Tips for farmers market success

Today there are more than 6,900 markets registered in the USDA Farmers Market Directory.

Santa Monica Farmers Market
Veggies at Farmers Market. Photo: Denise Taylor/Getty Images

Since 1994, when there were less than 2,000, the number of farmers markets across the U.S. has exploded. Today there are more than 6,900 markets registered in the USDA Farmers Market Directory.

The Farmers Market Coalition reports, “Farmers markets provide one of the only low-barrier entry points for new farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs allowing them to start small and test new products. For young and beginning farmers, direct marketing through CSAs and farmers markets make up the majority of their income.”

In 2020, on-farm stores and farmers markets accounted for $1.7 billion in farm sales reported by USDA.

Do farmers markets sound like a good fit for your farm?

If you’ve considered selling your farm’s goods at the farmers market, tune into a free webinar hosted by Chop Local on Tuesday, July 11 at 10 a.m. CT. Farm marketing mentor, Victoria Robinson, and Teresa Davis, owner of West Forty Market, will serve as presenters. 

As experienced farmers market vendors themselves, both women have tackled their share of set up, booth branding, and market day logistics. If Davis were to relive her market days, she’d do three things differently.

  1. Get more customer email addresses.
  2. Take pre–orders online.
  3. Research your local markets before committing.

If you’re already a farmers market vendor, but struggling with a mid-season slump, Robinson and Davis plan to share tips to boost sales the rest of the market season in the upcoming webinar.

Learn More

Register for ChopLocal’s Maximizing Success: Strategies for Boosting Farmers Market Sales webinar here. A recording will be available at a later date.

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