing information on their website:

Programs:

  • Agricultural Fairs
  • Agriculture Tourism
  • Commonwealth Quality
  • Culinary Tourism
  • Farmers' Markets Coupon

Services:

  • Agricultural Directional Signage
  • Export Development
  • Farmers' Markets
  • Farm & Market Report
  • Farm to School Initiative
  • "Massgrown and Fresher" Logo
  • Organic Cost Share
  • Specialty Foods – Value-Added

Commonwealth Quality

Commonwealth Quality is a brand designed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, which serves to identify locally sourced products that are grown, harvested and processed right here in Massachusetts using practices that are safe, sustainable and don’t harm the environment.

Agricultural "Blue" Directional Signs

The Agricultural Directional Signage Program is managed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Highway Department and in collaboration with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. The Ag. Signage Program allows for the placement of blue agricultural directional signs along state roadways for farms located off those roadways.

Massachusetts Association of Roadside Stands and Pick Your Own

The Massachusetts Association of Roadside Stands (MARS) fosters activities that support farm direct marketing to enhance the livelihood of member farms and promote their fresh New England farm products.

Massachusetts Farm to School Project

The Massachusetts Farm to School Project seeks to increase access to healthy, locally grown food in schools and other institutions for the good of our children, our farms and our communities statewide. We facilitate matchmaking and sustainable purchasing relationships between local farms and local institutions, promote local food and agriculture education for students, and support networking of farm to school practitioners - growing a sustainable food system for everyone in Massachusetts. The Mass. Farm to School Project is a statewide organization which has been providing technical assistance to farmers and food service professionals since 2004, with the goal of opening up the institutional market to local producers, so that more money might be directed toward the local agricultural economy. We have seen tremendous success with this endeavor: during the 2011-2012 school year, local food from over 110 Massachusetts farms was purchased by close to 300 public school districts, private schools and colleges across the state.

Massachusetts Farmers Markets

The Federation of Mass Farmers Markets is a 501 (c) 3 charitable non-profit organization. Massachusetts has many farmers’ markets and this site matches vendors, markets, and products.

Farmers Markets Resources for Farmers

Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources

Buy Local Marketing Groups

There are eight "Buy Local" marketing groups across Massachusetts.

Map of "Buy Local" groups from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.