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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] More farmers' market questions

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  • From: road's end farm <organic101 AT linkny.com>
  • To: Barb Miller <barbmill AT chilitech.net>, Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] More farmers' market questions
  • Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2006 17:56:22 -0500


On Feb 4, 2006, at 2:47 PM, Barb Miller wrote:

We are working on a local food initiative in the Northern Tier of Pa and one
of our projects is to improve the 31 year old farmers' market. They have
been shunted from one location to another and now set-up in a parking lot
about a mile from town. The lot is hot and ugly and they miss a lot of the
downtown trade because of their location. I have a lot in mind that is
within close proximity to the grocery store, within walking distance of the
business district and is aesthetically pleasing. Only problem with the lot
is it is privately owned. The market mgr. charges $2 per stall so there is
no money for insurance and since the vendors are all backyard growers, I
doubt that any of them carry any sort of market insurance either. Before I
approach the owner about using the lot, I'd like to know what sort of
arrangement is typical between an owner and the market....

Those of you who sell at market...what sort of insurance does the market
carry? Is it purchased through stall fees or is it provided by the owner of
the lot? Do any of you lease your lot? If so, what sort of deal do you have
with the owner? I'd also be interested in knowing what everyone pays per
stall at their respective markets and what sort of money do you make in a
day?


I think most markets have insurance, and it's unlikely to be provided by the owner of the lot: indeed. you may have to list the owner as a "named insured" so that the landowner is also covered (this probably won't cost you much of anything extra, but policies do vary. If you're trying to talk somebody into it, it would be a good thing to offer. Free produce might also be a good thing to offer. They might also want cash rent; or just not want anything to do with it. This depends a whole lot on the particular person who owns the lot.) In NY you can get market insurance through the state Farmers' Market Federation, but our market gets it cheaper elsewhere, from a private insurer; I'm not the one in charge of this so I don't know who. We are a co-operative so this might affect the issue.

Our annual and stall fees cover insurance, advertising, and occasional other costs. We've been charging $20/year plus $5/market (you only pay the $5 for days that you actually come). I'm pretty sure this is less than most markets charge, but we're a small market and all work is volunteer; we don't pay a manager; and we set up on a village street (with permission from the village, of course) and have no costs for land or buildings. Last year I was bringing in in the area of $300/market (sometimes more, sometimes less; half day market, small town); trying to get it up every year. As vendor income is a touchy subject not generally discussed, I don't know what other growers bring in; in at least one case I suspect it's a good bit more. Most of us I think also carry our own insurance; I know I do. In my case the farmers' market sales are included on my general farm insurance policy; but check with your insurer, this can vary quite a bit.

If you can improve the market location, you may be able to attract some serious growers. and/or some of your backyard people may be able to expand production and significantly improve their income, as well as perhaps the local diets. I think that would be well worth paying a little extra for. Did you talk to the current growers about this? They probably have input to offer on location, as well as how much they'd pay to get a better one.

If the "we" of "we are working on a local food initiative" is an official organization of some sort, or willing to become one, you may be able to get grants to help get this going. In NYS the state offers some grants.

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale



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