Farmer's Market Vendors?

[reducereuserecycle]

anyone sell anything at local markets?

i was thinking we could discuss tips, ideas, etc.

this is my first year and i was originally going to do 2 markets...but now i am up to 3...sorta addictive!

now i am selling garlic (bulbs, greens, scapes, and spounted garlic for people to plant), rain lily bulbs, surprise lily bulbs, broccoli raab, raddishes, baked goods, potted plants, cut flowers, frog belly, hens and chicks, lily of the valley, herbs...ummmm....oh, some seeds...and that is about it.

oh yes, and everything is grown organically and all my seeds that i buy are organic.

i am amazed at the number of people i've came in contact with that don't see the need to buy organic seeds but brag that they don't spray etc....imo, since it starts with the seed then it is better to start with organic seeds.

i am not certified organic. too much hassle for a small operation like mine.

also, as noted in another thread i am trying the no-stake tomatoes. i hate those metal cages and some of the staking materials sorta scare me. i'm sure they aren't that harmful (maybe not at all) but i really try to be minimal.

i don't till between my rows so i am sorta trying the no-till approach.

i heard that the black plastic to keep down weeds is acceptable for organic as long as you take it up in the fall...but that seems very un-organic to me...so i don't plan to try that!

i use some pine needles and grassclippings for mulch though.


anyone want to join this discussion?

[reducereuserecycle]

anyone?

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I do, but I'm mostly plants. Heirloom & organic. I definately went too big this year, it's my second, and I have too many plants and too much variety. It will be my first year selling produce, since I have so many plants left, I'll have to rent some space to plant all those veggies & tomatoes, really pack them in. I already rented two spaces for specialty pumpkins. One is planted already, I am going to plant the other this weekend. One of my customers gave me her plot so that makes one for peppers, now I just need one for tomatoes. THe good thing is at my market, no one really sells a lot of hot peppers, so I'll have a niche there.

I guess the biggest thing I've noticed is to take the time to walk around and check out other people's prices. YOu don't want to be significantly more or less than anyone else. Really, you should be about the same because it doesn't matter how great your stuff is, people are cheap and they'll go with the cheaper price every time.

[maplesugar]

I'll join!

I have never sold at market before, but this year, I will probably try for a couple, including a sort of neighborhood market. I have some high hopes, but I know I am pretty inexperienced. I have about a hundred mostly heirloom tomato plants started, awaiting their transfer outside next week (zone 5). Some of the are pretty small yet, so we'll see how they do.

I plan on growing a lot of leafy greens (kales, lettuce, mesclun mix, etc), but I am wondering if anyone has any tips on how to transport these without them wilting?

I also have a bunch of heirloom peppers started. Should be interesting.

As to the no till, I have tried mulching the few tomato plants I have outside with several inches of mulch (straw) This has worked well to keep weeds down and has the added benifit of keeping moisture consistant. I plan to mulch most of my plants. Google "Ruth Stout" for some interesting mulch info.

I will be growing things organically but not certified.

One thing I am wondering about now is pricing my goods. You made some good pints on that, mommy nicenice. Most are herloom, but some hybrids.

[steffanie3]

I think I am going to do a little bit of selling this year depending on our harvest. It will mainly just be extras but I am trying to plant extra to ensure some to sell. I am on the planning committee that is starting our market here in our small town, it is really exciting. I would love any ideas or hints that would help make our market better if you have any.

I am also trying to find a niche, hopefully asparagus, but that will be a few years away. Maybe I will add some more peppers, hot specifically. Any other niche ideas that I could get going for our market that starts in July?

I was wondering about keeping greens from wilting too.

[reducereuserecycle]

most people i've seen use lots of big coolers to transport wilty type foods. i've seen some spray the greens with mists from the spray water bottles.

some rotate what is in the cooler so they may only have one bunch or container or a certain item on display with pricing but they rotate every 15 minutes or so with the ones in the cooler so that they all get a time in and time out of the cooler.

as far as pricing, i tend to price low and it has helped with my cut flowers. i'd rather sell them than take them home. for example, i was selling peonies for $1 per stem and a man was like 'that's all?' i didn't know why he said that until i walked by some other vendors and saw one that was selling peonies for about $3 a stem. oops...but i don't think they sold any!!! so, if it is something perishable that i couldn't really use at home (i don't need 10 cases of flowers) then i go for lower pricing.

[steffanie3]

How is it going for everyone?

Our market starts in a couple weeks.

[reducereuserecycle]

those tents are a pain!!! i already lost one from the bars breaking. the tents are the worst part of market but it is too hot without them. :