Who We Are & What We Do

What are the benefits of joining FARMA? Read on to find out!

Expert advice
Opening a farm shop or changing an established business? Starting a farmers' market or wondering how to improve the one you manage? Starting out as a stallholder at a farmers' market or wondering how you, as a small or medium scale producer might access farm shops around the UK? Starting a new, or wanting to develop your pick-your-own farm or box scheme? Thinking about adding catering to your retail offer? You're not alone.

FARMA's friendly staff are on the end of the phone any time when you need advice or help. You don't have to be a member to get advice and help, but we hope that you'll join (it's just £99 plus VAT for farm shops and farmers' markets and £50 plus VAT for producers who are stallholders only).  Just call or email us for advice or help on any matter related to local direct sales: we have a huge database of suppliers and contacts with experts. When you join us, we can put you in touch with fellow members to guide you through your development ideas and you can participate in our many meetings which illustrate best-pratice and new ideas.  The picture above was taken at a Southwest Surrey Farmers' Market, at Secretts Farm earlier this year.

A consultancy service is available if you would like one-to-one guidance on all aspects of developing retail, production or catering diversifications, whether at - or before - start-up or at a point when the business needs to change to grow.  Our experts have helped dozens of farm retailers, from individuals and small family businesses to securing the future viability of Estates, all over the UK. There is a fee for consultancy and membership is usually required.

Credit & Debit Card Handling terms
We offer a co-operative scheme for members. Terms are 1.1% for all consumer credit cards and debit card handling starts at 10p per transaction. Mobile machines for use in PYO, farmers' markets, catering, etc. are available. 
Just call (0845 45 88 420) for more information...

Supporting high standards and a distinctive farm retail sector
FARMA continues its highly successful Certification scheme for farmers' markets. For more information see farmersmarkets.net

COMING SOON: Farmers' market stallholder Verification and Farm Shop Certification - helping the sector to stay distinctive.

Co-operative benefits
FARMA is a long-established, member-owned co-operative and is recognised as the Federal organisation representing farmers' markets and local direct sales by Cooperatives UK. Members who are themselves cooperatives (such as farmers' markets groups) can have access to free legal representation, among other benefits, from Cooperatives UK. For more information, just call us.

Publications / Web-site
'Retail Farmer' is published at least three times a year and mailed direct to you as part of FARMA membership. Our weekly e-newsletter is also sent to you as part of membership and keeps you up to date with news, trends and views from the sector. 
All direct sales members are listed in the consumer guide, 'Local Fare', which is promoted editorially. 

The FARMA consumer web-sites (www.farmshopping.net; www.farmersmarkets.net; www.pickyourown.info) carry information about farm retail members and farmers' markets with advanced mapping & calendar technology only available through FARMA. Our sites are number one in top search engines.

We also design and host web-sites for members, hosted through a FARMA scheme at very competitive rates for commercial-grade web activity.

Making a noise about local direct sales FARMA is the largest organisation in the world representing farmers, farmers' markets and local direct sales to the consumer. FARMA works on a national scale to promote local direct sales to the media, and is active in the political arena working for local direct sales and members' interests. (If you are a member reading this, please let us have your stories!) 


Special terms for a variety of products and services
FARMA offers Associate membership to business that supply goods and/or services to the farm-direct sector and a number of these offer special terms for retail members, including, for example, up to 15% off high-cost items like tills and scales. Members can also get 15% off the cost of Mystery Shopper services - if you want to know more about any of these, please call 0845 45 88 420.

In addition, there are special terms available for farm shops wanting to offer bake-off bread and impulse ice creams. These offers won't suit everyone but if you have high passing traffic, stocking the major impulse ice cream brands in addition to locally-made products makes retailing sense. Bake-off provides an easy entry-point for fresh-baked bread and rolls. There's a special display unit available and lots of help and support for starting up. Call 0845 45 88 420 to get more information.


Worldwide connections
We network and share with our equivalent organisation in the USA/Canada, as well as direct sales organisations on the continent and Australia. Keeping in touch means that we can often spot trends in farm retailing well ahead of others.


Sharing, networking and getting together
Last, but not least, is the fellowship offered by FARMA. It is packed with people like you! There are many opportunities in the year to meet, such as the National Conference - next in January 2010 - and many other regional events. Our main conference always a great event, packed with inspirational ideas, and we're sure you'll get more out of your membership if you come along. We hope to see you there!


SIGN UP TODAY! Call us on 0845 45 88 420
We'll send you information in the post, or you can join right away. Payment can be by direct debit, cheque or credit/debit card.

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