[1][failed verification] F+W was named after two of its early publications: Farm Quarterly and Writer's Digest.

[2] The company grew though a series of acquisitions, including book publisher David & Charles, Krause Publications in 2002,[3] Horticulture magazine, and Adams Media in 2003.

[8] In 2008, the company began to focus more on e-commerce activities and offering products and services related to the content of its magazines.

[13] The book publishing assets of the company were won by Penguin Random House at a bankruptcy auction in June 2019.

F+W's special-interest categories included art, crafts, mixed media, writing, genealogy, antiques and collectibles, graphic design, hunting.