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market-farming - peddlers, politics & convenience

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Subject: Market Farming

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  • From: "Liz Pike" <liz AT marketfarming.com>
  • To: <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: peddlers, politics & convenience
  • Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 10:33:59 -0500


I've followed the postings on peddlers vs growers, political groups, etc.

In this past year of a "forced" vacation from market farming & having NO
garden whatsoever to eat out of, I've had to become one of the masses--the
very people who are my customers. And you know what. I rarely shopped at the
farmer's markets. For the very reason of convenience. I know it varies from
region to region, but in researching while traveling through other states
last year, I found it was generally true that markets are scattered, hard to
find, or non-existent. I was too lazy to go that far out of my way, or
expend that kind of energy to buy food that was readily available a mile from
my house.

I "preached" convenience where I sold at my last farmer's market, but the
manager would hear none of it. "We always do what we always do because
that's the way it's always been done." He wouldn't change the hours to make
it convenient for people going home from work (have you noticed how busy
grocery stores are between 5-6pm??). He wouldn't help create new locations,
closer to residential areas--where the grocery stores are! Unfortunately, my
personal life prevented me from carrying out setting up a new market
elsewhere as was planned by myself & a few other progressive vendors.

My point is, to shake things up--do whatever it takes to get noticed, keep
interest. It may mean having a few crafters, or non-profit groups --tightly
regulated of course. Guidelines can be implemented to create a "win-win"
situation for everyone, especially those making a living, but also for
potential customers.

The variety attracts customers, the convenience will keep them. Yes quality
does matter--I'm not advocating selling less than your best, but think like a
convenience store. Be there, where they need you, when they need you. Get
behind the mindset of your customers. How do they shop for other things??

I know--we've had this argument before, we're not here to feed the masses.
But in order to make a living, I want to feed as many people as I can, or
sell & sell & sell to the ones who do shop with me.

Liz






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