How to Sell At Markets And What Sells

In this blog, we will discuss how to sell at farmers markets. Along with how, we decide what we will be taking to the markets. Also, how to prep to go to the markets. Let’s start off with labeling and picking.

Picking For The Markets

The day prior to going to the markets we pick everything we are going to sell there. Then we would label everything and have them in bags. Next we would place them in banana boxes from the local supermarket, and we would place a 1-2 layers per box, so they did not get squished or cracked. Then we picked and boxed all my fruits, we placed them in a cool dark area until it’s time to load them next morning for the market. We place ours in the garage because it is cool and dark but places such as a basement should work well also.

What To Take To The Markets

This year we took tomatoes, next year we are expanding into peppers. When going to a new market you want to take all kinds and varieties even regular colored tomatoes (red, yellow, and orange) etc. The reasons to take assortment of colors to give a variety of choices, sizes, and flavors.  So basically you would experience more sales if you allow the customers a wide variety visually and pertains to taste.

Setting Up Your Table

We set our table up the same every week with the banner, tent, and table clothes. This gives the customer more familiarity with my brand. Most of the sellers just had a brown table with their produce on them. When putting your produce on your table, split up the colors on the table, so it catches the customer’s eye. Also setting up your spot and table this way, every week customers remember you. They will come back every week and when telling their friends they may just may say (the person that sells the different colored tomatoes or the person that has the banner or table cloth on his tables). Since other sellers do not do this, and it makes you unique at the markets.

Selling To The Customers

Now when selling to the customers you have to inform them that they are heirloom and open pollinated tomatoes and have better flavors than hybrids and grocery store tomatoes. Where we live, at the markets for tomatoes, all the sellers are selling hybrid tomatoes. The reason for this is they are disease and crack resistant, but they do not compare to the flavor of an heirloom or open pollinated tomatoes, and you have to let them know that. We explain the differences, and we will give them extra tomatoes for them to try when they buy some tomatoes. We will give them cherry tomatoes to try while they are asking questions. Then a few weeks you will find out what customers like and bring more of those to sell from week to week. But introduce new tomatoes coming in from your garden also you might find a new tomato customers like.

Good luck in selling at the farmers markets if you decide to sell your tomatoes. Keep in mind, this process takes a few weeks to gain customers and trust. But once customers get to know you and taste the quality of tomatoes you are selling, it is well worth doing.

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