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market-farming - Re: Corn Undressing

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Subject: Market Farming

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  • From: Alex McGregor <waldenfarm AT sprintmail.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Corn Undressing
  • Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 10:04:36 -0400


I don't grow corn, except some for our cornmeal- too much space for our small
farm (micro) and too little money for the space/ time to harvest/ possible
problems (coons, worms...).

But, I have a story- Harry's Market in Atlanta is a huge warehouse type store
with tons of produce, specialty items, wine, etc. They sell corn by the doz.
and have a barrel by their corn display. Customers are invited to shuck ears,
put the shucks in the barrel and select only the ears they want. I know this
won't work at a market, but it shows what length a retailer will go to assure
picky customers the corn is good.

I used to have a picky customer- she would select each green bean from the
bushel basket- drove me up the freaking wall! Most people just told me how
many
lbs. they wanted and I weighed them out. Everyone did like to select their
own
tomatoes, peppers and such. But she came every week during the slow times and
bought a variety of things- a good customer, just irritating.

I decided that I should be just as nice to her as all the others who weren't
so
picky. That's one of my concepts of retailing- be nice to everyone, even
those
who don't buy something; it will come back to you sooner or later. And part
of
retailing is getting to know your customers, learn their names and ask about
what they tell you- jobs, kids... It makes them feel special- but be sincere.
And give them something free- cheapest promotion in the world. If they're
unsure about your, give them 3 or 4 free to try. If it's good, they'll be
back.

This doesn't mean letting people walk over you. You have to establish rules
for
your stand and let everyone know in a nice way what they are. Signs help, and
separating vegies by "self-serve" and "ask for assistance" is one way of
letting
people know without having to train each new customer or getting mad. Even
something simple and funny like a sign on the tomatoes that says "We're
fragile,
please don't handle" with a cartoon drawing of a tomato bandaged and on
crutches. Or "We don't jive you about being organic, so don't shuck our
corn."

Caveat: A beekeeper friend told me how he has to explain to everyone who comes
for honey that his cats are kept out of the honey room. (The rest of his shop
smells like cat pee.) I suggested he put up a sign to avoid all the
explaining-
"Our shop may smell like cat pee, but our honey tastes like bee puke." So,
you
may not want to use my sign wording.

Alex McGregor
Walden Farm





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