July 18, 2017 | #421 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New Castle, Virginia
Posts: 205
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Our Market This Year
I sell my tomatoes wholesale to a Farm to Table farmers market which in turn resells them and does not allow outside vendors for the produce section of the market. I regularly volunteer to help promote this market and push sales. Last weekend, we had an event which was deemed Tomato mania and had a tasting & vote table. This was highly successful and we probably sold 200-300# of tomatoes at an average cost of $4.00 per pound that day. Here are some pictures:
[IMG][/IMG] It was a lot of fun and we had a huge crowd. The results were favorite: Mr. Stripey German Pink Pink Berkley Tie Dye Mortgage Lifter Green Zebra |
July 18, 2017 | #422 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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That looks great, Urban! Once again, flowers and tomatoes are very eye-catching together!
I'm glad to hear it was such a success. |
July 18, 2017 | #423 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Did all those tomatoes come from you?
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July 18, 2017 | #424 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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What beauty. All those tomatoes displayed so perfectly. A tasting is such a great
selling tool. |
July 18, 2017 | #425 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New Castle, Virginia
Posts: 205
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July 18, 2017 | #426 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Nice pics. What sort of regulatory hoops did you have to jump through? Illinois just created a separate license for a person who gives out food samples.
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July 18, 2017 | #427 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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NY has no regulations that I know of. All farmer's markets give samples. Even our local
grocery gives samples all over the store....cheese, fruit, berries, olive oils, etc. Weekends it is a meal. Might be a toothpick rule as they are always used and available. Costco uses the small mini cupcake papers. Good thing they sample as so much of the jarred/frozen processed stuff is crap. That giant jar of three bean salad must have 3 cups of sugar in it.... |
July 18, 2017 | #428 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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I don't think anyone gives tomato samples at my market. That's part of what I like about cherries and small fruit - it's easy to just give an intact one to a customer. If they bite into it, that's their business, not mine. But if I cut into a tomato and give out a piece of one, it triggers a lot of food handling rules like requirements for a hand washing station and a separate person to only handle samples. I think as of this year, that person has to have a state license as well.
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July 18, 2017 | #429 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New Castle, Virginia
Posts: 205
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Quote:
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July 22, 2017 | #430 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Hopefully today will be the hottest market morning of the year. The heat index is around 110. I started slow, but had a good morning, and sold all of my flowers. My best customer of the day owned a landscaping service and bought all my zinnias and marigolds. They are destined to decorate a nearby Cracker Barrel. He said it was hard to find flowers for sale at this time of year. Greenhouses sit empty right now. He was calling up to two hours away before he came to market to look there. He has a big business and I got his information, so I may have a new wholesale customer. He was interested in buying more.
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July 22, 2017 | #431 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Diego-Tijuana
Posts: 2,598
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great news, those plants are lookers
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July 22, 2017 | #432 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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Yeah the flowers look super in spite of 110 heat!!! Excellent break with the landscaping contractor. That's exactly what you need to keep flowers moving later in the season.
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July 22, 2017 | #433 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Yep, I can see why he bought them. Hope it leads to big things you deserve it.
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July 22, 2017 | #434 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro
Posts: 1,910
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Very deserved, I hope it works into a good arrangement Cole Robbie.
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July 22, 2017 | #435 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky
Posts: 1,094
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Yea hope that works out for you.
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