Ag Producer Barriers to Direct Market Sales

Summary

In the Fall of 2020, the Port of Chehalis was awarded funding from USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant Program for their project: Identifying Rural Agricultural Producer Barriers to Direct Market Product Sales in Lewis County, Washington. This project seeks to aid local agricultural producers who are considering expanding operations to direct market sales and those who have already expanded to direct market sales. This research was conducted through the assessment of baseline direct market sales data, and engagement with agricultural producers and potential consumers. As part of this assessment, representatives with the Port of Chehalis contacted the Washington State University’s Division of Governmental Studies and Services (DGSS) to consult on the development of two surveys: a survey for agricultural producers in Lewis County and a survey of potential consumers in the County.