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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Pricing produce

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  • From: "Liz Pike" <liz AT laughingbrookfarm.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Pricing produce
  • Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 06:40:01 -0500

Hi Matt,

Congrats on your potential sale locations! One comment on setting up at the
feed store. Typical feedstore customers already have gardens. Not all of
them, but enough it might hurt your sales. Maybe bring stuff not readily
available in the average garden--just something to take into consideration.

> "different", etc). I'm only interested in getting enough money to make
> this venture sustainable, so my prices won't be as high as what you'd
> usually see at farmers' market. I don't care what price people are
> "willing" to pay.

This was insulting to read at first. It's hard enough dealing with resellers
at market, but to have a newbie grower deliberately set out to undercut the
farmers who sell at farmer's markets...that's too much. But I understand
you're new and still learning.

How much money do you think it takes to make a venture "sustainable"??? I
thought you wanted to earn a living at this which means getting as much
money as you possibly can for your hard work. It also means, as not only a
farmer, but a good business person, you should care what price people are
"willing" to pay.

> For now, I'm going to let my wholesaler set his price and I'll take
> whatever he gives me.

Why not set a trial period for this or you may be stuck with low prices for
an entire harvest, or the harvest itself if you decide the price isn't high
enough and the wholesaler won't pay more.

I would never encourage a newbie grower to get into a wholesale situation
until he/she's had a season or two of commercial growing experience under
their belt. That's not to discourage you, just protecting your interests.
If a bad situation arises, word travels amongst store managers, chefs,
restaurant owners, etc. Once one has earned a bad reputation, it's hard to
undo.

Liz Pike
Laughingbrook Farm
Westfield NC
http://www.marketfarming.com new content added daily!!
http://www.laughingbrookfarm.com






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