Best Platform to Sell Farm Products: Comparing Top Options for Farmers
With more people seeking direct access to real food, farmers are finding new opportunities to sell their products online. Whether you’re running a full-time farm or managing a small backyard operation, choosing the best platform to sell farm products can significantly impact your sales, time, and profits.
In this guide, we’re comparing a few of the most talked-about platforms for farms — their strengths, drawbacks, and what kind of farmer they suit best. We'll also introduce Red Hen, a new national app built specifically for farmers selling direct to customers.
Why Sell Farm Products Online?
Online platforms help farmers:
Reach a wider audience (locally or nationally)
Maintain better control over pricing and customer interactions
Reduce reliance on wholesale buyers or farmers markets
Offer pickup, delivery, or shipping depending on their setup
But not all platforms are created equal — and not every farmer has the same goals or budget.
Barn2Door
Best for: Larger farms ready to invest in a full-scale online store
Cost: $$$ (Monthly subscription required, plus add-ons)
Barn2Door is a polished and full-featured e-commerce tool for farms. You can create a branded online store, manage inventory, automate pickup scheduling, and more. However, it can be expensive, especially for smaller or newer farms. Some farmers report needing to drive their own traffic, which can be tough if you don’t already have an audience.
GrownBy
Best for: Co-ops, CSA farms, or producers in the Northeast
Cost: $ Free to join + low fees
GrownBy is a cooperatively owned platform with great values and solid tools for managing CSA shares and orders. It’s built by farmers, for farmers, but currently has limited geographic reach — most active farms are concentrated in the Northeast. If you’re outside that area, customer discovery will be slower.
GrazeCart
Best for: Meat farms selling in bulk (e.g., half/whole animals)
Cost: $$ (Subscription-based, built-in marketing tools)
GrazeCart offers excellent tools for meat producers, especially those selling bulk meat shares. You can customize your store, create bundles, and even collect deposits. That said, it’s more tech-heavy and best suited for producers with time or staff to manage it. GrazeCart does not actively bring customers to you — marketing is up to the farm.
Red Hen App
Best for: Farms of all sizes looking to sell locally (without marketing headaches)
Cost: $ Free to join + low 2% transaction fee on sales
Red Hen is a new national app that makes it easier than ever to list your farm products and reach local buyers. What sets it apart:
Built-in customer discovery: Red Hen isn’t just a store builder — it’s also doing the marketing. With over 140k followers and 3,000+ email subscribers, they’re actively bringing consumers to the app.
Flexible for farmers: Sell eggs, veggies, meat, or value-added goods with pickup, delivery, or shipping. (Note: currently does not support whole/half animal sales — yet.)
No subscriptions: Early users get 6 months free, and after that it's just a 2% fee per transaction. This is ideal for smaller operations or those just starting out.
National reach: Unlike some tools, Red Hen is built to serve farmers across the entire U.S.
👉 Explore the Red Hen App for Farmers
Which Platform Is Right for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a quick summary:
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best platform to sell farm products comes down to what kind of farm you run, how much time you want to spend on tech, and how much you’re able to invest. For many small to mid-size farms — or anyone just starting out — a tool like Red Hen may offer the easiest way to get online and actually find customers.
As online demand for local food continues to grow, now’s the perfect time to try a platform that supports your farm and helps build stronger food systems.
🧑🌾 Get Early Access to Red Hen (Free for 6 Months)