Market Farming

[IdleThymeFarm AT aol.com]

So here I am in the middle of crazy times but I want to take a minute to give some kudos to the list. Our markets just started the first of August. We attend one market from 2-8pm on Friday (about 1 hour away) and another from 7am-1pm on Saturday (about 30 min. away). This is our first year in production in this location, so our goods are limited but success is overwhelming. I feel that I owe so much to the experience, knowledge, and inspiration of folks on this list. We are the first market farm in our area and the very first certified veggie operation in the state. It brings with it some challenges, which brings me to market observations.....

Market #1 - Laramie, WY This is the first year that Laramie has ever had a market. It is a college town of about 30,000. The market managers have very strict rules about who may sell there. Items must be grown by the farmer selling them. They have a very small but very successful market. Being the only in-state producer, people are lined up 30 minutes before the market opens and we sell out of most of our stuff in 3 hours. Last week we sold 20 dozen eggs in 35 minutes at 2.50 a dozen...amazing.

Market #2 - Cheyenne, WY This is our local market, and has been established for many years. The market is a fundraiser for a local community action group. They have almost no rules about who can sell and it is a dramatically different scene. Local people buy cases of produce from wharehousers and sell it. Huge operations bring in 20 employees and produce from all over the country, set up cash registers and undercut everyone else by 50%. Then there are the guys that buy the waste produce that the groceries will not buy and mark it up. There are a few true farms selling produce and a smattering of Mennonite folks peddling their wares. We rarely sell out at this market and spend a lot of time telling people that we do not haggle on prices. The one thing that we were selling very well at this market was our poultry, until last week, he brought in an out of state poultry producer that undercut my prices by 50%.....so here we go again! 
We have learned so much this year and are looking forward to the future. Thanks again for all the advice. Happy growing! 

Shelly Elliott
Idle Thyme Farm
www.IdleThymeFarm.com

If you would have a lovely garden, you should live a lovely life! ~ Shaker saying