Archived Seasons of Marketing at Farmers Markets

The materials below are archived and were created before April 24, 2026. They are provided for reference, research, or recordkeeping purposes and may not meet current accessibility standards.

Kati Bowman from KCARD and Brett from CCD put together a presentation for the 2025 Direct Marketing Summit about seasonal marketing tasks for Farmers Market vendors. 

You can download the slides here.

Also here are some seasonal notes from Kati:

Q4 (Oct-Dec): Annual Review & Holiday Sales (if applicable):

• Review total annual sales, web analytics, and marketing ROI.
• Evaluate price vs. cost increases (COGS).
• Update customer database and segment for next year’s campaigns. I know this would be more in-depth than what we will be covering, but segmenting email lists is super helpful and a great marketing tactic. 

• Send holiday email newsletter with gratitude and farm highlights.
• Gather testimonials and feedback for next season.
• Encourage social media tagging and reviews.

• Offer holiday gift boxes, bundles, or subscription renewals.
• Promote “Shop Local” campaigns and Small Business Saturday.
• Run a “Thank You” campaign for loyal customers.

• Share end-of-year farm reflections and upcoming goals.
• Post winter-prep and “behind the scenes” content. Start developing content calendar and putting content into "buckets"
• Update website with a “Join our 2026 CSA Waitlist” or “Holiday Shop.”

• Send thank-you cards to CSA members and partners.
• Participate in local winter or holiday markets.
• Update printed materials for next year.

Q1 (Jan-Mar): Planning & Pre-Season Engagement

• Review previous year’s marketing performance: sales by channel, social engagement, event attendance.
• Set SMART goals for sales, customers, and online engagement.
• Create or update a marketing calendar for the year.

• Review input costs (feed, seed, packaging, labor).
• Compare competitor and market pricing.
• Adjust price points and bundle offers for CSA or farm store.

• Refresh website with updated products, photos, and “Join our CSA” info.
• Announce early-bird CSA signups via email and social media.
• Share behind-the-scenes winter prep content (planning, seedlings, animals).
• Send monthly email newsletter (farm updates, recipes, signups).

• Update printed brochures, signage, and farmers market display materials.
• Reserve booth spaces for farmers markets and local events.
• Reach out to local media for early-season feature stories.

Q2 (April-June): Launch & Early Season Promotion

• Offer loyalty punch cards or referral discounts. Referrals have shown success and are easily tracked. Really easy to do especially with online CSA sales. 
• Collect customer emails at markets for your list.
• Begin tracking new vs. returning customers.

• Promote CSA pickup start, farmers market openings, or new product launches.
• Run a “Meet Your Farmer” campaign online and at markets.
• Create weekly or biweekly social media posts highlighting fresh products.

• Post 2–3 times weekly (photos of harvest, recipes, farm stories).
• Send seasonal email newsletter with availability list and recipes.
• Encourage online reviews and testimonials. Utilize a QR Code at markets.

• Hang posters/flyers at local businesses and community boards.
• Participate in community events (fairs, school farm days).
• Take professional photos of products for use in fall and holiday campaigns.

• Reassess prices mid-season based on demand and competitor trends.

Q3 (July-Sept): Peak Season Growth & Customer Retention

• Analyze sales by product, channel, and customer segment.
• Track average order value and retention rates. 
• Identify top-performing markets or sales outlets.

• Share customer spotlights and testimonials.
• Post “what’s in season” updates weekly.
• Launch fall CSA or preorder promotions.

• Attend county fairs or local food events.
• Refresh signage and tent displays mid-season.
• Send postcards or flyers promoting fall events.

• Host a summer farm event (farm tour, dinner, U-pick day).
• Highlight limited-edition or seasonal products.
• Collaborate with local chefs or food businesses for cross-promotion.

• Review mid-year profit margins and adjust pricing if needed.
• Identify fall product bundles or holiday gift sets.