If you have a green thumb and would like to make some extra cash on the side, you may
consider selling your homegrown vegetables online.
Regardless of whether you run a farmstand, own a farm, or simply have a backyard garden,
you can sell your produce on peer-to-peer vegetable markets. Today, we’re going to discuss why you should consider establishing an online presence and how you can start making money by selling your vegetables online. Check out our guide below.
The Effect of COVID on Businesses
Before we move on any further, it would be a good idea to get a sense of how traditional businesses have been faring after the coronavirus outbreak. Almost seven and a half million small businesses all across the United States are at risk of permanently shutting down in the next couple of months.
About two-thirds of entrepreneurs claimed that they may be forced to permanently shut down
if business disruption continues in the next five months, according to survey results
published by Main Street America.
More than thirty percent of businesses are at risk if the status quo persists for just an extra
two months, according to a survey that polled approximately 6,000 small business owners.
These figures point to three and a half million small businesses closing permanently in the
next couple of months and nearly eight million businesses closing in the next five months.
As you may have already guessed by now, business is not looking good. And even if the
economy is to show signs of an upside reversal, the damage has already been done.
Businesses have closed.
In addition, our day-to-day living will be greatly impacted. The health-conscious among us
along with the vulnerable population will be more wary of leaving their homes. Even with a
vaccine being researched, it will most likely take several years for things to return to the way
they once were. The coronavirus puts brick-and-mortar businesses in a bind. Having only a physical store is simply not a good business strategy for the coming years. Most of your potential market will most likely be wary of going out too often.
However, we know that people will have to find a way to buy vegetables. Regardless of the
situation, people will have to find a way to obtain their food. This is where you come in. With many potential customers turning to the internet to fulfill their shopping needs, it is imperative
that you establish an online presence as quickly as you can.
Why Use the Internet for Business?
The internet has established communities of its own. Each community on the internet has its
own people and its own market. People use the internet now more than ever, thanks to the
convenience that it has brought us. Just a few decades ago, no one would’ve imagined that
we would be able to video call someone on the other side of the planet.
With the rise of the internet comes the rise of online marketplaces. There are online
marketplaces for all kinds of businesses, including businesses that sell produce such as
vegetables. The internet allows sellers such as yourself to reach a wider audience. You’ll no longer be limited to marketing to a physical customer base. With the help of the internet, you can reach
out to customers that you never would have gotten in touch with before.
Create a Website
There are several ways for you to make money by selling your vegetables online. One way is to
create your own website. On your website, you can run your business as you please. Since
you own the website, however, you’ll need to pay all the associate expenses.
You can use your website to simply market your products and promote them or you can use
your website to directly sell produce. Alternatively, you can sell your produce on an online
marketplace and have your website serve as your business’s blog. However, you use your
website is up to you.
You can easily set up an online website through platforms such as WordPress, Wix, or
Weebly. These platforms allow you to easily get up and running with the help of pre-made
templates. Additionally, you can use media such as images to promote your vegetables and
related products.
Create Social Media Pages
To further establish your social media presence, you may consider creating social media
pages for your vegetable business. Nowadays, there is a social media platform that suits
almost everyone and that can serve almost any purpose.
For those hoping to create a dedicated community that communicates via forums, you may
use Reddit. For those who would like to join groups that allow you to advertise your
products, you may opt for Facebook.
If you have a knack for photography and can take great photos of your vegetables, you will
most likely find the most success on Instagram. If you’d like to find other entrepreneurs to
partner up with for future projects, you may consider checking out LinkedIn.
As mentioned earlier, there is a social media platform for almost any purpose. Spreading
your efforts across all social media platforms at once is not the best choice. Rather, it would
be wise to concentrate your efforts on just one or two social media platforms.
As your vegetable business begins to grow, you may make accounts on other social media
platforms.
In conclusion, you must determine where your target audience hangs out. Then, target the
platform where they are most active. This will help you post to relevant platforms and market
to the right people. This way, the people you are reaching are more likely to make purchases
from you.
Sign Up for an Online Directory
Online directories typically operate within a geographically defined area. By doing business
within a defined location such as a single country, online directories are able to work with
local producers to market fresh produce to consumers.
More often than not, selling your vegetables through an online directory is pretty simple.
Your customers will usually be able to find you based on your listed location and close you
are to your customers. Then, your customers will be able to view what kind of vegetables
you have on sale.
In some cases, sellers listed with online directories will ship produce directly to the
consumer’s doorstep. In most cases, there will be specified locations that customers can
visit to purchase the seller’s vegetables.
Online Directories vs. Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture programs, also known as CSA programs, were
established long before online markets and directories came into existence.
Community Supported Agriculture programs work on a subscription basis and provide
customers a certain allotment of produce every few weeks or so. The CSA typically picks the
type of produce allotted. Often, the selected produce is whatever food is currently in season.
This can sometimes prove to be a gamble.
On the other hand, online markets and directories allow customers to choose what they
purchase. Products available for purchase typically include vegetables, fruits, dairy products,
honey, baked goods, meat, preserves, and maple syrup.
If you’re hoping to sell your vegetables with the help of an online directory, you’re in luck.
The demand for vegetables online is quite high.
Why Sell Your Vegetables on Online Directories?
The sale of vegetables on online directories and peer-to-peer websites is beneficial both for
you as a seller and for your customers.
For customers, convenience and variety are the greatest benefits of purchasing vegetables
online. Customers will be able to connect with produce providers from the comfort of their
own homes.
For sellers such as yourself, the online market serves as a traditional co-op and provides a
whole host of benefits. The most significant benefits you will obtain by listing your vegetables
on a peer-to-peer website is the ability to cut down on marketing expenses and the ability to
reach a much larger audience.
Many of the growers that currently participate in online markets and directories typically
operate small and mid-sized farms. Without an online presence, these farms would most
likely struggle to sell their vegetables and struggle to complete with larger grocery stores.
The Future of Online Markets
Small businesses in the produce industry all across the country are struggling to stay afloat,
thanks to the growth of large grocery chains with large budgets.
Selling produce online on your own is sure to raise your profits. However, setting up
websites and social media pages may not be enough. It would be wise to enlist in an online
directory or peer-to-peer website. Websites such as these will boost the amount of potential
customers you have. This will make your online vegetable business more sustainable in the
long run.
There is a lot of promise for the agricultural industry as a whole, despite the many
challenges that the industry faces today.
Although online directories and peer-to-peer websites are relatively new platforms, the future
seems bright. Besides, the grocery industry has always been massive. Additionally, the
market and demand for locally-produced food grows larger after each year. With all that said,
it is clear that online markets and directories across the country are here to stay.
Marketing
Although the online directory or peer-to-peer website that you signed up for will be able to
draw in lots of customers for you, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little bit of your own marketing on the side. Besides, the internet is a vast space and you’ll need to do everything you can to
stand out. When marketing for your physical store or shop, much of it can be done with the help of local markets and street fests or bazaars. On the online space, however, marketing is a little bit
different.
It would be best to start building an email list that caters to your potential clients. Remember,
you can’t send out spam. Your email subscribers need to opt in to receive your promotional
emails. These emails should have links that lead to your listing on your online directory of
choice.
You may be wondering how on earth will you be able to get people to sign up for your email
list? A good way to start would be to launch a food or recipe blog. You can occasionally
share recipes your customers can make using the ingredients that you sell. This brings your
customers true value.
Once they see that you are a trustworthy and valuable seller, they are more likely to sign up
for your email list.
Social media marketing is fantastic. However, it would be wise to supplement social media
marketing with coupons, blogs, and local events.
How Do I Get Started?
The big question on your mind right now is where can you sell produce online. We recommend signing up with Miberry.
Miberry is an online directory that allows customers to find fresh produce locally. It is
a peer-to-peer website that allows you to list your vegetables, reach a wider audience, and
make money from the comfort of your home.
References
Boukentar, O. (2020, April 24). How To Sell Food And Farm Produce Online In 2020. Avoori.com. https://avoori.com/growing-your-business/how-to-sell-food-and-farm-produce-online-i n-2020/.
Everything you need to know about online farmers markets . Inhabitat Green Design Innovation Architecture Green Building. https://inhabitat.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-online-farmers-markets/. Iacurci, G. (2020, April 15). 7.5 million small businesses are at risk of closing, report finds . CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/14/7point5-million-small-businesses-are-at-risk-of-clo sing-report-finds.html. Warnimont, J. (2020, April 15). How to Sell Food Online: A Comprehensive Guide . Ecommerce Platforms. https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/how-to-sell-food-online.