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Entrepreneurship:  Farm Mkt Advice  |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 13 2009 : 11:54:21 AM
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Hi girls, as some of you know I'm about a month away from Grand Opening of my fresh produce stand. One thing I NEVER thought about. Pricing on vegetables. Should I scour local grocery store ads and price accordingly or what? I never thought about how I'd figure in pricing of home grown veggies and such. I have a scale so I can weigh items if they are priced 0.00 per pound..... but what's my starting point? I can't believe this skipped my mind!!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthymefarm.etsy.com
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2009 : 12:58:19 PM
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I would look at what your grocery stores are selling it for. I probably would go pretty close to their prices because in this economy, people aren't going to want to spend to much extra for the food, and most produce spoils pretty quickly once picked, so I am sure you will want to have a pretty steady turn around. Then maybe assess your sales and profits after a month or two. Do you have produce spoiling? Are you selling out mid-day? Do you have more demand than you can meet? If that is the case you might need to decrease or increase prices. I think it is a kind of test-the-waters type of situation.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Alee on Apr 14 2009 4:22:58 PM |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2009 : 07:26:34 AM
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Dawn,
I think ALee is right. I am active in our farmer's market here ands it seems the veggies are about the same in price as the store. Of course the quality is much better. Good luck, I cant wait to be there ....
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/http://renenaturallyspeaking.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2009 : 08:40:19 AM
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Every market I have been to like this usually sells a basket for a dollar amount. I think they would weigh the produce and figure the price for pound and then put say 5 tomatoes in a small basket for $3.00 then they would put the tomatoes in a bag refil the basket and start again. I think this way on some you would make money on some you might lose a few cents. It would allow you to not have to have a huge amount of change too as everytning is a whole number. I also think you can charge a bit more because they are home grown.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2009 : 07:35:53 AM
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All super good advice. From what I read in the "do's and do not's" list from the OHio Dept of Ag, it didn't say anything about certified scales. So I will probably end up pricing things "per". I'm probably gonna check prices against a nicer grocer here in town. The one that sells organics and such. That way I can be in the right ball park.
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthymefarm.etsy.com
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Apr 16 2009 : 09:37:56 AM
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the weather has been really crummy. I may have been right about hinting that everyone is gonna help me plant my garden! We will have 3 nice days then a nose dive back into the low 40's by Monday! I really really need to get my potatoes and onions in the ground!!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens-QMD
http://harvestthymefarm.etsy.com
http://harvestthyme.blogspot.com
~live big, ride hard, and shoot straight~ |
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mandymcar
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Mandy
Montana
USA
73 Posts |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
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Thistle Cove Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
141 Posts
Sandra
Tazewell
VA
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2009 : 4:31:37 PM
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In the Abingdon, VA Farmers' Market the prices are above grocery store prices and people are selling out. If you stress you're selling Quality, Naturally Raised Using Organic Methods, a lot of people will pay the extra. It's like my husband says, "pay now or pay later", meaning we can either buy quality now and pay the extra price or buy stuff raised on God alone knows what's been sprayed on them and pay the doctor later. I'd rather pay now. Of course, I also have my own little garden patch -smile-.
One farmer is getting $3 a pound for broccoli because no one else is selling broccoli right now. But, in a few weeks when other people have broccoli for sale, his price will have to be dropped to be in competition with other sellers.
Another thought, there's a farm in Floyd County where the people have day jobs. In the morning they set out their produce, leave a locked box for the money and people pay on the honor system. At the end of the day, when they tally up the money vs. what's missing, they find they have more money than they should have. Buyers are rewarding them by leaving a little extra instead of shorting them by leaving a little less or, God forbid, outright stealing.
You'll need to take a few weeks and figure out what your local market will bear; best of success to you!
Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm ~ God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands & heart ~
www.thistlecovefarm.com
www.thistlecovefarm.blogspot.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2009 : 6:27:01 PM
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Dont UNDERSELL yourself! You need to consider your labor etc. into the cost. The biggest mistake I see at craft fairs and markets is people hoping to sell and putting thier prices so low that they dont make a profit. I understand wanting to be considerate of the economy and all but I also think most people at a farmers market are looking more for quality. Obviously you dont want to overprice but give yourself a fair wage. You can always lower it later if need be. It is much difficult to have to raise the price though. Valued customers would be extatic if the price for 5 tomatoes went from $4 to $3.50 but wouldnt be as happy if the price went from $3.50 to 4.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com
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Entrepreneurship: Farm Mkt Advice |
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Farm Mkt Advice
