Navigating Online Sales - Farmer to Farmer Conversations

You’re probably already adapting to online sales amid this pandemic. But if you’d like to talk about how it’s going, see what tools other farmers are using, discuss best practices (on the front end, back end, or in between), and share ideas, then we’ve got a space for you. Join the Hoosier Young Farmers Coalition each week, now - mid June. Each time, a different farmer from Indiana will talk about their experiences moving to online sales and what they've learned.

You can’t replace a farmer potluck - but we can still gather to swap ideas. We have a small grant from SARE (USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program) to help farmers adapt to selling online. We're using the grant funds to host 8 farmer-to-farmer webinars in the coming weeks.

• Each hour-long session will feature a different farmer and the online platforms, tools, and strategies she’s using to sell food amid a pandemic. She will share what's working (and what hurdles she’s encountering).
• And of course there will be time for conversation! Farmers from across the state will be able to chime in. We hope you’ll join us to share how these platforms and strategies are working on your farm (or what you’re struggling with!), best practices, and new ideas that you’re coming up with as the season unfolds.
• It's not as good as talking over a potluck, but it's still a good chance to connect and trade ideas. These sessions are scheduled at lunch and dinner time on purpose - in part because we know you’re busy - but also because we hope you’ll bring your meal or a mug of tea. Food and drink can still help us connect.

Sessions will be held Wednesday's at Noon Eastern and Thursday's at 7:00 PM Eastern starting May 27, 2020. We’ll meet via Zoom (or you can call in) and of course it’s free. Link to each meeting will be sent out one hour prior to the start of the meeting via the email you use to register here.

If you can tear yourself out of the field, you’ve gotta eat anyway. Why not eat with us, and connect with farmers in this wild time.

And if you can’t make it, still grab a snack. :) We’ll record the farmers’ presentations and post them to the HYFC website ASAP.

Click “Register” to sign up (it’s free!) for sessions with these fantastic farmers:

Schedule of Presentations

• Wednesday, May 27th at Noon Eastern. Chat with Julie Perkins, Perkins Good Earth Farm about how they are using Woo Commerce, Stripe, and MyWorks Sync.
• Thursday, May 28th at 7:00 PM Eastern. Chat with Kyle Becker, Becker Farms about how they are using Market Wagon.
• Wednesday, June 3rd at Noon Eastern. Chat with Zach Hawkins, J.L. Hawkins Famly Farm about how they are using Square for their store and Harvie for CSA Management.
• Thursday, June 4th at 7:00 PM Eastern. Chat with Roger and Mary Winstead, Beautiful Edibles Grow about using FarmersWeb and Market Wagon - Evansville.
• Wednesday, June 10th at Noon Eastern. Chat with Muddy Fork Farm & Bakery along with Janie's Farm and Janie's Mill about how they are shipping nationally, offering online baking classes, and a bread subscription.
• Thursday, June 11th at 7:00 PM Eastern. Chat with Mike Record, New Ground Farm about Square and Local Food Marketplace (Bloomington city market).
• Wednesday, June 17th at Noon Eastern. Chat with Joseph Fischer, Fischer Farms Natural Foods, LLC about using Grazecart.
• Thursday, June 18th at 7:00 PM Eastern. Chat with Rosie Sill, Earth Song Farm about online farmer's markets where customers can purchase from multiple vendors and check out once.
• Thursday, June 25th at 7:00 PM Eastern. Chat with Pastor Curtis Whittaker and Freida Graves of Families Anchored In Total Harmony (F.A.I.T.H) Community Development Corporation of Gary, Indiana about how their urban farm is adding online options and adapting.