Classroom On Wheels - Reducing Marketing and Human Resource Risk John Berry, Ag Marketing Educator Penn State Cooperative Extension, S.E. Region Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its work force.

Educational needs of women farmers Financial Marketing Business planning Safety

Barriers to learning Cost Location Format

“Are You Crazy?” Retail Farm Market Bus Tour Pennsylvania Retail Farm Market Association Penn State Cooperative Extension Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

Educational opportunities

Inputs Cash Volunteers Host markets Administration My time

Evaluation Overall, how would you rate the tour? excellent – 45% very good – 50% good – 5% fair - poor -

Evaluation Overall, the information was... nearly all useful – 20% quite useful – 70% somewhat useful – 5% of little use – 3% of no use – 3%

Evaluation Would you attend another tour in the future? yes – 85% no – 5% possibly – 10%

Evaluation I learned something today... yes – 90% no – 5% maybe – 5%

Evaluation Have you participated with this tour in past years? yes – 30% no – 70% I don't know If yes, have you made adjustments in your business as a result of something you learned? yes – 70% not yet – 20% I don't know – 10%

Results/Outcomes/Impacts Started selling more value-added products. Started a bakery. Put flats on greenhouse floor. Landscaping. Certain signs. Improving the petting zoo. Improved signs, more landscaping around retail area. This year: more educating general public through farm tours, expanding by adding landscaping trees and apple orchard. We supply recipes with every edible item we sell. Put Web site together and improving it to have it reflect our personal business.

Results/Outcomes/Impacts Product mix. Merchandising. Customer service (made core value). Some display areas. Signage. Clearer signage, better displays and use of space. Brochures, events, signs, displays, products. Merchandising. Product line. Layout of store. Setting up displays differently. Improved signs and informational pamphlets. Growing new items for sale. Added on to have more display room.

Comments? A long day. Very enjoyable tour! Good tour. Very nice tour. Good to make us think between stops. Thanks for a great day! I think it was worth my time. Tour was possibly too long. By the end of the day I was info- overloaded! Other than that, great tour! Great fun and educational. It's nice to see how other people run their markets. Thanks. Great selection of differing markets. Good lunch stop. Professional farmers/vendors. The tour was well planned and there were a variety of markets to see. It is always helpful to talk about farm markets with other people in the business. I enjoyed seeing the different markets and ways other people sell their products. I also liked seeing different ideas and would like to implement some of them. Nice lunch. Would like to spend more time at lake. I don't get out much!