Farm and ranch families make up less than two percent of the U.S. population. And in that population, the way they produce our food and fiber is diverse. Production methods vary and include conventional, biotech and organic crops. They also raise traditional and specialized livestock for meat, milk and eggs.
Modern farmers, whether managing businesses large or small, continuously work to improve their methods of food production.
A number of farmers and ranchers have started selling directly to consumers. The direct-to-consumer market or intermediated sales such as farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture, food hubs accounts for $17.4 billion in sales each year.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Texas leads the nation with 15,420 farms selling directly to consumers, which accounts for 8.7% of the U.S. total.
In addition, between 2017 and 2022, the number of farms selling food directly to retail outlets for locally branded products increased by more than 31,000, or 108%.
In North Dakota, the N.D. Department of Agriculture has a local foods map that allows you to search for various options, including farmers markets, roadside stands, U-pick, online sales and more. To check it out visit the Local Food Map
Farm families have also taken the initiative to reach out to consumers through blogs, as well as social media.
Some of the farmers and ranchers in North Dakota you can follow include:
And of course, Heather Lang, who blogs for On Your Table