Market Farming

[<deberryemail-website AT yahoo.com>]

We also charge more than other vendors traditionally.  We try our darndest to be at or above grocery store prices too, but peppers this year were outrageous in the store and were plentiful in the markets! 

 

When we were getting ready to go to a new market about 70 miles from home, we definitely didn't have time to do reconnaisance.  So I found a person (through the local Extension Office) that on her next grocery shopping experience, wrote down prices of items at the local store.  She also called a couple farmers market vendors to see how much they charged last year for items.  We emailed to her what we were going to sell, so she knew what to ask/look for.  For her time and effort, we gave her some of our products when she came to the first market.  (She was very appreciative, and said she'd do it again next year!)

 

I've found that my long-term customers are more than willing to help - we don't normally "put stuff back" before the market opening, but once in a while we do for a customer that will do some reconnaisance for us.  They pick out their produce from our table, then they go around and check other prices for us.  That way they don't lose their place in line and can get what they want.  We throw a few extra freebees in their bag for their time.  We do this pretty discreetly so other customers are none the wiser.

 

Barring that, one of the kids of other vendors might do some scouting for you.  Or maybe get your Extension Agent to do a "price survey" at the market.  A college kid majoring in marketing could do it?

 

Hope you can find someone to help you.   Good luck!

 

C. DeBerry

DeBerry Farm

 

Allan Balliett <aballiett AT frontiernet.net> wrote:

> Thought I'd ask this one again, but somewhat differently, since it 
> may have been lost in weekend mails.
>
> It's hard to imagine two replies to such a question on a market 
> farming discussion list.
>
> I'm asking this because we are a long time CSA that neither has 
> farmers market sense nor has had time in the past 10 years to visit 
> farmers markets. We are doing one local market, primarily to support 
> the town. Of course, simply doing a Sunday market creates all sorts 
> of expenses, so I want to do what I can to keep our prices as fair as 
> possible for both the farm and the shoppers.
>
> Ironically, we can't spare enough staff this never-ending-2007-season 
> to comparatively shop at the market we do attend!
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> -Allan
>
> >NEW FARM used to offer a
>  version, but I see that it's gone now.
> >
> >I've found some great WHOLESALE price pages on the web, but I'm
> >wondering if someone can point me to a farmers market prices report
> >or to a 'seasonal retail price guide' for produce.
> >
> >Just happen to still have pole beans but have no idea of how to price
> >them in "Septemeber."
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >-Allan Balliet
> >Shepherdstown, WV
> >_______________________________________________
> >Market-farming mailing list
> >Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> >http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
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