Joining a Farmers Market
Many community farm markets will be opening during the upcoming weeks as the first spring products are being harvested. If you have some interest in participating as a vendor in one of these markets contact you local count extension office to get information about who to contact about joining. There are over 70 community farmers markets around the state. Many of them have a manager or director. Most of them charge a small fee either for the season or for weekly participation.
These markets can provide a great avenue for generating a little extra cash from quality produce you may be raising on your farm or in your garden. It is also a great opportunity to connect with the local customers and to find out what sorts of products they are willing to pay for. The market can be a good avenue to experiment with different products, packaging, and promotion.
New vendors will discover that other farmers on the market have discovered useful tips for marketing and production that they are usually willing to share.
Variety, quality, and fair prices help to create a value for farm market customers that will keep them coming back to buy in the future. Markets usually feature fresh vegetables and fruit but can include many other items. Fresh cut flowers, bedding plants and mums, hanging baskets, herbs, dried flowers, and other fresh products from the farm can find considerable interest from people visiting the market.
There is a wide variety of specialty produce that can be sold, as well. Colored and specialty peppers, different varieties of beans, cherry tomatoes, garlic, decorative produce - such as Indian corn, gourds, miniature pumpkins, and even corn shocks.
A few farmers have obtained the necessary permits to sell eggs, honey, preserves, and other value-added products. If you have a highly perishable or value-added product you would like to explore selling on a farmers market, talk to your county extension agent or call the representative for the Farm Market program at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. In most cases, the necessary production, handling, or permit requirements can be arranged.
It is important to work together with other vendors on the market to promote the market and make it a desirable place for people to continue to patronize. Many community farmers markets are able to get assistance for promotion through the Department of Agriculture program. Many of these markets have adopted bylaws for their members that provide guidelines for fair pricing, participation, and presentation of product.
Working with other farmers on a market can be a very rewarding experience for entrepreneurs both young and old. People are eating more fresh produce today than they ever have and these community farmers markets present a great opportunity for people to buy top quality, locally grown produce and connect with their community a little bit themselves.
For More Information
For additional information, please contact, Tim Woods.