What do you sell at the farm market?

[Ebowhunter]

Hi, I was wondering what y'all sell at the farmers market. Or do you sell from home? I would like to sell from home but not sure if I would get enough business to make it worth while.

[hmsteader71]

Last year, I was the only one who set up a farmer's market here in my town. I sold some out of my garden but mostly I sold homemade bread and pies and such. That seemed to sell better than the produce!

[highlandview]

What city or county agencies do you need to deal with to sell farm products? I am interested in doing this myself, but don't know where to begin.

[Ebowhunter]

highland view-

We have a small farm market here in town. It is a bunch of people that come together on Saturday mornings and pay $12 to set up and we are there from 8-1pm. There are some bigger markets that have inspectors come through to make sure things are being kept refridgerated if they need to be (such as eggs) So you could do a search on the web for farm markets and when it asks put in your area to see where they are and call the "market master" (the coordinator or head of the market) and they should be able to help you from there.

[MullersLaneFarm]

If you have a farmer's market already established, ask to talk with the market manager and get info.

If you're selling from your farm, as long as it is just produce, you won't need any special license. If you're selling meat/milk/eggs/baked goods/canned goods, check with your state ag first and work your way down to the country health department.

From the farmer's market we sell milk soaps, lotions, handspun yarns, crocheted & knitted items, felted items, blacksmithed items, honey and produce (in season) including vegetables, berries & other fruit.

From the farm we sell the above plus eggs, milk, custom feed hog, chicken & turkey for folks.

[bill not in oh]

Regulations vary from state to state.

Most states regulations follow the USDA regs fairly closely.

Your state department of agriculture will be able to give you the regulations in written form.

If you sell at a FARMERS' Market, you will assuredly be in a different situation of regulation and inspection than if you sell at your on-premise FARM market.

For example... In Ohio if I sell eggs strictly from my farm market there are no permits required. I am subject to inspection, but the chances of that happening are slim to nil - I don't really care as I operate by the rules. If I take eggs to a farmers' market or the local general store or restaurant, I need a vendor's permit and have to provide refrigeration to maintain the eggs at 45 degrees or less during transport and on site. The likelihood of an inspection at a farmers' market is much greater. I still don't care since I operate by the rules. Processing and packaging requirements are the same no matter where I sell the eggs. I have a prime location to sell from the farm, so to consider selling at a farmers' market just doesn't make any sense for me - the time I would be at the market is pretty much prime time at my farm, so other than the ability to establish new customers to buy at the farm, it doesn't pay for the hassel of getting the permit and committing to 20-30 days of the year, purchasing the refrigeration equipment, and limiting myself to locations that have electricity available. If my location were less desirable, I'd probably have a different perspective and at least consider going. Farmers' markets in this area really don't support my approach to selling ag products since I sell value not price. Eggs at farmers' markets in the area sell (last year) for $1.25 - $1.75 @ doz. I can't sell my eggs for that and even approach making a profit much less a living..... And it's pretty much the same with all the products - chicken, pork, honey, produce - the customers expect cheap and the vendors give it to them...

[ET1 SS]

We belong to a Farmer's Market locally.

We applied to join this past winter, attended a meeting and made a presentation to the board, where they voted on our membership.

One of this market's founders is the editor of a newsletter that goes out to all farmer markets in the state of Maine. They network and coordinate all markets through-out the state. This past week he gave me a book, that they published, compiling the histories and rules of each farmer's market in Maine. He belongs to and sells at four different markets each week, each in different counties.

I sell free-range eggs, veggies, fiddleheads, sprouts and soap.

Our Farmer's Market is tied to MOFGA, who is the state organic certifying agency. So this FM can inspect us each year, and after three years they can certify us as 'organic'.

[Ken Scharabok]

I have friends in Southern TN who, among other things, grow and sell some 50,000 tomato seedlings in about twelve varieties. She strives to produce a product far superior to others and becomes somewhat of an expert in each of the varieties she is offering that year (she typically drops and adds one variety each year). While tomato seedlings are her prime product she also sells herbs and some houseplants she grows. Over the years she has developed an extremely loyal customer base.

After tomato planting season they completely close down that enterprise and do other revenue generators (profit centers).

[foxtrapper]

Research the various markets carefully. Many are very low profit as someone is selling things at a give-a-way prices, and you can't compete. For example, in my town, there's a few retired old boys who sell eggs for less than a buck a dozen. And since they are good-ole-boys, they are placed right at the front of the market, where you walk in.

But, go down the road a ways to another market, and eggs sell upwards of $5-7 a dozen. Now there is a place to sell as you can make a profit.

[Ken Scharabok]

Interesting post. I suspect each farmers' market has its own personality. What might sell well at one may not at another. As noted a market gardener may have to compete with someone there just to have something to do.

I have friends who do the flea market booth route. They have been in and out of several in the past two years. They noted at one the customers seems to be particularly cheap, for want of a better term. At another theft was quite high. Each stall was in a metal cage area. When they were setting up they noticed some folks walking around with straightened out coat hangers. Came to realize they used them as fishing poles in the booths which weren't attended.

[Ebowhunter]

foxtrapper- wow I can't imagine getting 5 to 7 dollars per dozen! We just raised the price on our eggs to 1.75 and I didn't like having to do that.

There are some very good points made here about farmers markets in comparison to selling direct from the farm.

We have a good customer base started for our pork, chicken, turkeys, and egg production. I am trying to start a base with lamb but so far all I have is two customers. But it will happen I am sure.

Thanks for your insight, everyone!

[sisterpine]

We do the local farmers market in Butte. It cost 200.00 for a full season space and we sell nakedpine coat trees, natural semiprecious and riverstone cabinet knobs as well as some natural stone jewelry...so far so good. DH is a much better salesperson than his wife LOL.