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Entrepreneurship:  What sells best at Farmers market  |
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 15 2015 : 11:45:00 AM
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| Our little town is going to try a farmers market. I would like to support it and take in items to sell. What have you sold, or what do you buy at a farmers markets. What would you like to see at farmer markets? I am going to see what the rules are. I do have eggs, fabric, antiques, furniture, country style decorating items, handmade soaps and salves, and books. I am just trying to figure out what would be the most interesting and would sell the best. I would really like to see this farmers/flea market take off. I know they are going to have a food vendor and possibly music too. Any other ideas what might attract people as far as entertainment, services available, something unusual. We want to attract people from towns as far as an hour away. |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4759 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4759 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2015 : 1:11:14 PM
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The farmers market in our town is mostly produce, honey and flowers. I hunt for anything organic but unfortunately they don't sell much of it. I will buy fruit mostly since I grow my own tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and peppers.
Best of luck on making your town's new farmer's market a success!
Dawn in IL |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7109 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7109 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2015 : 1:44:10 PM
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Several of the growers harvest their eggplants small and I buy a lot of it. Also I can find vegetables like 8-Ball zucchini, yellow zucchini, small round carrots, brown & black Crowder peas. I look for unusual vegetables that I only see in seed catalogs. There are some organic growers and I always buy something from them.
On opening day the Paris Master Gardeners sell plants members have grown. A good place to buy plants that grow well in area.
Sara
FarmGirl Sister #6034 Aug 25, 2014
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3957 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3957 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2015 : 9:06:27 PM
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I have purchased handmade soap and bath salts at a farmers' market. I wanted to get the scented oils but didn't have enough money. Small, ready-to-eat and easily cooked food is also a hit. One of the independent coffee shops set up a coffee bar.
I would advise putting out a variety of things and see what sells the best. Based upon that, adjust your stock based on popularity. Let it be known that you shop for antiques and make note of what potential customers talk about wanting or wishing they could have. Bring small things so that you don't have to pack and unpack so much. Have a book with pictures of some of the bigger stuff you are willing to sell and invite them to visit to see it up close if they are interested.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
Edited by - churunga on Mar 15 2015 9:08:16 PM |
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modernpioneermama76
Farmgirl in Training
40 Posts
Rebecca
Cavour
South Dakota
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2015 : 8:37:57 PM
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A lot of the time, what sells best depends on the time of year. You'll sell some craft items year round if your market is open year round. My biggest seasons for soap and bath products were May and June (wedding and graduation gifts) and fall ( Thanksgiving hostess gifts and Christmas gifts) . Early spring garden plants and cool crops like cabbages, broccoli etc sell great. May and June think berries, rhubarb, herbs, summer squash, snow peas and green beans. June, July and August sweet corn and melons, summer squash, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, early varieties of Apple's, late berries, peaches, apricots and plums. Fall, you see lots of Apple's, pears, winter squash, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, dried flowers, craft items. Baked goods like cookies, bars and cupcakes can be good too... especially if they are things people can eat while shopping.
A couple things I would loved to have seen at the market I used to be a vendor at is somebody selling freshly ground flour, especially gluten free flours. Or somebody selling gluten free and dairy free breads and pastries. One of my kids is on a gluten free, dairy free and corn syrup free diet. If you were near a big city, specialty diet baked goods might go over very well. Maybe start with regular and sugar free baked goods (lots of diabetics and people looking to lose a few pounds out there) and then ask customers to fill out a questionnaire to see if there is a need in the community for more specialized baked goods before investing in expensive specialty ingredients/ equipment.
Farm Families Forevermore
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2015 : 8:26:32 PM
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| Rebecca, I see you are gluten free at your house. Have you tried the peanut butter cookies with 3 ingredients. If not, you need to try them. Here is the recipe. 1 egg, 1 c sugar, and 1 c. peanut butter. Mix the three, roll in walnut size balls, roll in sugar, place on cookie sheet and press with fork. bake at 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. Watch closely as they burn easily. They are very good and easy to make. |
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TexasGran
True Blue Farmgirl
4919 Posts
Marilyn
Stephenville
Texas
USA
4919 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2015 : 2:20:02 PM
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This is not farmers market but our annual craft fair. One lady brings homemade bread. She makes four nice big rolls in small round pans, probably 6" diameter. Of course she removes the pans and places the rolls in plastic bags to sell. She also makes loaves of bread. The fair is open on Friday evening for two hours and All day Saturday. She sells out on Friday night, goes home and makes more. She has nothing left by 10:00 am.
TexasGran |
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Joanna
True Blue Farmgirl
94 Posts
Ontario
Canada
94 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2015 : 08:16:54 AM
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The market near me sells produce, organic meat, baked goods, flowers, honey, natural cleaning products, natural personal products, clothing, jewelry, wood crafts, crochet/knitted items, and more. Pretty much anything goes! There are always new vendors; it just keeps growing. People come from all over to buy there.
Joanna - Sister #5965
https://creativeideasbook.wordpress.com/
https://roomsandwindows.wordpress.com/ |
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GoatieGirl
Farmgirl in Training
28 Posts
Melody
Cochranton
Pa
USA
28 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2017 : 10:52:23 AM
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I'm thinking about starting up a small jam/jelly buisness. I make a lot of unusual Jellies. If you were shopping at a farmer's market, would you find those things interesting?
Sister #6700 |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4759 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4759 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2017 : 12:39:30 PM
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Again, if it is organic than I would be most happy to buy it! Best of luck to you.
Dawn in IL
"Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again" Michelle Obama |
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Marilyn Hartman Sullivan
True Blue Farmgirl
1138 Posts
Marilyn
Oxford
PA
USA
1138 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2017 : 06:40:10 AM
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Melody -- where is Cochranton? I am in Chester County. I would certainly buy the jams and jellies. For Christmas Day, my daughter and her family came over for goodies (since we were all too bloated and tired for a full meal by that time -- ha ha) and I served an Onion and Garlic jam and a Bacon and Hot Pepper -- they were so yummy with a nice bland cracker! That is exactly the kind of thing I look for at a farmer's market -- that and good homemade soaps. Good luck to you!
Farmgirl #6318
"Where there's a will -- there's probably a family fight." |
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Tumbleweed
True Blue Farmgirl
1036 Posts
Nancy
Texas
USA
1036 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2017 : 6:50:02 PM
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Kem.....that is a cool recipe for peanut butter cookies. I will need to try it soon.
Melody..... When I go to our local farmers market I always look for jams and jelly stands. One local lady makes the best jalapeno jelly and watermelon jelly. YUM!
I usually go to the FM for fresh fruits because I love to make my own jams too. I usually make blackberry or strawberry jam. Once I made a savory tomato basil jam from my own home grown tomatoes and fresh basil from my herb garden. It was actually pretty good, especially on toast with cream cheese. I also like to visit the honey stand and the tea blends stand. Shucks I wasn't planning on it but may have to go tomorrow if it isn't raining
TW
The fun begins where the pavement ends! |
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herb19355
True Blue Farmgirl
321 Posts
Debi
Danielsville,
GA
USA
321 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2017 : 12:07:33 PM
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Kem.... that is my husband's favorite recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies!!! I make them once a month. Sometimes, depending on the peanut butter, (or my mood for the day!) I put a 1/2 tsp of vanilla and a pinch of salt in the mix. Sometimes, I also put Peanuts on the top as soon as they come out of the oven. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Snow in the forecast for Georgia this weekend, a great time to pull out the cookie sheets again.
Debi
Farmgirl #2515
GA Farmgirl #2515 |
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GoatieGirl
Farmgirl in Training
28 Posts
Melody
Cochranton
Pa
USA
28 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2017 : 5:43:31 PM
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Marilyn,
Cochranton is about 45 minutes south of Lake Erie in Crawford county. Glad to hear there's other PA gal on here! Thanks for the kind words of inspiration!
Nancy,
You're making my mouth water! I can only imagine how delicious those jams are! The strawberry basil really sounds interesting to me! Just can't get enough of those farmers markets!
Sister #6700 |
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Tumbleweed
True Blue Farmgirl
1036 Posts
Nancy
Texas
USA
1036 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2017 : 9:26:22 PM
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Hi Kem
I shared your p/b cookie recipe with a friend at work. She used brown sugar instead of granulated sugar like I did. She brought me in some to taste. Boy were they great.
Have you ever tried brown sugar in the mix?
TW
The fun begins where the pavement ends! |
Edited by - Tumbleweed on Jan 31 2017 9:27:17 PM |
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Cozynana
True Blue Farmgirl
1123 Posts
Kem
1123 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2017 : 7:21:15 PM
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| Nancy, I have not tried brown sugar. I will try it next time. Debi, have you tried a Hershey kiss in the middle or M & Ms? This recipe is really easy and can be changed up easily. |
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Entrepreneurship: What sells best at Farmers market |
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What sells best at Farmers market
