Farmers Market Washington Dc

Measure the dimensions of the face of your cardboard stand—this will be the same as the dimensions of the face of the cereal box. There should be one trimmed and hole-punched cardstock sheet for every month you plan to include in your calendar.

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the big three, but you can choose which platforms work best for your marketing efforts in the form of farm communications. An “About Us” page can help customers feel more connected to you, their farmer, and a page...

In Illinois, for example, herbs can be sold fresh or dried in a bundle, and these are considered raw products. “If [the health inspector] finds a food that is not to be produced by a limited establishment (home food processor), such as beef stew, they...

Methods for transporting herbs to market and keeping them fresh once you arrive may vary somewhat depending on your part of the country and its weather. Mint will redouble its growing efforts.

Start Small Don't go overboard—test the farmers'-market waters before investing in expensive tents and gear. Sure, a lot of farmers may be selling red, ripe tomatoes, but what if you sold green tomatoes, along with your recipe for fried green tomatoes?

The idea is that larger leaves attached to long stems can simply be bunched together like kale or chard and sold that way. However, an abundance of spinach might call for an abundance of marketing approaches, so today I'll lay out your options and give...

You can bring the most beautiful heirloom tomatoes in the world, but if you fail to make them visible from the walking paths, or if you don't make their prices visible, your sales might be substandard without you even realizing it.

If you choose this approach or even if you follow a more traditional growing schedule, you can sell many items at farmers markets before your main crops are ready to harvest. You must comply with your state laws as well as the rules of the farmers market...

I find that these documents are often exhaustingly blunt, so don't judge them on language as much as determining whether they meet your standards. A market should attract regular customers as well as the passerby—location has a lot to do with sustaining...

Over that time period, markets have also become more equipped to serve a more diverse population, according to the Farmers' Market Coalition, with more markets becoming authorized to accept benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ,...

If it doesn't sell, that's not viable. For one, it offers a venue from which to sell your food at the highest possible price , an important prospect for a job that even at that highest price is hard to make profitable.

We love the winter farmers' market vibe so much that we're involved with organizing one here in our rural Wisconsin community. As we enter the holiday season, take any market opportunity to not just buy something from a farmer (although please do that,...

Are you organic?/Do you spray? Tell them that, along with anything else that goes into your pricing. A customer may also ask about what you feed your animals or if you've ever given antibiotics or hormones.

“Several customers comment that we must be the best growers around because we never have damaged or imperfect tomatoes, but the truth is that we just don't bring them to market. Keep Yourself Fueled Remember to eat a solid meal before market, and drink...

Unlike most other plants, your customer won't need an actual garden to grow a wide variety of herbs. Eggplant, watermelon, artichoke , cucumber and kohlrabi might fall into this category.

Events range from weekly cooking demonstrations featuring seasonal foods and gardening seminars to scavenger hunts and school fieldtrips. A farmers' market that bills itself as a destination for organic foods can attract a loyal following of shoppers...

For the local, seasonal foodies, this marks a bittersweet time, reminiscent of the last days of summer camp. Buy a Bushel of Apples Almost any kind of apple will keep for up to four months or even longer if stored properly.

This year, however, we had it early and sold out two weeks in a row until, by the third week, every farmer had yellow squash and our sales dropped off. However, season extension is not, of course, relegated solely to the summer crops.

Then again, the chef might show you just what size he or she wants, then you pick them right at that stage. A lot of larger growers package their cucumbers individually. Here are alternative ways to sell your cucumbers.

The nasturtium is fairly fast growing and prolific, and it's also beautiful. Pick them the day you plan to sell them; the lifespan of flowers is never more than a few days. You can also add them to your salad mixes to give the mixes a little color and...

For that reason it's worth considering some ways to make the most of the customers who do come and sell a nice heaping load of vegetables (or whatever you produce) every week. The fall can be a difficult time to sell at a farmers market because the customer...

What were the storage costs? Of course, any prepared foods will probably have to be made in a commercial kitchen, so be sure to follow your local legal guidelines. Keep in mind that butternut squash are cheap and abundant for restaurants, so make sure...

These loyal customers are looking for a good value, not for what's trendy or ethical. Check yours before proceeding. However, the rest of your customers might not know which end of the rabbit is which.

Those higher levels are often found in the cooler mornings. So does, however, having wilted greens. Be Gentle This probably goes without saying, but washing and packing should be done gently.

When there's only a small pile of tomatoes —even if that's because they're really the best—customers don't see that. It is not uncommon that a few hours into market, half of what you brought is sold.

But that doesn't mean an price-wary customer can't be convinced and converted. Fielding Price Complaints Even still, complaints will happen, and practicing a few nice, prepared responses is never a bad idea.

A little dirt on your produce is OK—it may even be a nice show of authenticity—but if your customers find themselves with half an inch of topsoil in their sinks when they buy from you, they may very well seek other, cleaner sources next time.