A Colorful Market Table - Page 10

Cole_Robbie · May 31, 2016

They're fine for now, but they grow fast. You can always pop one out of the container and look at the roots to gauge transplanting.

I try to order gallon pots, but they seem to be always out of stock. The sunflowers were in "trade size" gallon pots. I'd guess 85-90% of a gallon. Truthfully, they would have liked a bigger pot. My other ones are 1.2 gallons I think. I would use those next time.

Starlight · June 1, 2016

Thanks Cole! Another blistering hot day, so I guess I'll sit under a tree and scrub and sterilize the smaller pots today. Have the plants under a raised screen right now as the birds keep looking as those sprouts as a tasty meal.

Cole_Robbie · June 26, 2016

I took three weeks off from going to market. Normally, I would have high tunnel tomatoes during this time, but the very cold May weather pushed everything back. I've had tomatoes to eat, just not enough to sell.

This was yesterday's table: http://i.imgur.com/D9m7tUQ.jpg

That's all I had to take, but I sold about an equal amount Wednesday of this week. It took me two hours to sell out, and that was surprising. I think I'm the only one at market with heirlooms, other than the $4/lb organic vendor. Market rate for hybrids yesterday was $1.75/lb. Mine were about $2/lb. There were a lot of tomatoes at market, but everyone grows the same thing - extra-firm hybrids. I am hoping to get some repeat customers next week.

PureHarvest · June 26, 2016

Way to represent Cole!
Feels good to get the first one under you
Talked to my buddy who is the auction buyer at an auction in PA.
He said tomatoes were going for 119 per 25 lb box last week.
Nobody has product right now.
10 lb heirloom were rolling 30-40.
These are wholesale prices.

BigVanVader · June 26, 2016

Yeah looks good Cole, I was the first one at my market with heirlooms and I sold out of them in about 45mins. I'm charging $4 lb and $3 for R&R hybrids. Several customers thought Taxi were unripe tomatoes. Never even seen yellow ones. Always surprises me. I was glad they sold fast I was worried about it but everything I'm reading says charge enough to make it worth it and they are 4.99 in grocery here from Mexico.

I was also the first with mixed cherry baskets and I charged $5 for them lol. We are finding out our market has 2 customer groups. The wealthy a nd those using vouchers, Snap etc so I'm hoping to win over the wealthy crowd since they don't seem to care how much stuff cost and they will try new things much easier.

**coronabarb** · June 27, 2016

Fantastic tomatoes, Cole Robbie. Our market prices are in the $4 range for first of year toms and 3.50 - 2.50 later on. I think one vendor sells Cherokee Purple by the 20 lb case for $25 in late summer. RR toms are in the $1.50 - $2 lb range. Our area has an interesting mix of depressed economy, senior retirees and foodies that like fresh, local, naturally grown produce. Can be difficult to find the right pricing. Those who sell high usually go home with produce. I tend to price lower so I can sell it.

Cole_Robbie · June 27, 2016

Thanks, everyone.

Supply is really tremendous here. Every 3rd vendor has a truckload of red baseballs to sell. At one smaller town market last week, they were down to $1.50 a pound already. By the next week or two, at smaller markets, there will be someone selling for $1 a pound.

This is what my competition looks like. The $2 price is from two weeks ago:

PureHarvest · June 28, 2016

How is zone 6 getting all that production now? HTunnel growers?

Cole_Robbie · June 28, 2016

Yeah, high tunnels are the norm, or at least starting under plastic of some sort. There is one vendor who always has ripe (gassed) tomatoes in the first week of April. He sells everything he brings, even though they are the worst I have ever tasted, much worse than the grocery store.

Bipetual · June 28, 2016

Looks delicious, Cole Robbie! I won't see a ripe tomato for another month, at least, and those will just be the cherries. Envy...

clkeiper · June 29, 2016

Mine are just starting to turn in the h tunnels. I have picked maybe 10 so far but they are beautiful. A lot of work, though. I had a customer complain a few years ago about a tomato being 75 each in a basket... I told her feel free to put up a structure and grow them herself...

BigVanVader · June 29, 2016

I think we've all had one or two like that.

Deborah · June 29, 2016

75 cents for a homegrown good tasting tomato? I'd leap at that!

Cole_Robbie · June 29, 2016

I went to a mid-week market today. Here's a few more pics.

Packed last night: http://i.imgur.com/xl4CMRn.jpg

Table today:
http://i.imgur.com/vKdRE09.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e0cdPs4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/njaK0WC.jpg

wildcat62 · June 30, 2016

Those look great. I'm curious how you are able to accommodate people using the snap cards or do you? Do you have to have a card reader or how does that work?

June 27, 2016	#141
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	Fantastic tomatoes, Cole Robbie. Our market prices are in the $4 range for first of year toms and 3.50 - 2.50 later on. I think one vendor sells Cherokee Purple by the 20 lb case for $25 in late summer. RR toms are in the $1.50 - $2 lb range. Our area has an interesting mix of depressed economy, senior retirees and foodies that like fresh, local, naturally grown produce. Can be difficult to find the right pricing. Those who sell high usually go home with produce. I tend to price lower so I can sell it. __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

June 29, 2016	#146
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Mine are just starting to turn in the h tunnels. I have picked maybe 10 so far but they are beautiful. A lot of work, though. I had a customer complain a few years ago about a tomato being 75 each in a basket... I told her feel free to put up a structure and grow them herself... __________________ carolyn k

June 29, 2016	#148
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	75 cents for a homegrown good tasting tomato? I'd leap at that! __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

May 31, 2016	#136
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	They're fine for now, but they grow fast. You can always pop one out of the container and look at the roots to gauge transplanting. I try to order gallon pots, but they seem to be always out of stock. The sunflowers were in "trade size" gallon pots. I'd guess 85-90% of a gallon. Truthfully, they would have liked a bigger pot. My other ones are 1.2 gallons I think. I would use those next time.

June 1, 2016	#137
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Thanks Cole! Another blistering hot day, so I guess I'll sit under a tree and scrub and sterilize the smaller pots today. Have the plants under a raised screen right now as the birds keep looking as those sprouts as a tasty meal.

June 26, 2016	#138
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I took three weeks off from going to market. Normally, I would have high tunnel tomatoes during this time, but the very cold May weather pushed everything back. I've had tomatoes to eat, just not enough to sell. This was yesterday's table: http://i.imgur.com/D9m7tUQ.jpg That's all I had to take, but I sold about an equal amount Wednesday of this week. It took me two hours to sell out, and that was surprising. I think I'm the only one at market with heirlooms, other than the $4/lb organic vendor. Market rate for hybrids yesterday was $1.75/lb. Mine were about $2/lb. There were a lot of tomatoes at market, but everyone grows the same thing - extra-firm hybrids. I am hoping to get some repeat customers next week.

June 26, 2016	#139
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Way to represent Cole! Feels good to get the first one under you Talked to my buddy who is the auction buyer at an auction in PA. He said tomatoes were going for 119 per 25 lb box last week. Nobody has product right now. 10 lb heirloom were rolling 30-40. These are wholesale prices.

June 26, 2016	#140
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Yeah looks good Cole, I was the first one at my market with heirlooms and I sold out of them in about 45mins. I'm charging $4 lb and $3 for R&R hybrids. Several customers thought Taxi were unripe tomatoes. Never even seen yellow ones. Always surprises me. I was glad they sold fast I was worried about it but everything I'm reading says charge enough to make it worth it and they are 4.99 in grocery here from Mexico. I was also the first with mixed cherry baskets and I charged $5 for them lol. We are finding out our market has 2 customer groups. The wealthy a nd those using vouchers, Snap etc so I'm hoping to win over the wealthy crowd since they don't seem to care how much stuff cost and they will try new things much easier.

June 28, 2016	#143
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	How is zone 6 getting all that production now? HTunnel growers?

June 28, 2016	#144
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Yeah, high tunnels are the norm, or at least starting under plastic of some sort. There is one vendor who always has ripe (gassed) tomatoes in the first week of April. He sells everything he brings, even though they are the worst I have ever tasted, much worse than the grocery store.

June 28, 2016	#145
Bipetual Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Illinois, zone 5a Posts: 579	Looks delicious, Cole Robbie! I won't see a ripe tomato for another month, at least, and those will just be the cherries. Envy...

June 29, 2016	#147
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I think we've all had one or two like that.

June 29, 2016	#149
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I went to a mid-week market today. Here's a few more pics. Packed last night: http://i.imgur.com/xl4CMRn.jpg Table today: http://i.imgur.com/vKdRE09.jpg http://i.imgur.com/e0cdPs4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/njaK0WC.jpg

June 30, 2016	#150
wildcat62 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,094	Those look great. I'm curious how you are able to accommodate people using the snap cards or do you? Do you have to have a card reader or how does that work?