An organization in Virginia is developing a brand of local farm and seafood products, and an organization in Maine is experimenting with selling farm products on the internet. Agritourism Several state and local governments offer workshops for farmers who are interested in developing recreational businesses. Agricultural tourism is increasingly popular in farming communities near urban areas. These services bring in new customers and promote farm products. Grower Cooperatives Growers who sell wholesale can increase their access to lucrative markets by forming cooperatives.
Cooperatives can also offer a diverse selection of products to retailers at a competitive price.
Most agricultural economic development strategies are designed to help producers increase revenues, but a few help them cut costs. A project in Vermont is training dairy farmers to implement pasture-based management. By switching from growing and storing feed crops to grazing, dairy farmers can cut costs and improve their quality of life. Other organizations promote the use of integrated pest management and organic farming, which reduce the cost of inputs and may increase the prices that growers can demand for their products. Purchasing cooperatives for seeds and other agricultural supplies also can reduce production costs.