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I got @*!ing Small Towned!

S

State of Jefferson

Member
So I moved to this nice little farming town here in Northern California a little shy of 2 years ago. One of the reasons I like it so well are that the people are so friendly.
After pretty good success, and great feedback with a half acre market garden last summer, I decided I'd roll the dice, and make it a (mostly) full time venture, and went big. Planted 3 acres of mixed veggies; corn, spuds, melons, squash, etc.
I attended the local farmers market every Tuesday, and then when production finally ramped up, I set up my little roadside stand, trying to peddle my goods 5 or 6 days a week. Things were going pretty well. Last Saturday was my best day of the season, about $180 in sales. Not gonna get rich, but a good reward for lots of hard work.
I currently have a surplus of sweet corn, so I borrowed one of the neighbor kids to watch sales at my stand, while I attended the market to try to offload some extra corn.
When I showed up at the market, the old, loud mouth PITA assistant market manager ran me off! He said that if I was going to sell at the farmers market, I couldn't have my roadside stand too. Said I was too much competition for the back-yard-hobby gardeners who were there selling there things! COMPETITION?! Isn't this still AMERICA!? Aren't we still a capitalist economy?
This farmers market happens to be overseen by the county AG commissioner, to make sure no-one is just buying wholesale produce, and selling it as their own. I am going to go see him today and ask how in the he!! the old blow hard market manager thinks he can run me off for being TO GOOD OF A FARMER!
I can't imagine they can exclude someone for being to ambitious. After this deal I don't even want to n]be a part of it, but then It would be fun to show up next week with 100 dozen ears of corn and sell it all for $.10 an ear so the other vendors have to take their extra goods home with them, and see how it feels.
Anyone else have an experience like this? How did you handle it?

Sorry for the LONG rant. Some things just get under a guy's skin!

Ben
 
This isn't exactly the same thing but is still annoying. My kids grow stuff all summer and sell at the end of the laneway and make a little money. Down the road is a couple who sell from their own stand quite a variety of vegetables pretty cheap. The other night I saw a truck dropping off 4x4 bins of sweet corn the same company that supplies the local supermarket. How can kids compete? Any size farmer should be able to sell THEIR own product how they want where they want. Setting up a loss leader to make money competing with kids is different...
 
While I feel for you and this may be a border line case, they are right. How would you like Safeway or Walmart setting up a stand at every farmers market in the country? Do one or the other.
 
But Safeway and Walmart are not growing the produce while the above farmer is both growing and selling it.

If it is grown by the individual seller, no matter how big of an operation, they should be allowed to sell it at the local farmer"s market.
 
"I was too much competition for the back-yard-hobby gardeners who were there selling there things! COMPETITION?!"

You might remind them of the name of the market, i.e. FARMER"S, not backyard gardener"s market.
 
I'm not Walmart or Safeway. I'm a small(in the grand scheme TINY)time grower. I'm not bringing in anyone elses product, I'm only selling MY produce. I'm not undercutting anyone else, I'm selling the fruits of my labors at a reasonable price.

Ben
 
I had kind of the same thing happen to me a few years back at our local Farmers Market. So as to get my satifaction from not being allowed on the Farmers Market property. I parked on the street curb the next morning with a truck load of sweet corn and a sign "13 for a buck!" There were a lot of other vendors a little P.O'd and the operator of the market tried to run me off, but well, after 2 1/2 hrs all my corn was gone and so was I. Never been back!
 

I can fully understand your frustration. I am a small produce grower. Do a weekend market, roadside during the week, CSA shares and some wholesale to local restaurants and grocery stores.

If you live in a rural or small town area you have to do this if you grow any amount of produce. I'm only talking a couple of acres worth. You cannot count on one small - medium market, with a lot of competition, to move what you produce... Just isn't happening. You need A LOT of customers...

For someone who counts on their farming venture as sole or significant secondary income, back yard gardeners peddling their goods at rock bottom pricing is a real thorn in the side. You lose a certain portion of your customer base. Those who shop only based upon price... In this case a producer must strive to provide value to a customer base through a superior product whether that is based on size, flavor, variety, uniqueness, etc. Provide a superior product selection with value and you will build a loyal customer base and will eventually have a dedicated base coming to you no matter what else is available as long as you are reasonably priced. This will also allow you to branch into more areas.

I have a local certified organic producer not far from me. They do 3 different markets, 75 miles+ away during the week. They are all in the suburbs of Detroit where you have upscale clientele with money to spend and a lot of customers on top of that... They also do a CSA program. They make a living off of 17 acres... A decent one at that...
 
Really before you go name calling and blowing gaskets why didn"t you just ask for a set of rules that the market should have for all new people. I don"t think he called you too good of a farmer he said you can"t sell in both places - quite the difference. Seems like you should be able to find other avenues of commerce if your really that good of a farmer, such as restaurants or local grocery stores. Then you wouldn"t have to upset the local gallery
 
Very simple ask for a set of the by laws of the farmers market group. Then if it does not say you can not sell at other locations then you have them but if it says you have to sell only at the farmers market then they have you. I know this area there is a farmers market that I could join but I know they have some funny rules and you have to pay dues and all plus it is just plain a hassle to pack things up and drive to town to sell stuff. So instead I give stuff the people and my wife takes some to church with her.
 
You should see some of the roadside sellers down in east Teaxs. Selling farm fresh produce including pineapples and mangos. I don't think pineapples ard mangos grow well in east Texas. At least I have never seen any.
 
I don't think that is anything new, my dad has tried to get into some local farmers markets with his potatoes and they aren't interested, basically their friends are the only ones getting a piece of the pie.
 
If the rules and/or bylaws confirm what you were told, then you're out of line. I think a farmers market is a whole lot different than regular businesses setting up shop and competing with each other. Otherwise, a really big farmer could come in and have a monopoly because they would be able to undercut everyone else because of the large volume they produce, and still make a profit. Dave
 
Part of your problem is that you are dealing with the California view of the world. Get a copy of the rules. If the market is set up for the hippie gardeners you are sol. It seems to me as a local grower and not a reseller you should be allowed in.
 
My late Uncle Bill grew and sold produce and plants for years. One year, he took a bunch of surplus tomatoes to the markets in town to try to sell some wholesale. Now, this was 60 years ago when there were small locally owned markets. They would not buy from him because he was the competition. He got mad and bought a bunch of paper sacks. and walked the streets giving away all his tomatoes. The market owners called the police to run him out of town. Police said there was no law against giving away produce. Uncle Bill had the last laugh.
Richard
 
EXACTLY why there are two farmers markets in my small town. The guy who started the first one also started the second after they ran him off from the first one.
 
I had to think about this one for a while. My first impluse was to side with you on this one. But after some thought, I see another side.
I think a big part of farmer's markets is to bring the market to a central point to provide convenience to the shoppers. Remember Reagan and supply side economics? If you have have a lot of supply, you can stimulate demand. Maybe your roadside stand has good corn, but the best tomatoes are at Joe's stand on the other side of town. And if you want watermellon, you go to Jane's stand somewhere else. For most people it gets to be too much trouble and they just go to the supermarket.
A farmer's market is a co-op, trying to give the consumers the convenience of a good selection at a single place and thus draw more shoppers. This benefits all the farmers at the market. If you are in competition with the farmer's market via your roadside stand, I can see why the other vendors wouldn't welcome you. How would you feel if Wal-mart or Krogers set up a booth at the market too?
What you don't say is how far away your roadside stand is from the market. If you are a ways from town, that's one thing, but if you are relatively close to the farmer's market, then maybe that's something else.
Others have made good points here, particulary about the by-laws. Find out what the rules are and why.
I don't know how a farmer's market works (which is probably pretty obvious). Are there any fees involved? rent for the space, or a cut of profits? If so, even more reason for them to want to exclude you.
If I were setting up a farmer's market (which will never happen, I just grow hay), I would have to think hard about the rules you are complaining about. From the perspective of the people overseeing the market, I would think that the overall sucess of the market is more important than the success of any one vendor.
 
I heard of a case once where a small time roadside stand in a small town got fined big time by the local officials because his scales weren't up to today's standards. I guess things could be worse, you could be required to have a business license, which they are doing at local festivals to collect sales tax, TML.

How much trouble would you get into if you had a sign instead of a road side market, you pick?
 
Farmer's markets are their own worst enemy. A few weeks ago I went for the first time to the one in our city. Its down in the ghetto to encourage/force the brave to go there. I took my elderly father and all I wanted was a jar of honey. My father is aquainted with the honey/fruit/veggie seller. I grabbed my honey and waited for my change. Finally the intellectually challenged teen shoved my money back in my hand. "Ican't sell you this" why? "Its not 10 am yet" I looked, it was 9:45. Are you kidding? "nope". So I told him I'll go to the supermarket where they're glad to take my money. I know I live in a economic disaster area but there are people whose daytime hours are limited. 10 AM! are you kidding who can wait till then. I'll never go back
 
First , let's be clear. Is that a local or state market? Here in our state, a local market is just a vacant piece of ground that the county let's people use to set up tables and sell as they please. Price, service, and value determines who sells. Only rules are what days it is open. State market allows any farmer to enter and sell for a fee.
 
Jefferson,
They need you more than you need them. Stay at your stand and develop your own market. A few years ago we were selling our surplus to a local produce store. They would want 30 to 40 dozen every three days and only wanted to pay $1.25 a dozen. Found out later they trucking it to Cleveland and sold it for $6.00 a half dozen called "gourmet corn". Since then we only sell from our stand, pick it fresh every day as we sell out. Our customers tell their friends and family and our business continues to grow. Now we have other grower that what us to sell their produce. We will only sell what we grow but we send our customer to other growers if we are out or we don't grow what they're looking for.

Good luck
 
If you were told this to your face, just think what the pious mfers are saying behind your back.

I wouldn't pizz on the inbred locals in the small town I made the extremely bad decision of moving to.

Fk them and the horse they rode in on.
 
Do not think you are alone in CA. central Ky is the same way, Yuppies selling to other yuppies, most go to Farmer's Market to be seen, not sell. Keep tour stand at the farm, word will get around.
 
coloken, it's not really a matter of "how would you like it", it's pretty much a matter of, "is it legal to operate a capitalist business"?

Think about what you just said, only change the names. How would you like it if Walmart to put up stores next to the mom and pop grocery and hardware and clothing stores? Oh that's right, it doesn't matter if you like it or not, they do it anyways. Do we like it? Well, not really, but it's not illegal.
 
They told an amish guy that near me. He showed up at the farmers market with a tractor and wagon full of sweet corn,tomatoes,greenbeans,ect. and was told to go home. A local restaurant gave him permission to park in there parking lot on the edge of town.He's been there all summer and sells out usually by 4 pm.
 
Stick to sales at your stand.Trying to do too much will just wear you down.Farmers Market are open just one day a week here.Make sure your stand is the best in prices and parking space and good produce and prices.Give good customers extra produce, many people need help getting enough food for their families.Dont sell stale corn, give it to a local food kitchen.
 
Unfortunately you've described my community.
I just didn't realize it until I grew and matured some.
As far as the farm market, I find it disturbing they can and will run off whoever they're biased against. Bet they wouldn't do it to a nnalert.
 
Well Coupe,
This may be a first.
There's not been much of your advice that I've taken so far.
But I'll take this advice. As a way of trading your "produce" in general.
You do know something more than electrics.
 
13 years ago I put in 1/2 acre asparagus. When it started growing full blast I loaded up about 100 lbs and hit a few stores in town and even one mom and pop restaurant. they all told me the same thing: They buy all of their produce from a sort of wholesale co-op type produce wholesaler in the big city. They bring in a weeks worht of whatever including what's in season locally. No cutting in... period (read, produce mafia)!
 
I've been growing organic garlic to sell at the local farmers market - that was the plan anyway. Oops - need liability insurance to sell at the farmers market. Call my insurance agent and he wants $600 a year. May as well give it away and I'll be money ahead. The Amish don't need insurance though. Wonder why!
 
I am confused; around here, people who sell stuff at the farmers market are actual farmers (several acres), and quite a few of them - especially sweet corn and fruit vendors like peaches and apples - set up roadside stands during the week. Seems totally legit to me; someone just had a stick where the sun don't shine.
 
Like you said, you have great success with your roadside stand, concentrait on that. To me it is obvious the farmers market is hurting for customers. If you had such a good day with your stand last week, you must be doing something right. If you have good quality produce, fair prices, and friendly service, your customers will come back and they will tell their friends.
Brian(MN)
 
One thing I have learned about Farmers Markets over the past couple of years is you never know what to expect.

There are several Markets within an hour 45 min of me either North or South. Some are on different days, some are not. They all have their own mandate and execuative. They are often very political and the managers sometimes are on power trips - this is especially the case once the market becoms sucessful.

I only go to the markets about three weeks per year. My market window is very short, but that is OK. My wife and I go to different markets to try to cover as much ground in that time frame. I even try to get other famly members to help at this time.

I stay out of the political BS.

As we have a very specialized product, I have some markets calling me asking me to come, and some have turned us away. I don't loose sleep over it - I just do't try to go back.

Overall I've had some great experiances at the Farmers Markets. I use them as an advertising tool to get people to come out to the farm. For the most part, its a win win for everyone.

Just remember, you can't please everyone.
Grant
Yellow Point Cranberries
 
Ask the commissioner to show you the rule in writing.

Are they charging you to sell at the market? If not, I'd say they're free to make up whatever rules they want.

The farmer's markets around here are all served by commercial farmers. I think they'd be empty if they relied on backyard gardeners.
 
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