By Blake Jackson
Farmers and producers in New York now have free access to tools designed to boost their profits at farmers markets.
The project, Cultivating Profitability - Farmers Market Benchmarks, offers updated benchmarks and best practices for improving pricing, marketing, and business decisions.
Led by Cornell Cooperative Extension Broome County (CCE Broome) and the Farmers Market Federation of New York (FMFNY), this initiative builds on data from a similar 2016 project. It provides a complete set of profitability strategies based on a 2024 statewide survey and expert analysis.
Farmers can explore the information in several formats - a presentation, a pre-recorded webinar, or downloadable raw data. They’ll also find practical worksheets and data sheets to help them apply strategies to their specific needs.
“We’re thrilled to share so much useful data with the hard-working farmers and producers of New York State.
Our goal is that they can start applying some of these strategies right away as they prepare for the 2025 farmers market season,” said Jack Riffle, FMFNY Executive Director.
Farmers are encouraged to use the benchmarks to assess areas like labour efficiency, sales channels, pricing strategies, and market participation.
One example includes comparing individual labour time with benchmark averages to identify improvement areas. Others might explore markets that accept programs like SNAP or EBT to increase customer reach.
This project was supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40447. Questions can be directed to Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist at CCE Broome, at lw257@cornell.edu.
Visit nyfarmersmarket.com/benchmark-assessment-supp for free access to all tools.
Photo Credit: cornell-university
Categories: New York, Business