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Call it internship, apprenticeship or learning by doing, it's all about training the next generation of farmers, foodmakers and market managers on the job. On this week's episode we talk about how interns can help your market and ways to make those programs beneficial for both sides. A true internship provides education and that takes effort. Determine the best time to establish an internship that works, by considering issues including: Identifying the differences between interns and volunteers Deciding whether an internship is paid or unpaid Making sure you get the work your interns produce into that binder Creating success stories like the one from Williamsburg Farmers Market Thanks to Downtown SLO Farmers Market for the 📸
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It's the 25th anniversary of National Farmers Market Week. Get ready to get ready with the Farmers Market Coalition Toolkit, it's available now. Get ahead of the game with early press releases and outreach to your local policy makers. Order your temporary I Love Farmers Market tattoos. Plan a celebration and don't forget to slip in a little education. This is our week to shine. Join us as we chat with Nino Budabin McQuown of FMC about all the best ways to use the week to raise your farmers markets' profile, including: Customize your celebration for your community Request a proclamation or visit from local officials now Suggest farmers and market vendors use NFMW to promote their businesses Whether you plan ahead or scramble, make it fun
FMC Toolkit: https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/national-farmers-market-week/
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Juneteenth is coming up, are you ready? With the mid-week holiday coming up, we're seeing observances and events scheduled this coming weekend also the following Saturday and Sunday, June 22nd and 23rd, in addition to June 19th itself. Sagdrina Brown Jalal joined us last year to discuss how to honor that day at our markets. This year we'll be amplifying the collective Juneteenth awareness campaign that Sagdrina is leading for the Farmers Market Coalition. Listen in to our brief conversation about this year's plans, and to this spotlight episode originally broadcast in June of 2023, about: Simple ways to make your farmers market more inclusive Supporting local organizations already doing the work How markets are putting the Anti-Racist Toolkit to work Keeping the momentum going as Black Business Month and National Farmers Market Week intersect
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We love a good vendor story almost as much as we love Not Your Nonna's nut-free pesto, full of locally grown basil. Adrianna Zizzo operates her pasta sauce business in six farmers markets a week. Her fledgling business weathered pandemic protocols shortly after she launched. This summer her business is celebrating its five year anniversary. Devoted to using locally grown ingredients and no preservatives, Adrianna has built a devoted customer base and an extended market family. Listen in as we talk about: Ways entrepreneurial parents set us up for success Limiting staff turnover with realistic job descriptions Educating shoppers about eating seasonally Using customer requests to grow your product line Her last word on the sauce versus gravy debate
Learn more about our online courses, annual gatherings and farmers market resources at https://www.farmersmarketpros.com. Copyright @ The Farmers Market Pros, 2024.
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It's a celebration, it's a contest, it's two exciting things at once and it kicks off this coming weekend. American Farmland Trust has operated America's Farmers Market Celebration for 16 years now. It offers a great chance to make your market more visible and engage your shoppers. The cash prizes are an added bonus. This year's contest is shorter and maybe a little sweeter than last year's, with some new rules in place. Listen in on our conversation with AFT's David Thayer about all the ways the Celebration is designed to advance our shared mission of protecting farmers while promoting farmers markets. Learn about all this and more: Why the Celebration has a new, shorter timeline Getting your market registered before June 1st Creative ways market contestants get out the vote Remembering that we're all on the same side Celebrating farmers markets all year
Today’s episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by American Farmland Trust.
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We’re baaaaack! Did you miss us? After our short recording hiatus, listen in to find out where we’ve been and where we’re growing next.🌱 It’s been a busy spring, and we’ve got a lot cookin’ over here. Follow along as we answer burning questions, including:
How Catt and Brijet keep it real (hint: still schlepping barricades) The location for 2025's InTents Farmers Market Conference Will the Tent Talk Podcast ever be on video? 👀 How to find grant assistance and other consulting services Where in the world is Catt Fields White, and how many books is she writing?We'd love to hear what you’ve been up to. Drop a comment and let us know!
Today’s episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by Farmers Market University.
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The work you do farming, or bringing small farmers and shoppers together, is vitally important. Brent Preston spoke at InTents: The Farmers Market Conference 2019 about his time as an organic farmer, the effects of farming on the environment and how farmers and consumers can change those. His book The New Farm: Our Ten Years on the Front Lines of the Good Food Revolution, shined a light on the complexity of our food systems. Brent continues to do the good work, on his farm in Southern Ontario, Canada, and as current president of Farmers for Climate Solutions.
This episode was recorded and originally broadcast in March 2019 and we think it's still relevant and important, for long time listeners to review and newer followers to discover. It’s a pleasure to share it with you again now.
Today’s episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by the national Farmers Market Coalition.
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Would you get a chiropractic adjustment or purchase a time share at the grocery store? If you answered no, then why would you expect to find those services at the farmers market? This week on Tent Talk we discuss the pros and cons of hosting service providers and informational/promotional booths at your farmers market. Knife sharpeners, food prep services, masseuses, real estate agents, home cleaning services, and bike mechanics all offer valuable services that your market community may desire. However, integrating them into your farmers market requires some strategy. Listen along for tips on how to curate your markets service providers in a way that aligns with the mission of your organization.
This episode was recorded and originally broadcast in August 2022. Enjoy this encore for long time listeners, and helpful information for our newer followers. It’s a pleasure to share it with you again now.
Today’s episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by Project for Public Spaces
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Pirate vendors, aargh! No, we’re not talking about buccaneers that sail the seven seas, we’re talking about sellers and solicitors that set up in or around a farmers market as unofficial vendors. Though usually well-intentioned, hawkers, buskers, petitioners, and street vendors can confuse shoppers about where and when the actual farmers market begins, encroach on sales, and could potentially be a liability for farmers market operators. Tune in for some commiseration and brainstorming about what to do and how to handle these unofficial farmers market vendors.
This episode was recorded and originally broadcast in January 2023. We thought it was worth an encore for long time listeners and a great way to provide newer followers with this valuable information.
This week's episode is made possible by support from Vendor-101.
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Opening a new farmers market or starting a new season at an existing one is exciting. A lot goes into getting ready to launch, and building up to a truly grand opening. Building awareness and anticipation for both the community and your family of farmers and vendors means a busy opening day. Planning for the natural cycles of a new market will keep everyone's enthusiasm and commitment strong. New and established alike, there's no part of farmers markets that just happens. You make it happen and keep happening for your team and your neighbors. This episode of Tent Talk was originally recorded and broadcast in May, 2022. We thought it was worth an encore for long time listeners and a great way to provide newer followers with this valuable information, including: Scheduling an intentional opening date Getting the word out in all the ways Making shoppers feel welcome Understanding the natural ebb and flow of attendance Staging to maintain the excitement This episode of Tent Talk is supported by Marketing for Markets, providing online marketing tools and tips to farmers market managers and participants.
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Communicating with your farmers market community can take a lot of forms nowadays. Do you send emailed vendor advisories? Use a private Facebook or Instagram group? Smoke signals or carrier pigeons, maybe? One way or another it's important for farmers, vendors and managers that everyone stays in the loop. In this episode Catt and Brijet and Justine are joined by market directors Gina Johnson from Madison, Illinois, and Rebecah Boynton from Nashville, Tennessee. This episode of Tent Talk was originally recorded and broadcast in July, 2022. We thought it was worth an encore for long time listeners and a great way to provide newer followers with this valuable information, including: Subject lines that get your emails opened Why written communication is important Determining the right timing for reminders Facilitating conversations open to everyone Using social media platforms and tools This episode of Tent Talk is supported by Vendor-101, providing online education to prospective market farmers and vendors and helping small businesses succeed.
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What do farmers market people bring home from vacation? Our first stop is always is the local market, and farmers market merch is our favorite souvenir. Selling shopping bags, t-shirts, water bottles and magnets can add to your income stream and also provide a valuable marketing tool. Depending on local regulations, farmers and vendors can also use swag to remind people of where they found that amazing tomato or bread. Join us as Catt and Brijet discuss all the tips for how to produce and sell your memorable market merchandise (say that 5 times fast), including: • It all starts with shopping bags • Determining your real cost of goods • Creating effective designs and displays • Budgeting for lost inventory • Counting and reordering This episode of Tent Talk is supported by Square, providing simple, efficient ways to track inventory and make on-site sales.
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Your Info or Welcome Booth is your market home away from home. It's often the place that shoppers and farmers and vendors find your team, where you sell fun merchandise, and where you process SNAP EBT transactions. All the things that apply to making farmers' and vendors' booths effective apply here too. Listen in as Catt and Brijet discuss how to make your Welcome booth, well, welcoming! Discover tips on: • Making your Info booth visible and attractive • Keeping your booth staffed or letting folks know when you'll return • Making sure your team provides a welcoming presence • Handling prospective applicants effectively • Why local restaurants should be feeding your team This episode of Tent Talk is supported by American Farmland Trust. If you haven't updated your market information in preparation for the next America's Farmers Market Celebration, do that today. And if you want to keep farmers farming, become a member now.
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What project could you complete if you had funding? The deadline for submitting Farmers Market Promotion Program grants is just 51 days away. This week, we chat with Melissa Siwiec, executive director of Pennsylvania's historic Lancaster Central Market, about the process of applying for and then implementing an FMPP funded project. The process seems intimidating, and the rules and guidelines are rigorous. USDA is very clear about what's required, so priority number one is following instructions. Melissa's pro tips include: • Deadlines and required formatting are clearly stated and strictly enforced, don't try to skirt the rules • A plan and a goal come first, chasing funding for its own sake is not sustainable • Set some time aside, writing a winning proposal takes time and focus • Partnerships are a required piece of FMPP grants, identify compatible community organizations • Grant funding is released as reimbursements, you'll need reserves to get your projects started As Ben Feldman pointed out at last month's InTents Conference, plenty of types of activities are funded by Federal grants, none of them any more important or deserving than supporting farmers, farmers markets and food access. FInd more information and the FMPP grant application form by clicking USDA on the Resource Page at FarmersMarketPros.com Need one on one grant writing help? Contact Melissa Siwiec here. This episode is supported by Farmers Market University, helping market managers hone and certify their professional skills.
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Our Live from the InTents Conference episode has become an annual tradition, and it's one of our favorites every year. Tent Talk producer Leandra Hays sat down with conference attendees and asked them to share the best part of their market day. They made us laugh, and cry and sometimes say, "What the heck?" Drop a note in the comments to share the part of your market day that is your favorite. Big thanks to the wide variety of people who shared their experiences from markets coast to coast (we see you, New Brunswick!)
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Moving a market is not as simple as scooting a tent or two down the street (not that scooting any tents is without drama.) Sometimes you lose part of your site to a construction project, sometimes a conflicting annual event happens and you have to move the entire market for a day. Finding a new site that can accommodate an established event is a puzzle. You know where the driveways and trees and giant dumpsters are at your current location. What surprises will your replacement venue hold? And how will your shoppers and vendors know where to go? Listen in as Catt and Brijet discuss the ways they've found to ease the pain as much as possible, while you're away from your home sweet home site, with tips on: • Identifying a replacement site • Surveying neighboring businesses and residents • Mapping to minimize disruption for your vendors • What wedding seating plans and market maps have in common • Timing your announcement to avoid confusion • Keeping regular shoppers in the loop and attracting new ones This episode of Tent Talk is supported by Square, helping farmers, vendors and market managers process payments and invoicing in the tents and at the desk. Don't miss next week's Live from the InTents Conference episode!
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Are you a farmer or small food business trying to navigate finding spaces to sell at farmers markets? Are you a farmers market manager buried in application emails and trying to find the perfect needles in that haystack? In this episode we're chatting about how we process applications for our markets and approaches used by some of our fellow market managers. Yes, you can have an amazing product and still not be a perfect fit for a specific market. Learn how to narrow down your targets if you're a producer. Listen in to find ways to help a diamond in the rough shine if you're a market manager. Find tips on: • Telling managers everything they need to know about your business • Balancing your market's offerings • Application red flags • Helping new vendors launch successfully
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Plenty of us have a love-hate relationship with social media.There's nothing like it right now for keeping shoppers up to date on market offerings days and times, and helping your farm or bakery stand out at a busy market. It's free, sort of. It takes so much time. It's so effective, until they change the rules. It's a trick to find the sweet spot between sharing honest views of your business and your life and maintaining boundaries. Listen in as Catt and Brijet discuss the best ways for market managers and vendors to work together to increase sales, including: • Specific tips for markets and farmers and vendors to amplify each other's posts • The challenges of outsourcing farmers market social media • Defining "free" and remembering that time is money • Using social media to make your booth a magnet at a busy market • Making sure all your eggs aren't in one basket, in case someone trips Need more marketing help? Check out our online Market for Markets class https://www.farmersmarketpros.com/marketing-for-markets
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Farmers Julie of Stoner Family Farms has diversified her products to achieve better sales at her farmers markets. Her farm is a family operation, and the market business is her baby. Bringing her daughters into the tent helps lighten the load, and teaches them all the things that small business owners learn along the way. Listen in as Julie shares: • How she decides which markets work best for her • Where farmers markets land on the list of top income streams • Why she decided to diversify her product lines • Ways she's helping new market farmers improve their business Find Julie's blog with resources for market farmers at www.sffvalpo.com/blog
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The 8th annual InTents Farmers Market Conference is just around the corner, starting 3 weeks from today. Listen in to hear more about this year's schedule and what's coming up here in San Diego and live online. There's still time to register, just use the link in our bio or on the home page at farmersmarketpros.com Learn all this and more in this year's sessions: • Join hive mind roundtables to discuss how we define "farmers market" • Determine staff members' roles and avoid labor law issues • Map your market to minimize drama, tempt consumers and maximize sales • Create places of belonging beyond the Anti Racist Farmers Market Toolkit • Attract sponsors to support operating costs at any size market
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