Visiting a farmer’s market and seeing the farmers or local business owners selling the freshly grown food can be an inspiration. If you have a backyard or some space to grow fruits and vegetables then you might consider harvesting and selling them in the local farmer’s market.
If you don’t have the scope to grow your food then you can source a good local producer, buy from them and sell your products by taking a stall in the farmer’s market. This doesn’t only give you the chance to earn more money but should also provide internal pleasure and satisfaction. If you are interested to sell fresh produce at a farmer’s market then here are some tips for you.
Know where you fit
You should first find out whether you can sell a certain product at the local farmer’s market. For example, you can sell fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, or even crafts. You do of course need to see if you are a good fit for the farmer’s market. You should learn about any restrictions and policies. You should sell something that you can produce or source. So, first, decide what you are going to sell.
Plan the stall
One of the basics is that you need to hire a stall in the farmer’s market. You should set up a realistic budget for this. For this you should make a plan of how many chairs and tables are needed, how you are going to display the products, and more. You also need to have cold storage, if necessary to store your products.
As the farmer’s market takes place in an open space, you need to take local weather conditions into consideration. It can be a good idea to have a tent over your stall so that even if it rains or snows, people can still buy from you.
You need to think about the packaging. Try to make it eco-friendly by using paper or reusable bags rather than plastic bags. You should also consider the payment system. You can decide to accept credit and debit cards along with cash.
Get the permits and licenses
To sell at a local farmer’s market you need to arrange for all the permits and licenses needed to put up a stall. You can talk to the local producers to get help with getting the necessary documents. Once you have the proper license or permit to do business you will have everything you must start your business.
If you are growing seasonal products then there will be regular health inspections of the food. You should be aware of this. You must get liability insurance as well. There may be unpleasant events that may damage your products. So, having insurance ensures that your products and stall will be protected from unfortunate events.
You should book the spot of the stall immediately so that you get to set up your stall at a good location. This will increase the chance of getting more customers. If you can set up your stall properly and produce good quality products then the customers will continuously visit your stall at the local farmer’s market.