Use of local food marketing channels varies with farm size

Small farms (gross annual sales under $50,000) relied on direct-to-consumer channels to market local foods more than large farms, which were more likely to use intermediated channels, such as local grocers and restaurants, for their local food sales. Large farms (annual sales over $250,000) that market local foods exclusively through intermediated channels accounted for 92 percent of these intermediated sales, while small and medium-sized farms that market local foods exclusively through direct-to-consumer channels accounted for 73 percent of these direct sales. This chart may be found in the December 2011 issue of Amber Waves magazine.