GFC

Goint direct to customers is definitely what it's all about these days.    Cutting out the middleman, or in the case of food - many middlemen, is the objective by direct marketers.     They have growing options, especially when it comes to those trying to reach the consumer.

Early adopters used the internet pretty effectively and have since developed fine shopping carts, video and pushed out their marketing with e: news.    Others chose the more conventional farmers markets, which have the added advantage of actually knowing your customer best.   Obviously, the reach and availablity is a downside compared to the internet. 

Consumers are often more well educated about their foods then the conventional seller.  (That is what I picked up from a recent on-line webinar designed for grocers.)   I believe them.    Thanks to a very big part to all of the films, books, speakers, blogs, publications, initiatives AND Whole Foods Markets .... this audience is picking up mo

mentum and getting even smarter.   

The Community Supported Agriculture programs are growing more rapidly then ever and these consumers are getting direct their food products AND are now investors in the business of food.   Their intelligence about food is ramping up. 

I had a conversation recently with a food broker declaring that this natural/organic thing is still just a trend and will all but disappear soon.     Are you kidding?   

So check this out.    A German company, Stuwer, has developed a vending machine to sell healthy food.    It was developed as a direct result of a farm wanting to direct market their dairy products.      Yet another model of no middleman and no internet, either, although we're sure there must be an I-Phone App to locate the vending machines.       

Can you envision driving down the lovely country roads and seeing a vending machine at the gate to producing farms?    Is this how we'll do our future shopping?