Marketing Consultant

The Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE) seeks 2-3 Consultants to provide 1:1 branding and marketing services to 8-10 beginning farmer clients in spring 2025. CADE welcomes proposals from those experienced in brand development, graphic design, marketing strategy, and monitoring and evaluation of marketing tactics. Experience with farms or food businesses is a plus.

ABOUT CADE: CADE is a non-profit organization founded in 1991, based in Oneonta, NY, whose mission is to increase the number and diversity of successful farm enterprises. Our goal is for farm and food businesses to compete and thrive, contributing to a sustainable regional food system and strong local economy. CADE strives to uphold and promote the following values as an organization and in our work with clients: Sustainability, Collaboration, Inclusion, Transparency and Innovation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide marketing services to 2-8 beginning farmer clients selected and vetted by CADE through a competitive application process* between early March – early May 2025
  • *Clients will apply to the program in January 2025. CADE staff will review applications and select 8-10 participants in February 2025. Selected clients will be given the choice of 2-3 designers to work with. 
• Assess each client’s branding and marketing needs and determine a scope of work that falls within the project budget.* Services could include: general marketing strategy, brand kit development, social media strategy/templates, product labels, signage, wholesale sell sheets, eCommerce support, etc.
  • *All clients will have the same stipend for work with their chosen designer. If the client prefers to work on a larger project that exceeds the allocated budget (for example, a website build), CADE can provide a cost share where the client covers the excess amount.
• Manage client relationships independently, while keeping CADE staff informed on progress biweekly as agreed upon by all parties.

DELIVERABLES

• At project start (Dec 2024)
  • Meet with CADE staff to understand program scope and timeline
• Client work (March-May 2025)
  • Onboarding meetings with CADE staff and between 2-8 beginning farmer clients 
  • Consultant carries out scope of work with clients
• Project wrap (May 2025) 
  • Provide a final report with brief descriptions of services provided to each client

QUALIFICATIONS OF VENDORS

• Strong experience with industry standards and trends for branding, social media, and marketing strategy for farm and food businesses in New York State 
• Highly personable, with comfortability being in direct communication with CADE’s farmer clients
• Familiarity with antiracist frameworks and commitment to an equitable, sustainable food system 

TO APPLY

Please submit a proposal (not to exceed 2 pages) to Rhiannon Wright (rhiannon@cadefarms.org) with subject “RFP-Marketing Consultant” by 11/29/2024 that contains the following information:

(1) a brief letter of interest and related qualifications
(2) a proposed work plan, including a start date; and
(3) a basic pricing list for standard design/marketing services provided by the consultant  

APPLICATION PROCESS

Proposals will be accepted until 11/29/2024, with a determination by 12/6/2024. This project will wrap by 5/31/2025.

No phone calls please. CADE values diverse experiences and perspectives. We encourage farmers, historically underserved candidates, and those who may not meet all preferred qualifications to apply. Applicants should be committed to anti-racist initiatives and ready to contribute to CADE’ s mission of building a more equitable food system.

CADE is an equal opportunity employer committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws. CADE prohibits discrimination against any employee and considers applications for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, military status, height and weight, religion, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest record, or any other legally protected status. People of color, persons with disabilities, veterans, women, and LGBT applicants are encouraged to apply.