From the USDA 2015 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey…
In 2015, farmers produced and sold $8.7 billion of edible food commodities directly to consumers, retailers, institutions, and a variety of local food intermediaries such as distributors and wholesalers that market and sell locally branded products.
Farms sell directly to:
- Consumers (35 percent of direct sales in 2015)
Includes sales through farmers markets, onsite farm stores, roadside stands, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) arrangements, online sales, pick-your-own operations, mobile markets, and other means. - Retailers (27 percent of direct sales in 2015)
Includes supermarkets, supercenters, restaurants, caterers, independent grocery stores, and food cooperatives. - Institutions and Intermediary Businesses (39 percent of direct sales in 2015)
Includes institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals as well as intermediary businesses such as wholesalers, distributors, processors, etc., that market locally or regionally branded products.
Download the highlights here.
