Blog entries by Tom Roberts

About Tom Roberts

When I started attending the Brewer Farmers’ Market back in August of 1983, my sole concern was being able to sell the produce my farm was growing at a good price. After attending market for a year or two, I began to realize that how the market was organized had a great impact on my sales. And how the market was organized also influenced how it made decisions about dues, new members, what could be sold at market, and how it promoted itself—and this, too, had an impact on my sales. So I got involved in the market’s steering committee and began to understand how various market members thought the market should operate. Some wanted a market czar, some wanted everyone to be allowed to do their own thing. But everyone seemed to agree that if the market as a whole did well, then so did they.

Why leaving attracts customers

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I am sure you have noticed. And I am sure you have commented to others in your market. In our market it is a commonplace understanding among those who have attended any length of time. The phenomenon in question is this: No matter how long a lull in customers you have endured, as soon as […]

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When does your market’s season begin?

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While over a dozen Maine farmers’ markets now stay open year-round, others do not open for the season until June or even July,  still others close for the season by mid-September. The reasons for late openings and early closing often—but not always—has to do with the market being dependent upon summer people and tourists. Markets […]

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The question of sending a worker to market

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At a certain stage of growth in our operations, it becomes apparent that we cannot do everything that needs doing all by ourselves. When this time arrives, we hire helpers to get things done in a more effective and timely manner, as well as to be able to simply do more overall. Hiring the right […]

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