As the summer season reaches its peak, New Hampshire farms are experiencing both high productivity and demanding workloads. With market stands and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes filled with fresh produce, farmers are encouraging customers to look beyond traditional images of colorful harvests on social media.
Many consumers remain unaware of the daily work required in farming. Farmers suggest using social media not only for marketing but also as a tool to educate the public about their processes, from how asparagus is grown to the steps involved in turning goat milk into cheese or ensuring produce safety during extreme heat.
One approach is to showcase tasks such as topping Brussels sprouts or scouting fields for pests. For example, one suggested caption reads: “Jack and his giant beanstalk gets all the hype, but we’ll take our giant Brussels-stalks any day. In August, they’re still growing along the stem, each little sprout tucked in at a leaf node. Toward the end of summer, we’ll ‘top’ the plants—snipping off the growing tip—so they put energy into sizing up the sprouts instead of stretching taller. By October, the sprouts will be harvest-ready. And here’s the secret: cool nights, and especially a touch of frost, convert some of the starches into sugars. That’s why our fall Brussels sprouts taste sweeter and more flavorful than ones shipped in from far away, warmer climates. Sign up for our email list at the link in our bio to keep up to date for when these babies are ready for eating.”
Another post idea involves showing pest management strategies through videos: “Our CSA members aren’t the only ones who want a bite of our veggies. There are many pests that aim to take their share of bounty before it gets to you. For us, part of keeping our crops healthy is regular scouting as part of our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy. This means walking the fields every few days, looking for insects and disease and tracking their numbers. The idea isn’t to wipe out every bug—it’s to know when populations reach a level (called a threshold) that could cause real damage. With knowledge of the pest pressure, we can step in with control methods, starting with the least disruptive options first like encouraging beneficial insects or adjusting crop rotation. If those aren’t enough, we can use carefully chosen crop protection products like exclusion netting or sprays. IPM helps us make decisions about how best to protect our investments and safeguard pollinator while still putting high-quality food on your table. Read more about our growing practices online at www.ourfarmnh.com.”
Food safety is another area where farmers can increase transparency by sharing images such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certificates or photos with University of New Hampshire Extension Food Safety Field Specialists.
A sample caption explains: “Food safety isn’t just something we talk about—it’s built into every step of our farm.
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) & Good Handling Practices (GHP): These audit verification certificates from the USDA mean we’re following produce safety best practices to ensure the sanitary washing, packing, storage and transportation of our crops. We’re protecting our customers by preventing contamination in the field and harvesting with clean hands, into clean totes, using sanitary tools.
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training: The certificate means that our farm staff have been trained in the federal standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding produce for human consumption, as required on our farm by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR).
On-Farm Practices: We use Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to easily communicate expectations and processes with staff. From handwashing stations to clean bins and coolers, these everyday details keep your food safe and fresh.
When you shop at our farm, you’re not just buying flavor—you’re buying from people who care deeply about producing safe, high-quality food for this community.”
Farmers also encourage posts that highlight lighter moments on farms or remind visitors about guidelines through informal photos such as pets resting in fields.
To improve engagement on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook—where algorithms favor posts with more interaction—farmers are advised to write captions inviting conversation or share educational content alongside visual imagery.
The main message remains clear: during busy periods like summer harvests, sharing authentic stories behind farming operations can build trust among customers while reinforcing loyalty both online and at local markets.
