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Selling Homegrown Fruit At A Farmers Market

Farmers markets are a terrific place for locals to find fresh fruit and vegetables at reasonable prices. They also give farmers the chance to earn extra money, while advertising their services.

If you are a farmer who is considering selling homegrown fruit at the local farmers market, you can contact the market directly for information. Farmers markets often advertise in the newspaper, but if you cannot find a contact number then visit the market directly and ask vendors to provide you with the name and phone number of the market organizer.

The Department of Agriculture also has a web presence that will give information on local market areas. This site is uaually a great place to find out about laws, rules and guides for developing a market in a region. They often have a list of markets that will accept new vendors and their products.

Showing and selling at a market does have a fee associated with it and this fee can vary from area to area and each market is different. Some markets supply the basic essentials such as tents, poles for banners, tables, and chairs. Electricity and water are other valuable things to have at a space depending on what is being sold and displayed. Others simply rent out the space. Typically the more things that are supplied by the market the more they will charge for renting the space. Some markets charge by the day, others by the week, month or even season. Always check out the details to be well informed. Insurance is often needed so the owner of the market will not be liable.

Regulatory agencies control health and sanitation issues at a farmers market so it is important to know these guides before getting involved. For example, if you want to sell boiled ears of corn it is wise to know the health guidelines before setting up shop. The Department of Agriculture can also give advice on this subject.

Farmers usually do not need any type of license if they grow the food they wish to sell. However it is a good idea to check on what the rules and regulations are. If reselling product a license is definitely required. This means if you pick up a truck load of watermelons from a farmer to resell you will need a license.

Although some farmers markets provide tax information to their vendors, many markets leave tax issues up to the vendors. Vendors should always keep professional sales tax records as well as accurate records of their crops production history, produce sales, and business related expenses. Farmers who sell their goods should check with their state and federal departments of revenue for tax information. Unless you have a solid understanding of tax issues such as sales tax and income tax, you should hire an expert to help you manage the financial aspect of your farming business.

Sellers should consider what things they would need to become a successful vendor. Although some farmers do not bother displaying a sign, a professional sign that includes the name of your farm, can help to increase your business. You will need a vehicle large enough to transport your produce, signage, tables, etc. Most markets require clearly displayed pricing on produce, so you will need to have price tags or cards ready for display. Vendors need to bring their own cash box, enough change and bags for their customers.

A good looking display helps get a space noticed. Vendor displays can compete with each other so having good details in place to catch a customers eye help. Good signs, use of color, and clever displays will help sales soar.

Susan Nelson Hopkins also provides a list of Farmers Market References and Resources, with detailed information on who to contact at the federal, state, and local levels. Another article you should read – Maintaining Healthy Young Fruit Trees – includes tips on planting trees properly, what they need protection from, what pests to look for, and the benefits of staggered harvesting. After all, you want your homegrown fruit to sell fast… and nothing guarantees sales like sweet, juicy, delectable, ripe fruit, fresh-picked from healthy fruit trees.

July 30th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , | Category: garden

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