Michigan MarketMaker – Effective marketing for farms and food businesses
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EmailFoodMarketMaker.com connects people who produce, process and sell food.
Spring is the perfect time of year to connect with new markets and products, as things begin to grow and everyone gets excited about what is “fresh”. One great place to find sources of those products is MarketMaker.
MarketMaker is a national web-based, non-profit network that connects farmers and fishermen with food retailers, processors, caterers, chefs, consumers and more. It is a site that fosters business relationships, allowing consumers of food industry and value-added agricultural products/services to search for what they want and need. One can find where a product is available within a specified distance or state, and whether the producer has any certifications (organic, kosher, etc). If you have ever wanted to find a source for sustainably raised lamb, for example, this could be your place!
Businesses eligible to register include agritourism, buyers, eating & drinking places, farmers/ranchers, farmers markets, fisheries, food retailers, processors, wholesalers, breweries and wineries. From the MarketMaker home page, users can easily register through a four-step process. When you register, you will complete a profile that lets others know about you, what’s important to you, everything you sell and how/where you sell it. The MarketMaker profile is easy to update and can be considered your real-time resume. You can expand your business listings any time, and include social media links.
MarketMaker is the largest and most in-depth database of its kind featuring simple yet powerful search tools to connect with others across the production and distribution chain. This database is free for all to use, and it is easy to search for a specific demographic market in which to sell your products.
Now in its tenth year, a new version of MarketMaker has been released with excellent new features. The updated MarketMaker retains many of its core features. To get a feel for what this database can do for you, the highlights are featured in this video demonstration.
The MSU Product Center, in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, provides business counseling for product development, packaging and marketing strategies that will help Michigan entrepreneurs commercialize high-value, consumer–responsive food, value-added agriculture, and natural resource products. For more information, visit the MSU Product Center website or call 517-432-8750.
