We Want to Hear Your Family Farm’s Story
September 2, 2017 I’m sure a few of you remember the farm family features we have run occasionally in the magazine. Dave Eddy and I always enjoy reading the history of your farms and orchards, and stories you share. I’m sure you do too.
If you’ve noticed lately, those stories haven’t been running in the magazine. That’s, in part, because we’re gearing up to launch a new feature on American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower’s Instagram page.
By the way, if you’re not following us, you should!
We’re calling the feature #FarmFamilyFridays and we’re going to post stories and photos you share with us to highlight the special role family farms have in the specialty crop industry. We’ll feature a new farm’s story on Instagram on Fridays.
I’ve been using Instagram for a while and I personally love sharing what I see on the road or even in my travels on weekends or vacation, as some of you who follow my account are well aware. You can follow me at www.instagram.com/HerrickAFG. What I like best is that sharing images is very personal, and I love engaging with you on the app!
It’s a great way to talk about what happens on your farms, be it weather, pollination, or even harvest. Your orchards, vineyards, and fields are so beautiful, and so is the produce you grow. So, what better way to tell your story than through a camera lens!
To streamline the process, we’ve created a form at http://www.growingproduce.com/farm-family-fridays/. As you fill out the form, be sure to include any social media accounts your farm has (especially Instagram) because we’ll make sure to tag you and your operation!
Speaking of social media and small farms, be sure to check out my online feature this month about social media tips for small farmers. Although it’s geared to those of you who sell directly to consumers, Tony Ndoca (a young grower himself), talks about what he’s learned by running his family’s farm and using social media to DOUBLE his revenue the first year he took over. Yes, you read that right.
You can find his tips, tricks, and things not to overlook on these platforms here.
Anthony now spends his time helping other growers just like you understand whether you need to start a SnapChat account, how important Google+ and LinkedIn are, and if you really need Tumblr. Let’s face it, there are a ton of different ways to reach existing and new customers. It’s hard to keep up!
And for those of you who may not be using social media to help promote your operation, our new #FarmFamilyFridays feature might just be a great incentive to get your operation signed up.
Whether your operation is first-generation or multigenerational, we want to help you share your story. It’s a testament to the longevity of agriculture in this country to see fifth- or sixth-generation farms continuing to thrive and impact the communities you live in.
I can’t wait to learn more about your farms and families. Let the sharing begin!
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