Tell your story to sell your product

FOR a nation that loves its food, we’ve become disconnected from our food origins.

At some point we got used to purchasing products that may as well have sprouted fully packaged from the nearest supermarket tree for all the thought we gave them.

But slowly, we are now seeing an exciting groundswell towards the ‘need to know’.

It’s starting at farmers markets, at grocers, at niche stockists. It may not be at the fore yet. But it’s coming.

The story – your story – is back.

The time for provenance marketing and a farmer’s potential to both tell and sell their story is ripe.

Every item has a story to tell and people behind it.

And the thing is – consumers love it. They just stopped expecting it.

But putting a story to the sale can benefit farmers in a big way. It helps consumers understand the value and worth of food.

It builds a relationship and helps them connect with what they eat. And that’s valuable.

You’re much more likely to go out of your way in terms of cost and convenience if you feel your choice is supporting a friend, or a farmer whose story you know and believe in.

Food provenance is also a way for farmers who are doing a bit extra to tell people about it.

If you’ve gone the extra mile to farm sustainably, trial something new, respect animal welfare, decrease inputs (just a few examples) you’ve probably invested considerable time, effort and dollars to do so.

It’s not something that should go unnoticed.

The more farmers get on board to sell their story and food provenance, the better.

The more consumers hear, the more they will want to hear.

And eventually the demand for your story will be noticed by the big players.

So don’t be shy – start thinking about how to tell your farm’s story! It’s one you’ll know well.

The need to upskill farmers to meet changing market demands for information on provenance and sustainable production is being recognised.

Reef Catchments NRM is running a program to support farmers in our own local area to learn how to tell their own story, and our region’s.

We will be holding a free workshop for farmers – Selling your farm’s story – in Mackay on Thursday, November 1.

Farmers can register online at eventbrite.com.au or contact Reef Catchments at info@reefcatchments.com or call on 07 4968 4200.