How to Grow Your Email List (and What to Send Them) for Farmers

Learn how to grow your email list and send effective marketing emails for your food hub. Strategies include Local Line tools, campaign ideas, and subscriber tips.
Farmer holding iphone and veggie CSA box in field.
Written by
Tandy Thackeray
Published on
June 24, 2025

For farms and food hubs, email isn’t just a marketing tool; it’s your direct line to your most loyal customers. While social media algorithms change and traffic comes and goes, your email list is an asset you control. But how do you grow that list? And more importantly, what do you actually send?

In this guide, we’ll break down how to grow your email list with intention and what types of emails create real impact. From simple signup strategies to conversion-driving campaigns, you’ll learn how to turn subscribers into weekly customers.

Key Takeaways

  • Email lists are one of the most powerful, low-cost marketing tools for food hubs and farms.
  • Growing your list starts with visibility, incentives, and seamless signup options.
  • Local Line helps collect emails through storefronts, order forms, and checkout.
  • The best emails focus on value: what’s available, what’s new, and why it matters.
  • Flodesk is a top recommendation for intuitive email building and automation.

Why should you invest in email?

When it comes to reaching your customers and driving sales, email still pulls more weight than any other channel. It’s not just about sending newsletters. It’s about building relationships that grow your farm.

Here’s why email keeps outperforming social media and paid ads:

Direct access to your audience

Email gives you a straight line to your customers’ inbox. You’re not competing with other farms or food brands like you are on social platforms. Once someone joins your list, you don’t need to pay to reach them again.

No algorithm to fight

Unlike social feeds that bury posts or require ad spend, every email you send has a fair shot at being seen. You own your list, and no one can take that away or throttle your reach.

High open and conversion rates

Well-timed, relevant emails get opened and convert. Weekly farm updates, early access to new products, limited-time offers, or behind-the-scenes stories all give customers a reason to click and buy.

Your email list is more than just a place to drop updates. It’s your VIP section. These are the folks who’ve raised their hand and said, “I’m in.” They want to learn from you, shop with you, and feel like part of your farm.

If you’re not emailing regularly, you’re leaving money in the field. Build that list, treat it like gold, and use it to drive real results.

A strong email list is the foundation of your farm’s marketing. The more people you can reach directly, the more sales you’ll make—plain and simple. Here’s how to grow your list quickly and consistently.

How to Grow your Farm's Email List

Make signup impossible to miss

Every customer interaction is a chance to grow your list. Don't wait for folks to stumble across your form. Put it front and center on your website, storefront, checkout page, social media, and even your email signature. Use pop-ups or sticky bars on your site, and if you're at markets, add a QR code or paper sign-up sheet to your booth.

Give people a real reason to join

Nobody hands over their email for nothing. Offer something that matters to them—and fast. Some tried-and-true incentives include:

  • Early access to your weekly harvest inventory
  • First dibs on limited-stock products like fresh berries or eggs
  • Subscriber-only discounts or coupon codes
  • Seasonal recipes featuring your farm's produce
  • Personal notes or videos from the farm, like "Meet the chickens" or "Spring planting update"

The more valuable and personal your emails feel, the more people will sign up—and stick around.

Track what works (and what doesn’t)

You need forms that don't just look good, but give you insights too. Tools like Flodesk, Mailchimp, and ConvertKit make it easy to:

  • Embed mobile-friendly signup forms on your Local Line store and website
  • Set up automated welcome emails to greet new subscribers right away
  • Track which forms and pages are bringing in the most signups

Local Line tips for building a stronger list

  • Add customer tags to segment your list: Use tags like "Saturday pick up" or "new customers" to send more relevant emails to the right groups.
  • Set up automated price list emails: Don’t want to use an external email tool? Schedule emails in Local Line to notify all customers assigned to a price list when your store is open. Add custom copy, headings, links, and images to make it engaging.
  • Do mid-week drops: Got extra inventory or hot items selling fast? Send quick one-off emails to certain customer groups from your customer table to drive same-day or next-day orders.
  • Use your reports: Identify repeat buyers, top customers, and one-time shoppers. These insights help you understand how well your emails are working to build loyalty and increase repeat sales.

What to Send Your Email List

Here are 5 campaign types that drive results:

1. Weekly Order Reminders

  • When: Every week before the order deadline
  • Why: Drives consistent sales
  • Include: Top products, inventory highlights, pickup/delivery reminders

2. Back-in-Stock or Low-Stock Alerts

  • When: Products return or are nearly sold out
  • Why: Creates urgency and excitement
  • Include: Quantity remaining, link to shop now

3. Featured Producer or Product Stories

  • When: Monthly or bi-weekly
  • Why: Builds connection and transparency
  • Include: Photos, quotes, production stories, behind-the-scenes

4. Seasonal Promotions or Coupons

  • When: Around holidays or seasonal transitions
  • Why: Encourages larger orders
  • Include: Promo code, order deadline, featured bundles

5. Customer Tips or Recipes

  • When: Monthly or alongside weekly updates
  • Why: Adds value beyond the sale
  • Include: Recipe of the week, how-to videos, prep/storage tips

How to Turn Opens into Sales

If you're sending emails to customers, the key is to keep them simple and skimmable. Use short paragraphs and bolded headers so your message is easy to follow, especially for folks reading on their phones. Make sure to include clear call-to-action buttons like Shop now or Order by Tuesday so people know exactly what to do next.

High-quality images and consistent branding help your emails stand out and feel professional. When your visuals match your website and social media, it builds trust and recognition.

Subject lines should be short, relevant, and curiosity-driven. They’re the first thing your customers see, and if they don’t catch attention fast, the email won’t get opened. Think of your subject line like the sign on your farmstand, make it welcoming and worth stopping for.

Whenever possible, segment your list. Even simple segmentation can make a big difference. For example:

  • Customers who haven’t ordered in 30+ days
  • VIP customers who order weekly
  • First-time buyers

Each group has different needs, so sending targeted re-engagement emails or special offers can help bring them back and keep them coming.

Real-World Example: Subscriber Growth at a Regional Food Hub

When Siskiyou Farm Co. began focusing on email, we made simple changes that led to consistent growth:

  • Added an email banner to our Local Line storefront
  • Mentioned email signups during pickup events
  • Sent weekly order reminders with bold product highlights
  • Used Flodesk to automate new subscriber welcome emails
  • Built out a 9-email welcome series + promotional offer series to onboard and convert new subscribers

Within three months, we doubled our active subscriber count and saw a 22% increase in repeat weekly orders.

Growing Your List for a Successful Summer with Local Line

A thriving email list gives your food hub or farm a direct, reliable way to stay connected and drive sales. Focus on visibility, give customers a reason to sign up, and send emails that deliver value week after week.

Local Line makes it easy to do all of that in one place. From collecting emails through your storefront and order forms to sending targeted price list emails and building smart segments, we’ve got the tools you need to grow. Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your marketing to the next level, Local Line helps you stay top of mind and top of inbox.

Ready to grow your list and your sales? Book a free demo or create your account today and start sending emails that convert.

Got 5 Minutes?

Farms that use Local Line grow sales by 23% per year! Find out how

FAQs for Growing Your Farm's Email List

What is the best way for farms to grow their email list?

The best way for farms to grow an email list is to make signup easy and visible everywhere customers interact with you. Offer clear incentives like discounts, early access to products, or subscriber-exclusive recipes. Using tools like Local Line makes this process seamless.

Why is email marketing effective for farms and food hubs?

Email marketing is effective because it offers direct communication without competing against social media algorithms. Emails typically achieve higher open and conversion rates, enabling farms to build strong relationships with customers.

What types of emails do farms typically send?

Farms typically send weekly product updates, back-in-stock alerts, featured producer stories, seasonal promotions, and recipes or cooking tips. These emails keep customers informed, engaged, and motivated to purchase regularly.

How can farms create emails that customers actually open?

Create short, curiosity-driven subject lines and keep the content relevant, clear, and visually appealing. Including strong calls-to-action like "Order by Tuesday" helps convert email opens into sales.

Can Local Line help with email marketing?

Yes, Local Line helps farms and food hubs easily collect email addresses through storefronts, checkout pages, and order forms. It also supports sending automated emails and segmenting customers to boost engagement and sales.

How often should farms email their subscribers?

Most successful farms email subscribers at least weekly, typically before order deadlines. Additionally, occasional targeted emails, such as seasonal promotions or low-stock alerts, can drive extra sales.

What email marketing tools are recommended for farms?

Tools like Flodesk, Mailchimp, and ConvertKit are highly recommended because they offer easy-to-use forms, automated emails, and analytics to track subscriber growth and engagement effectively.

How do I measure if my farm's email marketing is successful?

Success can be measured by tracking open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates (sales from emails), and overall subscriber growth. Using analytics provided by email marketing tools helps farms understand and improve their email effectiveness.

Tandy Thackeray Local Line
Tandy Thackeray
Tandy manages Siskiyou Farm Co., overseeing social media, marketing, and sales, and streamlines the distribution and marketing of locally sourced food products, connecting local producers with consumers.
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