Are you ready for the Farmers Market? 5 tips to make sure you are prepared before your market opens this year

Spring has sprung! With our first day in the Spring season under our belt, here at the CCD we are getting ourselves and our producers ready to tackle anything and all things related to the farmers market. From planning what you’re bringing, potentially changing or even setting new prices, to want you want your booth to look like, we’ve got the resources and tips for you! Today, we’re going to go over 5 tips to help get you ready for your farmers market season! 

1. Plan the range of products you intend to offer and think about how you can display them for the best sales. 

What products sold well last year and what products didn’t? If something didn’t sell well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t offer it again this year, but you may need to rethink how you package or display these items. 

Booth display may seem like something you can just throw together once you get to the market the first day, but a well-planned booth is important for so many reasons. It’s obvious to your customers if you have put thought and energy into your display. Here are a few quick display tips: 

• Make sure your table is clean. If it’s old and scratched, definitely cover it with a clean tablecloth. 

• Knee-to-eye display: find ways to display products below table height all the way to eye level for your customers. This flow gives dimension to your product and makes it easier for your customers to find product. 

• Want to learn more about how to make a great booth display? Attend the CCD virtual webinar in partnership with the Community Farm Alliance on April 21. Register here. 

   

2. Know your market’s rules. 

Different markets have different rules on how they operate. This might restrict some of the items you can sell at your market. Understanding what rules your market has in place will help you plan what products to offer to customers. 

Use the Kentucky Department of Agriculture 2024-2025 Kentucky Farmers’ Market Manual & Resource Guide to make sure you are compliant and to learn some good tips & tricks for being successful at the market this year. 

3. If you have got a new product you want to start offering, this might be the right marketplace to test it out.  

Consumers are more open to new and exciting produce and products. Farmers markets are a great choice for new or different items to be tested in the marketplace. 

A great way to do this is by offering samples! While this data was collected several years ago, we still see a lot of this to be true: people want samples and samples convert passers-by to customers. A great way to stand behind your product is to offer it in-person, where people are able to ask you questions about it in real-time. The data above can be found in the Best Practices for Sampling at Farmers Market publication. 

Make sure you are properly trained to provide samples at your farmers market this year. Learn more here. 

4. Plan Your Prices!