<p>In an effort to establish closer relationships and create credibility with its consumers, Black Gold Farms invited five food bloggers to its farm in Arbyrd, MO in the middle of harvest to provide a first-hand look at the process of growing and shipping fresh potatoes.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> This experience allowed the bloggers to eagerly provide a transparent farming experience to their collective 249,000 followers and consumers of potatoes. Through the reach of the bloggers, they have been able to help Black Gold Farms tell its locally grown, fresh potato, family farm story to consumers economically and truthfully. The entire tour experience created nearly 1 million impressions on social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “There seems to be a disconnect with consumers today in regards to agriculture and understanding the process of getting produce from the field to store shelves,” said Leah Brakke, Director of Marketing at Black Gold Farms. “We wanted the main focus with this tour, to have the bloggers really understand the critical components to the farm, to meet the people who do the work, and to see the processes and our products.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The tour, which included a walk through the fields, a discourse in potato varieties, a chance to experience a harvester in action, and an opportunity to see inside a packing facility and chip shed, was led by Leah Brakke, Director of Marketing, John Halverson, VP of Operations, and Glen Reynolds, National Director of Produce Sales.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Nothing was off the table, so they asked the hard questions about pesticide use and sustainability as well as asking about working with family and growing up on the farm,” continued Brakke. “The openness of this dialogue allowed for them to create content that was educational, but yet had a conversational and fun story.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “When a company is willing to spend their time to open their doors to educate consumers about their products, something amazing is going to take place. And the greatest reward is meeting the faces behind the brand,” remarked one of the bloggers during the tour.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Black Gold Farms will continue its commitment to engage with consumers through the power of social media as they grow its brand and ultimately introduce new and innovative products.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.blackgoldfarms.com" target="_new"> Black Gold Farms </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
