New Farmer's Guide: Cultivating Success at Farmers Markets ? City ...

New small farmers are key to building new farmers markets. Cultivating those new farmers in small or emerging farmers markets can help those farmers advance to larger, more successful markets.

By Randii MacNear and Shelly G. Keller
Davis Farmers Market Association
9.01.2012
32 pages

Excerpt:

You will learn why farmers markets are good for small farmers, and the traits of successful farmers market sellers. You will learn how to examine your readiness to sell at farmers markets and how to plan, including researching markets, estimating costs, connecting with farmers market managers, creating a farmers market stand that works, delivering good customer service, expanding your market, and tracking and evaluating results.

This how-to guide shares what we know from our personal perspectives: that of a 30-year veteran farmers market manager, and a 30-year marketing professional, who work together to promote and grow farmers markets and small farms.

As you move through the process of becoming a farmers market seller and gain experience, consider referring to this guide frequently. You?ll discover that your new farmers market selling experience will help you see the advice and tips in this guide with a fresh perspective.

Introduction 1
About the authors 2
Why farmers markets are good for farmers 4
Traits of successful farmers market sellers 5
Readiness: Is selling at a farmers market right for you? 6
Preparing to sell at farmers markets 7
Pricing and pricing strategies 8
Setting goals 9
Researching prospective markets 10
Getting your documents together 11
Estimating your costs 12
Building relationships with market managers 12
Pitching your farm to a market manager 13
Follow-through builds trust 13
Your farmers market retail stand 14
Displaying your products 14
Creating signs that help you sell 15
Dressing for sales success 15
Staffing Your Farmer?s Market Stand 16
Welcoming customers 16
Offering samples 17
Creating effective customer handouts 17
Expanding your marketing 18
Staying in touch with market managers 20
Tracking and evaluating results 21
Bibliography 22
Readiness checklist 23
Farmers market visit evaluation form 24
Budgeting farmers market costs 26
Farmers market advice from Davis Farmers Market sellers 27

Download ?New Farmer?s Guide? here.

Source: http://www.cityfarmer.info/2012/10/27/new-farmers-guide-cultivating-success-at-farmers-markets/

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