Entrepreneurs can develop small operations to provide supplies to other farmers
Setting up road-side stands can be helpful in getting your product into the market
Markets for Forest Products
Very little information is available for people who want to sell forest crops and similar products.What you can or can not sell will depend on your ability to connect and introduce your crop to potential buyers.With a few exceptions, forest crop growers report frustration with “trial and error” approaches. Since this is the only marketing technique widely used, many people are reluctant to start growing something their not sure has a market.
Overcoming Forest Crop Marketing Challenges:
- Start on a small scale so your risks are reduced.
- Sell to people you know or customers you already have.
- Regulated crops, like American ginseng, provide well-defined channels for selling your goods.
Possible Marketing Channels:
- Give away your product (forest berry jam, birch frames, forest potpourri) as a gift with information on how to purchase more.
- Partner with a local roadside stand.
- Obtain shelf space at a natural foods cooperative or market.
- Place a classified ad in a regional publication.
- Promote your forest crop through a local nature club.
- Provide an “open house” to introduce your product to neighbors and residents of your community.
Supply Other Forest Farmers
If you have read through this web site, you will see that there are a lot of possible forest vocations. The timber industry is well developed, but hard to get in to if you are new. However, with the emergence of other non-timber forest products in New York, Pennsylvania, and the eastern United States, forest farmers will need supplies.
There is more to come on this topic as updates are made. For now, get out paper and a pencil and just start jotting down the things that can be sold to other forest farmers. A current list of suppliers and dealers is being created by Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Useful Tools
- Virginia Department of Forestry - Non-Timber Forest Products Marketing
- Marketing Specialty Forest Products - Bulletin from the National Agroforestry Center describing techniques for identifying markets and reaching new customers.
- Marketing Specialty Forest Products - Article from the University of Minnesota Extension Service describing good approaches to packaging, adding value, and advertising forest crops.
Content for this page was written or compiled by CCE of Schuyler County.
Last updated March 2, 2020
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Growing Native Trees & Plants
Some forest owners are creating new forests by cultivate native trees and shrubs in the ground or in pots within their forested area. These shrubs and trees are hard to find in some areas, or require shipping. They are used in landscaping, attracting wildlife, and conservation. Entrepreneurs can sell plant materials directly to other forest owners, or sell and install materials if you have the time and a business plan. For the long term, keep re-planting native species. Protect native plants from deer damage, set up an appropriate irrigation system and monitor for pests.
Cornell's ForestConnect provides forest owners with educational resources to help them make decisions about the management of their property.
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