If you ask a lot of small farmers around the country they’ll tell you a similar story. They started out just planting a few crops here and there and over the course of a few months or a few years, their crops grew and grew to the point where they could start selling their fresh fruits and vegetables to friends or neighbors. Fortunately for many of them a local farmers market is nearby and provides a great location to sell fresh vegetables. In fact, there are literally thousands of farmers markets throughout the U.S. and more customers are demanding fresh home grown produce.<\/p>\n
We suggest you check out a farmers market first before you take the plunge. See what sellers are peddling and what are the average price per pound for each type of fruit and vegetable. What type of scales are the sellers using? If you’re new to selling at the market, there are a few insider secrets<\/a> you should know as well.<\/p>\n 1. Do Market Research \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Every market has its own culture and vibe,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d explains Leigh Adcock, executive director of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network, an organization connecting women in sustainable agriculture. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Some markets cater to busy shoppers who want to quickly buy their week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s vegetables while others create a more social setting with music and kids activities. Talk to other growers and folks buying at the market to get a sense of what the market is like.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n 2. Learn Farmers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122-Market Rules 3. Start Small 4. Identify Your Niche Hopefully with this knowledge, you’ll be able to quickly decide what market(s) to sell your goods, what items to sell, how much to sell them for, and what supplies you’ll need like a good set of digital scales, portable tent, tables, etc…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you ask a lot of small farmers around the country they’ll tell you a similar story. They started out just planting a few crops here and there and over the course of a few months or a few years, … Continue reading
\nIdeally, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll identify a potential farmers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 market the year before you want to start selling and visit it several times during the season. Get a feel for the market and attendance flow. Is there enough shopper volume to justify more vendors?<\/p>\n
\nUnderstand the regulations of the particular farmers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 market you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re considering selling at. Ask the market manager questions, and make sure you can commit to the expectations. For example, you may inquire about rules regarding what you can sell. Some markets are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153producer only,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which typically means you can only sell things you grew yourself, whereas others may allow you to resell other items or include things like crafts.<\/p>\n
\nDon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go overboard\u00e2\u20ac\u201dtest the farmers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122-market waters before investing in expensive tents and gear. See if you can find a market where you can sell as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153daily vendor\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to get started. These are markets that will let you commit to one market at a time depending on available space. This way, you can get a feel for selling at the farmers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 market without over-committing. As you do these trial sales, take into account your driving time and costs and sales volume to determine if this particular market is a good long-term fit.<\/p>\n
\nHow is what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re selling different than other vendors at the farmers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 market? Sometimes it helps to specialize in selling varietals of one distinct item, such as garlic. Another route is to creatively package your items. Sure, a lot of farmers may be selling red, ripe tomatoes, but what if you sold green tomatoes, along with your recipe for fried green tomatoes?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n