The profitable hobby farm, how to build a sustainable local foods business

After generations of leaving for cities and suburbs, many Americans are returning to the country to experience the rural life. Some are simply looking to escape the stresses of the city, while others see great opportunity in the burgeoning natural and organic foods niche (a term the industry is about to outgrow). This book is aimed at those people who do not have a background in farmingbut are interested in small-scale agriculture; at current hobbyists as well as those who are curious about growing and raising food but are not yet engagedin a venture. It serves as a natural follow-up to Hobby Farming For Dummies, published in July 2008, for those who want to take the next step and turn their farming hobby into a business, whether it is raising chickens for their free-range eggs or making organic wine or cheese. Many niche businesses appeal to consumers with an interest in natural, organic, sustainable, and local products, and studies indicate that the market is nowhere near its zenith. For example, the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center states that sales of natural andorganic beef are set to double at least every three to five years. This is just one segment of a very large market, and small farmers (no matter how small)are increasingly looking to serve it. However, little reliable information about running a business is available to wannabe producers. Hobby farmers need to know how to blend marketing, money management, and strategy in order to prosper. The Profitable Hobby Farm provides sound start-up advice, not just from an expert author but from the motivating experiences of other small farmers as well. This book offers direct, concise, and friendly advice on a variety of topics essential to the initial foray into a local foods venture. While it does not offer specific information about how to raise various crops and animals, aresources section includes a lengthy contact list for those needing hands-on reading.

• ISBN: 978-0-470-43209-9
• Editorial: John Wiley & Sons
• Encuadernacion: Rústica
• Páginas: 288
• Fecha Publicación: 04/02/2010
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés