Learn about the pertinent legal issues to consider when pursuing direct marketing of farm products, existing resources on the various legal topics, and how to critically evaluate direct marketing agreements before signing a contract.

This workshop will present topics discussed in the Legal Guide to Direct Farm Marketing for Maryland Produce Growers. Topics to be covered include:

I. Preparing for Direct Marketing

1. Land Use Restrictions
2. Food Safety Obligations
3. Licenses, Permits, and Certifications
4. Labeling Your Specialty Crops and Value-Added Products
5. Agricultural Labor and Liability Laws
6. Premises Liability Risks
7. Insurance Coverage
8. COVID-19 Precautions
9. Intellectual Property Rights

II. Direct Marketing Contracts

1. Basic Contract Principles
2. Evaluating Contract Terms

III. Online Sales & Marketing

1. Online Sales
2. Shipping & Delivery of Farm Products
3. Sales and Use Tax Collection
4. Protecting Consumers’ Personal Information
5. Email Marketing
6. Using Social Media

When registering, comment which aspects of direct marketing you want to know more about.

Attendees will be sent a free copy of the Legal Guide to Direct Farm Marketing for Maryland Produce Growers. To satisfy grant reporting requirements attendees will be contacted six months after attending the workshop to request feedback regarding the usefulness of the guide.

Please note: Webinars will be recorded and posted to the ALEI webpage following the event.

Funding was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant AM190100XXXXG020. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.