Anyone sell at Farmers markets?

[flourgirl]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but I am wondering if anyone sells to Farmers Markets and if so what do you sell and what sells well for you.

[Terri]

I used to.

What sold well for me was what the other venders were not selling.

The market master might be able to give advice: at one market she suggested that there was no jelly maker, and when I did make some she put me next to the bread baker.

Were you thinking about baked goods, vegetables, jelly, fruit, or just whatever would sell? I know that I went there to learn HOW to sell effectively, so it was not too important WHAT I was selling!

[Suzy]

This past summer was my first time to sell at our county's local farmer's market which is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I was only able to go a few times but did extremely well every time selling out just about everything I took!

And yes the secret is selling things that other folks AREN'T selling there....

I would sell out on things like honeysuckle jelly, blackberry jelly, my "fresh eggs from happy chickens," and my homemade goat milk soap! This year I will be adding more dried and fresh herbs and more different kinds of unusual jellies!

At our Farmer's Markets (here in Alabama) you go get a "grower's permit" from the Extension Service and you list on it everything that you produce on your farm...so I put everything I can think of that I grow or make or may even think about doing, growing or making...that free permit lets me sell at any farmer's market in the state as well as at my little farm store here at home, and it has a copy of the state law on the top....So when the county folks came year before last saying I needed to buy a LICENSE for my little farm store, I pulled out my grower's permit and read them the state law on the top....and SUDDENLY they realized that, NO, I DIDNT need to buy a county license!!!

I don't like "registering" my farm but in this case this permit works great....and the Extension folks have been great as far as helping me make sure I think of everything I need to put on it! They appear to be working for the SMALL farmer and homesteaders around here!

[Suzy]

Oh---and in Alabama (your laws might be different) you have to be careful and make sure that the kinds of things you sell can be sold LEGALLY in your state....like I can sell my jelly legally but couldn't sell anything that had to be pressure canned....and while I can sell goat milk soap, I cant sell goat cheese because you have to be a Class A Dairy in Alabama to sell that....

So it really pays to know your state's laws and then abide by those laws and you can sell to your heart's content!

[fancyfowl]

Product presentation is important. Clean fruits & veggies always bring more and sell better, nice looking displays are more appealing. I like to take stuff in large baskets, bushels, then break them down into smaller baskets up on the tables. Everyone sells garlic bu none look better than mine and I set a full bushel by the table, same for onions, etc. Dress neatlt, be clean. trying to look like a hick farmer is not generally a good tactic, well not normally, there are exceptions.

Fingerling taters sell well for me & at premium prices, sweet onions- bigger is better here; green beans, tomatoes are good.

I dont try and have the lowest prices, it wont sell you any more goods, you will just take home less money. People are mostly willing to pay a good price for a good product, to heck with the price shoppers, they wont support you.

Always try something new every season, yellow watermelons(Yellow Doll) really well well for me but I eat most of the doggone things.

[catrules]

I don't sell at the market at this point in time. However, I will tell you that one of the things that I want to see more of is broccoli and cauliflower. I don't have much luck growing those myself, and get excited when I see them at the market. It is also important to me that the stuff we buy is not grown with any chemicals. I pass by the booths where I know that is not the case.

I'm also a big fan of the vendors who have samples of their products.

[Vidman]

I sold a few years back. I may sell this year, but only after I have put back my 75 or so quarts of veggies for those hard times looming.

[michiganmom]

I sell baked good at our farmers market. Homemade doughnuts, bread, peanut brittle, ect. It goes pretty good and i use the profit to buy fresh produce from the other vendors that i can not grow. It works out pretty well for me.

[Mom5farmboys]

My parents were just here and they had been to a Farmers Market this morning and mentioned that they saw something new. Someone set up to sharpen knives for you while you wait.

I thought that was a great idea. They said they didn't notice what he charged to do it though. They said when they go back next Saturday they would check it out for me if he is back there again.

[ScrubbieLady]

The farmer's market that I sell at is only on Saturdays. We have a regular knife sharpener and he stays pretty busy. Last year we had two that shared the same space. Unfortunately, the one that did it by hand and stone is not back this year. The guy that is here uses an electric sharpener.

[WVMan73]

I haven't been selling this year, but I have in the past. Mostly small craft items, woodwork, and tye-dye t-shirts. I didn't do bad with it, but most people are their for produce. One thing I will say is be sure you look into how your state laws handle farmers markets. Here in WV if you sell any food item, other than raw unprocessed fruits and veggies, you have to have your kitchen inspected and your recipies approved. It's not just a matter of making jelly and selling it, or baking a loaf of bread and selling it. Basicly you're handled under the same rules as a place like smuckers or wonder bread.

It may not be that way there, but be sure to look into it if you are wishing to sell any of those types of items. You're market master (the person in charge of the farm market you are thinking of selling from) should be able to help you with the information.

Good luck,
WVMan73