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  • From: <sunnfarm AT netscape.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] farm stands
  • Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 09:52:27 -0700

The most important thing to do is build a farm stand now that you hope will be large enough in the future. Because once people start moving into your area they will often be the first to try to prevent you from expanding... Bob.

--- KAKerby AT aol.com wrote:

From: KAKerby AT aol.com
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] farm stands
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 10:46:10 -0400 (EDT)

Thanks for responding - I was afraid this email had been lost in the trample about the hoophouses.  :)
 
Our farm is along a busy county road, speed limit supposedly 35mph.  We're five miles outside a small but vibrant town which has preserved its identity in the midst of "suburban creep".  We are surrounded by what my husband non-affectionately refers to as "nests" of subdivisions.  We are also just down the road from an active campground and picnic area that gets a lot of traffic in the summer.  Most vehicular traffic year-round are people commuting to/from work, but we get a fair number of boaters and campers in the summertime.  Pedestrian traffic is almost nonexistent, so quick-n-easy car access would be crucial.

Our driveway at present is poorly set up for traffic - a blind corner on one side and the crest of a hill on the other, both make pulling out of our driveway something of a sport.  We have never seriously considered a farmstand for that specific reason.  If we did a farmstand, we'd build a secondary, easy-in/easy-out drive farther along the road at the other end of our property.  We may do that anyway, since at present we can't safely get things like livestock trailers, flatbed trailers or logging trucks in and out of our existing driveway.  Having that additional access would help immensely; parking a farmstand there would only build another benefit into that investment.
 
I am torn between the ease but risk of an untended stand, versus the higher hassle factor but better security and customer service aspects of a manned stand.  I'd have to do some serious pencil-pushing to figure out best hours, who to hire, etc.  Very possible I'd have very limited morning/evening hours to capture folks wanting a latte on their way to work, then wanting to get their dinners on the way home.
 
I'd be sorely tempted to offer value-added products to "sweeten the pie", which would then involve either an on-farm licensed kitchen or a commitment to renting time at a licensed kitchen.  But I suspect my most profitable niche would be offering folks a mix of staples, packaged meals and ready-to-eat meals.  Farm less, get more $$/lb with more processing.  Folks are in such a hurry these days, they won't casually stop for lookie-loo purposes.  They will, however, stop if they want that latte to wake up before work, or if they forgot to hit the grocery on the way home and need something for dinner.
 
Your suggestions to do the business plan and SWOT are both good 'uns; we've done that for other income streams and its certainly warranted here with the amount of effort this would require.  Keep the ideas and suggestions coming!
Kathryn Kerby
frogchorusfarm.com
Snohomish, WA
 
In a message dated 9/7/2011 7:30:31 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, limerock AT thirdplanet.net writes:
We have a tiny, seasonal roadside market on a state road in a summer tourist area.   All open air except for small walk-in and even small storage room.  Display shelves only across front of area.  Most everything was here at purchase 15 years ago.
 
Random thoughts:
Location – you mention a new drive, no road traffic to grab?  Gonna need advertising and publicity, either/both print and word-of-mouth.  Where are your customers coming from?  Population centers near by?  Are you ‘off the beaten path?’
Infrastructure  --  Cooler(s) are essential (IMHO).  Electricity?  Running water? 
Labor  --  Who will do what needs to be done while you do the rest?  Can you trust them?  Is there an available labor pool near? 
Product mix  --  Do you have what people want to buy?  Can you source it locally, both in quality and quantities needed? 
 
These random thoughts are just a few that come to mind. 
 
Two of the things business administration/marketing classes will tell you to do first are:
--  write a mission statement, and
--  do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.
These should not be taken lightly.  They will help to uncover unexpected problems, guide you somewhat, and possibly give you new ideas . 
 
(No, I have never done either for us!  Goes to show what the book-learning has done for a stubborn old guy.)
 
Tom
Limerock Orchards and Roadside Market
Near Lake Erie, OH
 
 
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 8:32 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] farm stands
 
How many folks on this list have a farm stand?  We're thinking to set one up here, but it would take some effort to create a new driveway, build the building, etc.  And wow, we've seen some really successful ones and some real losers.  Any guiding principles?  Any good books or other information sources that could help us make the most of it?  Thanks.......
Kathryn Kerby
frogchorusfarm.com
Snohomish, WA

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