GREENGROCER

WEB SITES

Cornell University: “Food Safety Begins on the Farm: A Grower's Guide”
http://www.gaps.cornell.edu/FSBFEng.xmll
This Web site has loads of tips for safe small farming, from seed planting to driving a truck full of squash to the big city.

Greenmarket: The Council on the Environment of New York City
http://www.cenyc.org/HTMLGM/maingm.xml
Greenmarket was established in 1976 and is gaining farming members each year.

Open Air Market Network
http://www.openair.org
This Web site is the “World Wide Guide to Farmers’ Markets, Street Markets, Flea Markets and Street Vendors.” There are plenty of listings for open-air markets throughout the United States and beyond, as well as some history and very good reasons to support these markets and the people who work there.

The Organic Farmer's Marketing Association
http://www.organicconsumers.org
Information on organic certification and standards.

The Small Farm Resource
http://www.farminfo.org
This site is a benefit to anyone who owns a farm or grows small crops. There is even a link to gardens for people who choose to concentrate on one or two crops.

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Farmer Direct Marketing
http://www.ams.usda.gov
A site run by the USDA with plenty of information on financial resources for people who want to become involved with farmer direct marketing.

USDA Rural Information Center (RIC)
http://ric.nal.usda.gov
The RIC has very sound advice for people who may want to start a small farm. The above address will take you directly to their FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page.

BOOKS

Corum, Vance, Marcie Rosenweig, and Eric Gibson. The New Farmer's Market: Farm Fresh Ideas for Producers, Markets, and Communities. Auburn, CA: New World Publishing, 2005.
A good source of information to start a business as a vendor at a farmers' market for people with farms already in place, or for individuals who would like to try this line of work.

Ishee, Jeff W. Dynamic Farmers' Marketing: A Guide to Successfully Selling Your Farmers' Market Products. Middlebrook, VT: Bittersweet Farmstead, 1997.
A valuable tool for anyone trying to break into the business of growing and selling on a small scale.

Kurzweil, Jenny. Fields That Dream: A Journey to the Roots of Our Food. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 2005.
One of the first books written to fully discuss the amazing growth of farmers’ markets (the number has more than tripled since 1990) in the United States.

Macher, Ron, and Howard W. Kerr Jr. Making Your Small Farm Profitable. Pownal, VT: Storey Books, 1999.
An ecologically friendly guide to running a small farm, with an examination of twenty farmers across the United States who are making a living by working the land.

Robinson, J. M., and J. A. Hartenfeld. The Farmers' Market Book: Growing Food, Cultivating Community. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2007.
A great history of the farmers' market and a celebration of the community values they help to develop.

Salatin, Joel, and Allan Nation. You Can Farm: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Start and Succeed in a Farming Enterprise. Swoope, VA: Polyface, Inc., 1998.
A positive view of farming through alternative methods with a focus on the small farm, but also highlighting sound business methods that can apply to any small operation.

Schwenke, Karl, and Ben Watson. Successful Small-Scale Farming: An Organic Approach. Pownal, VT: Storey Books, 1991.
A superb guide for small-scale farmers containing tips on every stage of the farming process, from the purchase of land to the selling of crops.