Wow.
We've reached the halfway point already and have drummed up a ton of excitement about PA Produce Month thus far. Let's keep it rolling!

This week's marketing tip has a two-fold purpose.

It's mid-August. Farmers everywhere, and their staff, are feeling the weight of the season. It's not unusual for people and things (read: equipment) to break and feel tested both physically and mentally. Sometimes the best business move you can make at this point is to boost moral and spirits.

Fortunately, it's been proven that incorporating humor and fun into your marketing can have a positive impact on your customer relations. It is not recommended that your entire strategy be based on it, but it is great for brand awareness and customer loyalty. Plus, c'mon, who doesn't love to laugh and smile?

Consider incorporating the following techniques into your upcoming marketing activities and enjoy a smile yourself. You've certainly earned it!

  • Snag a joke or riddle from the list below (or here, in the Toolbox) or make up your own that's relative to your products, services, or even the local area.

  • You may choose to make it into a contest in a variety of ways. Here are some examples:

  • In person, you can post the joke or riddle on a piece of paper or chalkboard and set up an entry box with small slips of paper. Customers can submit their answer and contact info (email and phone #) and you can select one winner out of the correct answers to receive a prize at next week's market.

  • Through digital media, you can ask your audience to complete a series of tasks that increases your reach. Participants must comment with their answer, Like/Follow your page (if they don't already), and tag one friend who would also like to play.

  • If you're a CSA farmer, you can write a joke on the order form that goes in each box or print a series of jokes on one page cut into small slips. Consider including a "have a nice day" message as well. After all, it's these little things that make your customers choose you. You can also encourage the customer to provide the punch line through social media and tag you as a secondary level of engagement and reach. Customers who complete this task could be rewarded with an extra item the following week.

  • Prizes to offer for a joke/riddle game at your market and/or stand could include a free item (what do you have a lot of that week?), "market cash", a BOGO coupon for their next trip. You name it!
Your jokes.
Why did the tomato blush?
Because it saw the salad dressing.
 
What day is a potatoes least favorite?
Fri-day
 
What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?
Squash!
 
What did the lettuce say to the celery?
Quit stalking me.
 
What am I? You throw away my outside and cook my inside. Then you eat my outside and throw away my inside.
Corn
 
If you take off my skin, I won't cry, but you will, what am I?
Onion
 
What's the fastest vegetable?
A runner bean.
 
What did the mama tomato say to her daughter tomato when out for a jog?
Ketchup!
 
What vegetable is a sailors worst enemy?
Leeks!
 
Why do potatoes always argue?
Because they can never see eye to eye.
 
What is small, red and whispers?
A hoarse radish.
 
What did the sweet potato say to the pumpkin?
I yam what I yam.
 
What do you call an angry pea?
Grump-pea
 
Which vegetable might be hiding in your basement?
Cellar-y
 
What did one root vegetable say to the other when it misplaced its keys?
I'm sure they'll turnip.
 
What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?
Pumpkin Pi.
 
What is green and goes to summer camp?
A Brussels scout.
 
How do you turn soup into gold?
Put 14 carrots in it.
Graphic of the week.