Market Farming

[deberryemail-website AT yahoo.com]

Hi!

 

There are some good resources at the Farmers Market Coalition website - not sure if they cover your specific questions, but may give you some insight.  I know they are working on revamping their site, but I believe the "resources" page has plenty of info.

 

Cheryl DeBerry

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From: "Wiediger, Alison" <alison.wiediger AT hart.kyschools.us>
To: market farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 11:40:15 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] Hiring a market manager

Good Morning!

 

 

We are looking for some advice this morning.  It's officially past the outdoor growing season (well, almost) and our farmers market board is starting to address the yearly evaluation of the running of our market and try to make improvements.

 

So, here's some information about our market.  Paul and I helped to organize our producer only market in Bowling Green, Kentucky 5 years ago.  We just finished our 5th season.  For that time, board members have functioned as volunteer market managers.  Two of the board members have done almost all of the managing.  As the market has grown, this has become more and more problematic.  It's hard to manage vendors (and consumers) as well as sell your own items, and there is the appearance, if not the reality, of less than optimum objectivity when dealing with vendor issues.  This season, the membership of the market took a dramatic upturn, both in actual members, and in members attending on a given market day.  We are approaching 50 members and that seems to be a breaking point of a sort where hiring a manager becomes more important.

 

So, along with other business, the board is considering hiring a manager for the market.  Not having ever done this, they are looking for advice - no reason to re-invent the wheel!  We have some idea of what we think we want a manager to do, but, I figure there is a wealth of information and advice out there.  So, here is a list of questions they would like information on:

 

What type/size market is your market?

What is the manager's salary and what costs does the market reimburse the manager for(e.g. cell phone, travel stipend, etc.)

Does the manager do farm inspections (for producer only markets)?

Is the market using a service to pay the manager, or is the market's treasurer handling payroll?

How many hours does your manager typically work a week?

Is the job year-round, or only seasonal, and if year-round, do hours change seasonally?

What are the typical duties?

Do membership and stall fees support that salary totally?  And, if you don't mind, what are the membership and stall fees?

Do you have any suggestions as how to find that "perfect" manager?

What would you like to tell us about the process that we haven't asked?

Thanks so much.  You can email us directly at    wiediger AT windstream.net  if it is more comfortable for you.

Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm