The Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division is providing a means for the state’s agriculture producers and processors to connect with buyers through a national food-related database.
Wyoming MarketMaker, a partner of National Food MarketMaker, is part of a network of states that connects farmers, ranchers and fishermen with consumers, schools, processors, caterers, chefs, food retailers and grocery stores, to build a virtual infrastructure that provides buyers a means to locate food products.
National Food MarketMaker is one the largest collections of searchable food industry-related databases in the country. The free online resource is categorized by buyers, sellers, location, and other demographic information. Currently, 20 states have invested in this coordinated effort.
“Wyoming MarketMaker is a great way for Wyoming consumers, food retailers and many others to locate local foods,” said Terri Barr, Wyoming MarketMaker program coordinator. “There is the capability to connect producers with those who buy their products via a connections function within MarketMaker. This would include farmers markets connecting to their vendors. Anyone can find where a specific producer is selling their meat, produce, and other food products or what stores sell Wyoming food products.”
Barr added there are many resources available via the website, such as a buying and selling forum to place ads, marketing information and tutorials for all MarketMaker users, and much more. Consumers can also find out what’s in season and how to find where local products are sold via a mapping function.
The program also has a component for agritourism with profiles that may contain information such as activities, facilities, hours/days of operation, amenities, accommodations, and other information for consumers to help them decide on destination vacations, meetings, weddings and other events.
The site is not, however, an ecommerce site and buyers must contact sellers directly.
Food producers, processors or agritourism operations who have not already been contacted regarding this free service or that would like information about the program should contact Barr at 307-777-2807 or terri.barr@wyo.gov. Producers, processors, farmers market managers, and buyers may all register at www.wyomarketmaker.com.
Wyoming MarketMaker, a partner of National Food MarketMaker, is part of a network of states that connects farmers, ranchers and fishermen with consumers, schools, processors, caterers, chefs, food retailers and grocery stores, to build a virtual infrastructure that provides buyers a means to locate food products.
National Food MarketMaker is one the largest collections of searchable food industry-related databases in the country. The free online resource is categorized by buyers, sellers, location, and other demographic information. Currently, 20 states have invested in this coordinated effort.
“Wyoming MarketMaker is a great way for Wyoming consumers, food retailers and many others to locate local foods,” said Terri Barr, Wyoming MarketMaker program coordinator. “There is the capability to connect producers with those who buy their products via a connections function within MarketMaker. This would include farmers markets connecting to their vendors. Anyone can find where a specific producer is selling their meat, produce, and other food products or what stores sell Wyoming food products.”
Barr added there are many resources available via the website, such as a buying and selling forum to place ads, marketing information and tutorials for all MarketMaker users, and much more. Consumers can also find out what’s in season and how to find where local products are sold via a mapping function.
The program also has a component for agritourism with profiles that may contain information such as activities, facilities, hours/days of operation, amenities, accommodations, and other information for consumers to help them decide on destination vacations, meetings, weddings and other events.
The site is not, however, an ecommerce site and buyers must contact sellers directly.
Food producers, processors or agritourism operations who have not already been contacted regarding this free service or that would like information about the program should contact Barr at 307-777-2807 or terri.barr@wyo.gov. Producers, processors, farmers market managers, and buyers may all register at www.wyomarketmaker.com.
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