Market Farming

["Liz Pike" <liz AT laughingbrookfarm.com>]

Hey Mike,

First, before I say anything more, be prepared to lose money.  Consider it
the cost of a class in  marketing/economics/ag business, then if you make
money you'll be ahead.  If you lose, oh well, you learned alot, worth the
price of the "class".

It will be very hard for you to get a feel for what it's like to sell at a
farmer's market in just a sales day or two.  It usually takes about 4-6 days
(which translates to 4-6 weeks for a once-a-week market) of being at market
before you get a feel for the "aura" of the market, the type of customer
that frequents it, and whether or not you'll be able to make a go at it,
selling what you want to grow.  You might not sell a thing on your first,
second or third day there.  But once the customers see you're serious and
are there to stay, then they'll straggle over, give you a chance, and slowly
you'll begin to build a customer base.  Only then will you build an accurate
picture of what selling is really like.

Please don't do the once in a while thing.  Even if you price your goods at
the same level as the other farmers, you devalue their work (& yours) by
appearing to be a hobbyist, and customers do not respect instability.

Approach the market manager to see if they'll let you set up a trial booth
for a month and see how it goes.  Take the time when you're not busy to make
observations and take notes like crazy.  See which vendor is selling the
most, where the customers all congregate when the market first opens, the
market "busyness" divided by hours, how things are displayed, and what the
customers are carrying (are they loaded, which indicates the market is a
major shopping destination, or are they walking through?  What did they
buy??  Are they carrying their own bags/baskets, indicating an
environmentally aware customer, or are they walking through with drinks from
the closest fast food joint?)  Lots of observations to be made, and best to
make them behind a table as a vendor.  Then you'll have an opportunity to
talk directly with people, tell them you're experimenting, and in return
you'll get alot of suggestions, thus enabling you to customize your
operation to your market, and really determine if those Saturdays are worth
it to you.

As far as market etiquette, do just as you would on a list...lurk, observe,
quietly ask questions, converse with the market manager, visit as a
customer.  There will always be someone whose toes get stepped on...que sera
sera...

There's alot more to be said, but this is it in a nutshell...

We're back to rain...11 inches so far, normal total avg for the month of
Aug, 4 inches.  I hate farming.

Liz Pike
Laughingbrook Farm
Westfield NC
http://www.marketfarming.com
http://www.laughingbrookfarm.com