Georgia Organics - Market Tool

Choosing Your Market -- A Direct Marketing Decision Tool

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Internet Markets

Case Studies

Locally Grown Co-op

The computer system Eric Wagoner has adapted and modified from opensource software does the administrative work of this co-op, which was formed by a group of farmers in the Athens, Georgia area. E-mail messages are sent to the 75 co-op members, listing the produce that is available each week. Members can order through the website, reply to the e-mail, or phone in their order. Items that are ordered are forwarded to the appropriate farmer along with labels that can be printed and put on the bag. The software eliminates hours of paperwork, as it keeps track of the finances. Eric and Chris Wagoner, the current managers of the co-op, pick up the bags each week and take them to a central location for pickup by members.
There are three reasons that this unique method of marketing is working for seven farmers located around this university town. All of the farmers contribute to promoting the co-op, they only have to harvest what is ordered, and they have a committed customer base. Every week, each farmer reports by e-mail what their farm has available to sell and the cost. The only other job required of the farmer for this co-op marketing method is to harvest the orders and have them ready for pickup. The co-op takes 10% of each sale to maintain itself. Total co-op sales per week vary from $300-$900. Eric will be making his co-op management software available for other farmer groups in the near future.
Eric and Chris Wagoner, Managers
Locally Grown Co-op
310 Woody Road
Royston, GA 30662
706-245-9774
eric@locallygrowncoop.com
www.locallygrowncoop.com

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