[Market-farming] Lowering Prices
breck
bcarden at breckinridgegroup.com
Mon Mar 2 22:38:46 EST 2009
Hi. Alison,
Your advice is always appreciated. Thank you so much fro sharing your
expertise and knowledge it is always on target.
Have a good season.
Farmer Breck
Breck Carden
Carden's Garden
Crestwood, KY
_____
From: market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Wiediger,
Alison
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 12:34 PM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Lowering Prices
Breck,
We have been selling vegetable transplants for several years now and we
think the demand continues to increase. We market most at farmers market
although a few brave souls do drive to the farm. We have found that most
people in the city just want a few plants, but a variety in those few. So,
we sell tomato, pepper, eggplant, summer squash, cucumber and herb plants in
1801s. Last year we charged $1.50 per pot for vegetables and $1.95 for
herbs. We sell a mix of good tasting hybrid and heirloom tomatoes. We
usually have a nice selection when the market opens the middle of April and
caution people about frost. The big box stores are selling then (and
before), so we lose sales if we don't have them. To keep our selection
looking good, we have a fresh set ready every two weeks during the season we
can sell plants. After about 2 weeks, tomato plants especially, get leggy
and ugly. By having a fresh set, we keep our booth looking really good, and
keep the customers buying. We sell veggie plants for 6-8 weeks, and herbs
even longer. We keep fresh basil and cilantro coming through June. Some of
our vendors sell 6-packs. Usually they get $2.00 per six pack, so that is
$12.00 for a flat. In that same space, we will have 18 plants that we sell
for $1.50. Since heated greenhouse space is expensive space, we think the
1801s are a better use of that space. We start those plants in 200 cell
plug flats, then pot up to the 1801s as soon as they fill the cell with
roots. Gives us a lot of plants in a small space on the germination mats,
and the transplanting helps develop strong transplants. We figure we can
sell them a little small at 5-6 weeks, and a little large at 5-7 weeks, then
what's left - usually not many - got to the compost pile and we have a fresh
set to sell.
Bedding plants - decorative plants - are harder for us to do competitively
on our small scale, so we don't at this time, although that is always
subject to change!
I know this was a little long - what can I say, I like to write!
Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm
_____
From: market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of breck
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 3:14 PM
To: 'Market Farming'
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Lowering Prices
Hey ya'll,
I am planning on offering bedding plants this year and wonder if any of you
might offer some advice. How do you market (farm stand, farmers market), do
you use cell packs, label, and etc. Do you wait for the last expected frost
as the date to offer or do you push for an earlier date. How long do you
typically sell seedlings (month)? Has anyone tried the seed pkt stands
available from some seed companies? Any suggestions or comments would be
appreciated.
Farmer Breck
Breck Carden
Carden's Garden
Crestwood, KY 40014-7704
Current temp is 65 and wet.
_____
From: market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
SaladG at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 3:52 PM
To: market-farming at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] Lowering Prices
Have you seen the grocery stores lower any prices, I haven't. So why in the
world would you lower your current prices. Our prices will stay the same as
08. We sell bedding plants, vege plants, basil plants, fresh produce of
many different varieties , around 40 different item, fresh lamb meat,and we
weave and sell rugs and different wool and cotton products. I was at the
grocery store today and have seen very little changes in their prices except
still going up. A good marketer knows that price in most markets make very
little difference in the amount your are selling. Our sales have always
dictated the best quality of product that we can produce and charge
accordingly. We are in a big market and we can set beside dumpers and have
a very good day, because if you are selling a great product price has little
effect. The only thing that has gone down in our area has been fuel, my
seed prices have gone up about 12% from last year, so in reality we really
should be raising prices.
_____
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