Farmers Market Success

Transcription

1 Farmers Market Success Leah and Jessie Smith of Nodding Thistle

2 Farm Details 54 Tillable Acres, Including Grain and Hay Fields 6 Acres Vegetables, Small Fruits, Herbs, Ornamentals, Fruit Orchard Egg Laying Chickens Small Beef Cow Herd 1-2 Beehives Meat Chickens and Dairy Cows Arrived 1983, Certified Organic

3 Marketing History Hastings Farmers Market (Wednesday and Saturday) Battle Creek Farmers Market (Saturday) Springfield Farmers Market 1998 (Saturday) East Lansing Farmers Market (Saturday) Lansing City Market (Saturday) Allen Street Community Farmers Market (Wednesday) Grand Ledge Farmers Market 2011 (Saturday) South Lansing Farmers Market (Thursday) Hastings Farmers Market August (Saturday) Hastings Grocery Stores Limited Restaurant, Wholesaler, Institutions, CSA-type experience

4 What We Will Cover What to Grow How to Choose a Farmers Market Farmers Market Displays and Salesmanship Pricing and Promotion

5 What to Grow What You Like Sell Your Extras Show Enthusiasm

6 What to Grow Easy Crops Lettuce Scallions Green Beans What is Easy for You to Grow?

7 What to Grow Scarce or Unusual Crops Husk Cherries Okra Lebanese Summer Squash Tomatoes? Corner the Market!

8 What to Grow Quality Product, Quality Control Fresh (shelf life, vase life) Tasty (cared for) Well Timed Harvest All Products

9 What to Grow Value Added Crops Strawberry Jam Zucchini Bread Crafted, Non-edible Products Large Market, Differentiate Yourself

10 What to Grow A Different Approach to Value Added Case Study - Surplus Butternut Squash

11 Article in Farming Magazine Case-study about bush beans using both growing and marketing techniques Smith, L Selling Green Beans. vol.15 issue 1 no.57:

12 What to Grow - Sources Seed Catalogues Fedco Seeds Territorial Seed Company Johnny s Selected Seeds Turtle Tree Seed Initiative Schlabach s Nursery Books Computer Sources Human Sources

13 Choosing a Farmers Market Location, generally and specifically Proximity to You Time of Day, Day of Week Facilities Fee Insurance How Long Established

14 Choosing a Farmers Market Competition for Product Brokers Customer Traffic Publicity Parking Festivals/Entertainment

15 Marketing History Hastings Farmers Market (Wednesday and Saturday) Battle Creek Farmers Market (Saturday) Springfield Farmers Market 1998 (Saturday) East Lansing Farmers Market (Saturday) Lansing City Market (Saturday) Allen Street Community Farmers Market (Wednesday) Grand Ledge Farmers Market 2011 (Saturday) South Lansing Farmers Market (Thursday) Hastings Farmers Market August (Saturday)

16 Best Display Practices Colorful Fresh Clean Full Unusual

17 Best Display Practices Infrastructure Easy Up, tent Table Cloths, Cozy and Comforting Baskets, Keep Them Full Appropriate Sizes Cleanliness

18 Best Display Practices Big Signs Your Name Here Practices/Your Story What is for Sale

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20 Best Display Practices Little Signs Price Tags Name Tags/Descriptions Tricky One On Sale Today Recipes

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24 Best Display Practices Location Change Location Front Corners and Center Locate New Things Near You Two Locations

25 Best Display Practices Keep it Fresh Greens Flowers Ice, Mist Covers - Burlap

26 Articles in Farming Magazine F.M. of Ohio... celebrates the joys of farming well and living well on a small and ecologically conscious scale. It explores the intricate bonds connecting people land and community and offers a hopeful vision for the future of farming in America. The magazine is created in the spirit of stewardship for the earth and regard for its inhabitants. Smith, J. and Smith, L Better Farmers Market(ing). issue 2 no.62: Smith, J. and Smith, L The Art of Farm Marketing. issue 3 no.59: vol.16 vol.15

27 Setting Your Price Own Records Current Market Prices Current Store Prices Other Destinations-family and friends, animals, other sales Increase the Value of Your Product Timing Hard to Find Singular, Exceptional

28 Our Best Promotion Methods Farm Flyer Chalkboard/Whiteboard List Electronic Newsletter Talking to Your Customers!

29 Co-oping With Other Farmers Split Cost, Less Time Required Greater Variety and Larger Quantities--share booth or rotate market days (once a month, etc.), split the season into gardens as each specializes on certain products Logistics-Want the same general booth appearance, same sign and tables

30 Community Supported Agriculture Popular Selling Alternative Pre-season Payments and Weekly Shares Strong Emphasis on Community Interaction Requires Planning and Promoting!

31 Any Questions? Thank You!

32 Next Year, Join Us Again! Farmers Markets Alternatives including: CSAs (Many Variations), Roadside Stands, Wholesale, to Wholesalers Expanding Outlets and Crops Determining Your Selling Mix (Weighing Pros and Cons) Pricing, Produce Value Promotion/Communication