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  • From: <clearviewfarm AT bluefrog.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Need Help with Sales
  • Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:00:22 -0700

Mark

When I started selling at farmers markets, sales were slow, until my customers found out what the quality of my product was like.  I also watched to see what sold itself and what needed help.  I would print up recipes and give them and cooking suggestions to customers to help give sales a nudge.  If something is unusual (or not), try giving out a sample, so that people can find out what a product is like.  I belong to a regional organic growers coop that already
had a demand for certain items when I joined it.  Before we start growing for the season, we work out projections and try meet the demand of our customers with our supply.  As far as I am concerned, supply and demand need to be in a critical balance, in order for things to work in a marketplace, whether it's a farmers market, CSA, or whatever.  I have seen one of my farmers markets lose organic growers and I think the reason was that the supply of organic produce far outweighed the demand.  From what I can see, generally speaking, demand for organic is greater in cities than in rural locations.  This may not be the case in all localities, but it seems that way where I come from.  I realize that it can be very difficult to balance supply and demand sometimes, because the two are usually very dynamic.  Nevertheless, I think it is important to keep the two in mind and to work toward having some harmony between the two.  Perhaps some of what I just said may seem off-topic, but in essence, you may need to help develop a demand for your product, using advertising and other demand "enticements" that I mentioned above.  Enough of my 2 cents for now.

Kurt Forman
Clearview Farm
Palmyra, NY 14522

--- wshoemak AT illinois.edu wrote:

From: "William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Need Help with Sales
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:04:41 -0500

Mark

 

I would just comment that this is how things were when many of our growers started pursuing direct marketing back in the 80’ and 90’s. They couldn’t get anyone to even look at their product,..except consumers. They had to find good locations and set up direct sales sites (roadside sales) or sell from their farm. Once people found out how fresh their product was and the superior quality because it was fresh, the demand grew. They had to be consistent and push their product. After a couple of years, they were selling everything they could produce. But they had to work hard at getting noticed and giving folks that quality experience. The buyers at restaurants and stores took a while. They didn’t want to deal with someone who couldn’t drive up in a big reefer, drop off everything they ordered at specific times every week with boxes of beautiful produce that was tasteless. But one the consumer base begins to demand more of them, they begin to change. But it takes a while.

 

Bill

William H. Shoemaker

Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops

University of Illinois - Crop Sciences

St Charles Horticulture Research Center

535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174

630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610

wshoemak AT illinois.edu


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of TxBeeFarmer
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 8:46 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: [Market-farming] Need Help with Sales

 

Hope some of you can share your wisdom and tricks of the trade with me.

 

I have a wonderful five acre garden and my 40' cooler is overflowing with fresh produce.

 

My problem is sales, or should I say lack of sales.  Oh sure, there's the Farmers' Market and a few people who want some things delivered, but I need real sales!

 

I've contacted every restaurant, cafe, grocery store, and health food store in my county as well as surrounding counties with no luck.

 

The problem with selling to restaurants and cafes seems to be the large food distributers - they deal in huge quantities, have a large selection, deliver in refrigerated trucks, and are very cheap.  None of the eateries around here gives a flip about being local or fresh or anything else.  They just want it cheap, delivered, and already cut up and bagged. 

 

Grocery stores want me to have huge amounts of insurance and be preapproved by their corporate headquarters.  This is also the case with chain restaurants. 

 

Obviously, I'm doing something very wrong here.  I just can't sell what I grow.

 

Sure could use a little help.

 

Thanks,

 

Mark

The Coldiron Farm (West Texas)

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