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market-farming - Produce pricing from garden web

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  • From: "Elizabeth Pike" <pike AT always-online.com>
  • To: <gutierrez-lagatta AT home.com>, "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Produce pricing from garden web
  • Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 09:10:02 -0500

This is in response to a question asked on the garden web about produce pricing.  Thought y'all might be interested:
 
You can call your area's big produce wholesaler's to get a product update & price list. This gives you an idea what your chefs, other restaurants, & grocery stores are paying as well as what to expect on the general produce market in upcoming weeks. These updates give lots of info on weather & pest problems, & crop conditions occurring in California, Florida & other main growing areas. Of course you don't want to compete with these prices, who can? But it gives you time to plan to take advantage of their misfortune. Here is an example from February, 1999. An update on lettuce said that that crop had suffered frost & wind damage. The update on potatoes stated due to a bumper crop there were lots to store. So I knew to start lettuce, & not plant as many potatoes. I also found how many are in a case of whatever & how many bunches are considered a case. I was also surprised to see that just 5 lbs of baby squash wholesaled for $27-that's $5.40 lb!! I upped my price when I saw that!!!! This info may not give you enough time to plant & grow something, but what you have can be priced accordingly.

I just find it very interesting & educating. You will understand more of where your chef is coming from when he discusses price, quality, etc. He may even be willing to give you a price list from his own suppliers.

How to get these lists?  Just say you're interested in wholesale produce prices.  I told them I was a local market gardener & they put me on their mailing list-they KNOW I'm not their competition, can't produce on that quantity.  If they won't do it, have a chef friend or restaurant manager do it for you.  Prices might fluctuate daily, but restaurants & grocery stores order by the week, so the updates are issued by the week.  Most any produce wholesaler should have this update/newsletter, etc.  The one I use is Foster-Caviness, don't know if they're nationwide.
 
Liz Pike
Morningstar Gardens
Pollocksville, North Carolina


  • Produce pricing from garden web, Elizabeth Pike, 01/26/2000

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