Monday, August 30, 2010

Wesmar Farms in Moreauville, LA

West and Marguerite Constantine milk goats and sell milk, cheese, and soap. After a trip to Europe, they decided to go into business and create a farm store.
Check out their website: WesMarFarms.com

These farmers also advertise on MarketMaker

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

How to Register Your Business on MarketMaker

To register a business on MarketMaker, follow the three easy steps below. The whole process should take only a few minutes.


Step 1: Visit La.FoodMarketMaker.com. or http://la.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/reg/index/food/22

Step 2: Click on “Register Your Business.”

Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to input your business information.

Once you submit your information, you will receive an e-mail from MarketMaker that includes your username and temporary password. Then you can make changes to your profile and keep the information up to date. When you receive the e-mail, visit La.FoodMarketMaker.com and log on to your account with the temporary password provided in the e-mail. Change your password to one that you will remember. Your information should appear on the website within one to two business days.

If you have any questions, contact marketmaker@agcenter.lsu.edu.

LOUISIANA MARKETMAKER

The LSU AgCenter has launched a new, online marketing initiative called MarketMaker. MarketMaker is a free service provided by the AgCenter and other supporting organizations that is a user-friendly marketing tool for Louisiana fishermen, shrimpers, farmers, ranchers and other food enterprise entrepreneurs. Food-related businesses can set up their own profiles at La.FoodMarketMaker.com and can modify their profiles at any time to keep consumers up to date on product availability and other information and business announcements. For buyers, MarketMaker is a convenient Internet search tool to locate products they want, either directly from producers or through another channel. MarketMaker already is being used successfully in 17 states, including Mississippi and Arkansas.

Yellow Rails and Rice Festival 2010

Building on the success of last year’s festival, Yellow Rails and Rice Festival 2010 is scheduled to begin Thursday, 4 November 2010, and will run through Sunday, 7 November 2010.

The festival is designed with fun in mind. Its primary goal is to provide participants a unique venue to view Yellow Rails while at the same time bringing birders and farmers together to realize the value to birds of the area’s “working wetlands.”  Click here for a schedule.

Plant Sunflowers Now for Fall Farmers Market

Sunflowers are among the easiest flowers to grow, and they thrive in the heat of Louisiana summers. These flowers are popular at farmers markets. In north Louisiana, try to complete sunflower planting by the third week in August. In central Louisiana, plant them by the end of the month, and south Louisiana gardeners can plant sunflowers through Labor Day.

For more click here.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Good Reads for Agritourism Enthusiasts

The LSU AgCenter has a publication entitled, "Agritourism: a New Agricultural Enterprise," that provides the steps in developing an agritourism business venture. It's a short read.

Another great read, although, longer and in greater detail is the USDA's publication: "Taking the First Step: Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide."