[Market-farming] market pricing question

jay gee JayGee at jghelp.com
Wed Sep 22 19:34:37 EDT 2004


Paul a.k.a. Tradingpost wrote:

> Remember they 're losing money and can't keep that up.
> Some markets have people in charge who can prevent price wars.
> The biggest danger is price wars drive out the variety and volume
> needed to attract the business. They invariably hurt the market itself.
> And of course you can always go stand in front of their stall and
> discuss what's a fair price with their customers. You might be surprised
> how people would react. Customers don't expect growers to work for
> free or sell at a loss, and if all they want is the cheapest product they
> can always run over to the supermarket. 

Pricing, like growing, selling and planning is an
individual farmer's choice.

Price "wars" benefit consumers and should not
be discouraged as such.  If a new farmer joins
the market and wants to introduce him/herself
by offering purchasers an extra inducement to
buy the effect is to provide competition among
growers and that is good.

Selling below cost over time is bad for business.

If your crops are strongly branded as "products"
as opposed to just being produce, having a little
price competition in the market is not going to hurt
you.  If you offer your wares as just another commodity
producer, price becomes the driving factor for consumers.

Hope the strange weather this Summer did not make things
too difficult for most of you.

Best wishes for a strong Fall selling season if you have one.


jay gee
not a farmer  --  but interested in farming



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