market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Market Farming
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- From: robokopp AT acronet.net
- To: market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
- Subject: Peddlers at Market
- Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 12:07:55 cst
Hi,
I have read with great interest, the various markets that you belong to. In
my neck of the woods, we have a complete free-for-all. "Farmer grown" means
melons and tomatoes bought from Chicago produce wholesalers, all in the name
of "augmenting" the supposedly home-grown produce. It also means empty stalls
for some until the orchards produce, and then we see a dumping of fruit on
Saturdays.
"Locally grown" means whatever is in driving distance - Chicago and Milwaukee
produce wholesalers. "Farm fresh" means just about anything you want it to.
Rather than getting into a combatitive mode with them, we "use" them to
highlight
our own produce. We have adopted a slogan of "If we didn't grow it, we don't
sell it" that customers really seem to like. That is a modernization of my
great-grandfather
who said in German:
Was ein Bauer kennt nicht, (What a farmer doesn't know)
Isst er nicht. (He doesn't eat).
We also are the only organic grower there so that further reinforces our
differences.
We go to great pains to EDUCATE our customers on the use, storage, and
preparation
of our produce. If you are going to hand out recipes with produce, make sure
you personally have used the recipe. I have seen some cards that would make
Martha Stewart's eyes glaze over.
We make not make the sales volume of the other guys, but we have had a growing
number of repeat customers, and we manage to sell most of what we bring to
market.
Regards,
Richard Kopp
Curzio Caravati
"Nature's Bounty"
http://www.acronet.net
- Peddlers at Market, robokopp, 02/14/2001
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