Whittamore’s Farm honored for Outstanding Web Site

Farm direct marketers from throughout North America submitted their Web site URLs in a bid to see whose would be named Outstanding Web Site. The contest was one of the annual Members’ Choice Contests held by the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA). This year, Whittamore’s Farm, East Markham, Ontario, Canada, came out on top. View the winning Web site at www.whittamoresfarm.com.

The contest is held every year in conjunction with NAFDMA’s annual conference. This year the conference was held in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., in February 2008. All voting took place before the conference.
NAFDMA members submitted their Web sites, and a consumer panel of judges helped narrow down the entries to the Top 5. The judges were asked to use some basic criteria:

1.       Does the Web site work properly?
2.       Is it engaging and appealing to you?
3.       Would you go to their farm or markets?

After the Top 5 were selected, NAFDMA members were invited to vote for their favorite Web site.

The Whittamore family has owned the farm since 1804. They have been market gardening for more than 80 years. In the late 50s and early 60s, Evelyn and Gilbert Whittamore established a small pick-your-own strawberry and raspberry operation. During the next 50 years, the Whittamores expanded their variety of crops, and today their sons run one of the largest pick-your-own and farm market operations in Ontario. The Whittamores welcome nearly 200,000 customers a year on their 220- acre farm.

Whittamore’s Farm opens for the season on May 9. The farm market will feature asparagus, rhubarb and a unique selection of garden decor, garden plants, and mixed hanging baskets. Visit www.whittamoresfarm.com for more information.

The North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association is the leading farm direct marketing association in the world. It promotes and fosters the growth of farm direct marketing throughout North America. Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm-grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers' markets, pick-your-own farms, consumer-supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever-growing innovations in direct producer-to-consumer agricultural marketing methods. NAFDMA’s 2009 convention will be held in Georgia. Find out more about the organization at www.nafdma.com.