The regions of the country that currently enjoy the existence of strong farm direct marketing associations also have more strength and diversity in their farm direct marketing industry.

Associations provide a vehicle for information exchange and industry development. A properly organized and well-managed association can provide individual farm direct marketing businesses with resources, information, new ideas, and most important, fellowship and peer support. A strong membership association establishes industry credibility and confidence to the public, community leaders, policy makers, and family farmers in the region. Our study of existing organizations indicates that the mere existence of an association provides opportunities for farmers, even if the association itself is not particularly active. The association's identity, letterhead, and occasional meetings provide state, local, and federal government agency representatives with a target when offering resources and support.

This handbook is intended to provide a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to starting an association. It is not intended to be your sole resource. You can also refer to the appendix and resource guide provided for additional support. Each state, and certainly each group of founders, will have varying dynamics, needs, and expectations. This book will provide you with the backbone for your quest to establish a farm direct marketing association in your region.

Our research of existing associations revealed that advancing (and sometimes even maintaining) an organization can be more challenging than starting one. We have dedicated the second half of this handbook to those associations that have existed for several years and are interested in "taking it to the next level."