by Bob Bowen When we started in the farmers market, we sold chickens and meat with a small (and CHEAP!) set of table scales. They weren’t sealed for retail sales but no one caught us. And we kept checking them to assure us that we were being fair. And we tended to charge to the […]
Information
Videos to learn from
December 18, 2014 CategoriesVideos about farmers’ markets, small scale food production and the new economy arising around these. Video Series on subjects of interest to farmers’ markets. Farmers’ Market Management Video FAQ series, from the Farmers’ Market Coalition Growing Fresh Food series, from Cooking Up a Story. Peak Moment TV, “Locally reliant living for challenging times.” Although the website sells DVDs […]
Marketing advice to beginning farmers
December 17, 2014 CategoriesDon’t put all your eggs in one marketing basket. There are many places that today’s small farm can sell their productions. You might try an on-farm CSA, sell to your local food buying club, a multi-farm CSA or a Food Hub, grow for a string of retailers and/or restaurants, or sell to a wholesaler or […]
Selling by variety: Does it work?
November 27, 2014 Categoriesby Jeanne Boelsma, Bethel Farmers’ Market Two main reasons customers shop at Farmers’ Markets are freshness and taste. I have found that by planting specific varieties with excellent taste and other outstanding characteristics, I can enthusiastically recommend a variety, knowing the customer will be back for more. I like to plant the sweetest, corniest flavor […]
When does your market’s season begin?
November 27, 2014 CategoriesWhile 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 […]