Dear Farmers Market Customers ...

Keger · June 3, 2013

Could I ask a few favors from you guys?

1 If the first thing you ask for is a discount for all "that crummy looking stuff I cant sell" please don't be amazed if I am not interested.

2 No, I will not match Wal-Mart's price or the local grocery store advertisements in the newspaper.

3 If you are going to ask me if something is organic please know what that is before asking. Also, if you are going to ask me what I use on my crops please at least listen to the answer before waving your hand at me and walking off. At least I will tell you the truth about what's going on.

4 Yes I grew them myself, I am sorry if the ones in your garden don't look like these, but I did in fact grow them.

5 Please don't squeeze them until they pop and stick your finger nails in them. I tried to use plastic zip bag to pre bag them, so maybe you wouldn't smash them, but all that did was leave the mess in the plastic bag. And no that doesn't mean they were too ripe, and yes you should feel obligated to buy the ones you ruined. Guess I'll try clamshells next.

Thank You, good day

Redbaron · June 3, 2013

Fred Hempel · June 3, 2013

And mind your gosh darnoodley kids!

tlintx · June 3, 2013

Sorry you had such ill-mannered vistors!

I have to admit, I've wondered #4 before. But some of the markets down here do sell imported or boughten produce without marking it as such. I don't think I would ask unless it was labeled home grown AND had a delmonte sticker or something.

Tl

lycoperson · June 3, 2013

In our booth at farmers market we have bright pink, laminated signs on top of all the tomatoes in open crates. They read, "DO NOT HANDLE THE TOMATOES. PLEASE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY FOR YOU." And yes, it's in all caps. Most people ignore the signs.

We used to have a sign that said, "Thank you for not squeezing us." Another one read, "Squeezers will be persecuted." (sic)

One vendor has a round granite rock in his booth with a note attached, "Squeeze this."

We finally gave up and now have a person posted in front of the most delicate tomatoes at all times.

It is so much nicer in Europe where the customers are not allowed to handle the produce at a farmers market. Only the vendor handles the produce. Everyone gets better produce that way.

Father'sDaughter · June 3, 2013

Our local "Farmer's Market" has evolved into more of an artisan fair with very few actual farmers. I stopped going, but last time I did, one of the "farmers" was selling corn way too early, and got very evasive when I asked them if they grew it...

Dewayne mater · June 4, 2013

That stinks! Wonder if you could move up to a market Sugarland? Maybe the clientele would be a little more considerate of your hard work? I'm a frequent visitor to a F.M. in a N. Tx suburb that has through the years added great variety of produce, meats, baked goods, honey, etc, moved towards more organics, and has added more specialty growers including some heirloom tomato growers, something I've been shocked to see. It must be a hard decision to go that way when you can sell hybrids that produce much more reliably and in quantity, but at least up here, you can sell the heirlooms for a little more than the hybrids. I don't believe you would be able to charge more for them in every farmers market and the key is does your market attract any foodie clientele? If not, trying another market might allow you to up your profits as well as weed out the "garage sale" mentality it sounds like you have to deal with. Good luck.

Dewayne mater

Cole_Robbie · June 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Our local "Farmer's Market" has evolved into more of an artisan fair with very few actual farmers.

My family have been market vendors since 1982. I have been hearing my grandparents talk about the "flea market" effect all my life. If a market lets everyone be a vendor, it drives out the few quality vendors and especially the real farmers. Our market has rejected so many artisan-type vendors, that this year they started their own farmer's market on the other side of town, same day and same time. A public school lets them use their parking lot for free, but the market manager is trying to rent spaces for $400/year. They also make a lot of snide comments on facebook. My grandma said that this is the third time that a competing market has sprung up. All of them failed within a year or two.

ginger2778 · June 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

And mind your gosh darnoodley kids!

I love the sign that says "Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy"

Marsha

tlintx · June 4, 2013

That is my favorite. Except I've been tempted to let the baby run amok, because, hey, free coffee and a PUPPY!

Our local Famer's Market is pretty darn spiffy. Can't say enough good things about it and the vendors. On the one hand, I wish it were cheaper to get in as a vendor (something like $600 for the first year, when everything is factored in) but then I really appreciate how curated it is.

Rockporter · June 4, 2013

At the Rockport Farmer's Market I noticed the farmers are not putting the veggies and fruits out in front of them, instead they are displayed behind the table and they weigh them out for the customer and bag them. This keeps hands off the produce and all the supplies are on the tables in front. This also keeps the produce out of the sun as well because it is under the tarp. Sorry you have such dumb customers.

Keger · June 6, 2013

Ahhhh well ............

We'll give it another go tomorrow and Saturday morning. Guess I will have to leave the tomatoes in coolers, put up a few buckets, and sell them by the bucket. Anybody that wants to ask can look in the coolers I guess.

clkeiper · June 11, 2013

Keger, I think we all have customers like this. I have one who picks up the tomatoes and squeezes them and then sticks her thumb nail in to dent it...*steam coming from my ears* I have started telling her right out loud, "These are fresh from the garden, I picked them myself right before I came for the market and don't need to be squeezed. They are not grocery store rocks. Thank you." *smile* she never buys a thing from me and she comes to my market every week.

Master_Gardener · June 12, 2013

I guess I am not surprised that you need to tell people 'how' to behave. I haven't noticed that happening at my local farmers market, but I'm not a vendor.

Keger · June 12, 2013

I know. So I have now put tomatoes in buckets and sell them for 5 bucks a bucket and leave the crates in the truck behind the stand. Some customers didn't like that, but I explained I couldn't keep taking the losses.

I did put up an empty tray, I put a sign on if . "Organic Tomatoes $40.00 lb" It got a few laughs.

June 3, 2013	#1
Keger Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 327	Dear Farmers Market Customers ... Could I ask a few favors from you guys? 1 If the first thing you ask for is a discount for all "that crummy looking stuff I cant sell" please don't be amazed if I am not interested. 2 No, I will not match Wal-Mart's price or the local grocery store advertisements in the newspaper. 3 If you are going to ask me if something is organic please know what that is before asking. Also, if you are going to ask me what I use on my crops please at least listen to the answer before waving your hand at me and walking off. At least I will tell you the truth about what's going on. 4 Yes I grew them myself, I am sorry if the ones in your garden don't look like these, but I did in fact grow them. 5 Please don't squeeze them until they pop and stick your finger nails in them. I tried to use plastic zip bag to pre bag them, so maybe you wouldn't smash them, but all that did was leave the mess in the plastic bag. And no that doesn't mean they were too ripe, and yes you should feel obligated to buy the ones you ruined. Guess I'll try clamshells next. Thank You, good day

June 3, 2013	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	__________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

June 4, 2013	#11
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	At the Rockport Farmer's Market I noticed the farmers are not putting the veggies and fruits out in front of them, instead they are displayed behind the table and they weigh them out for the customer and bag them. This keeps hands off the produce and all the supplies are on the tables in front. This also keeps the produce out of the sun as well because it is under the tarp. Sorry you have such dumb customers. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

June 11, 2013	#13
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Keger, I think we all have customers like this. I have one who picks up the tomatoes and squeezes them and then sticks her thumb nail in to dent it...steam coming from my ears I have started telling her right out loud, "These are fresh from the garden, I picked them myself right before I came for the market and don't need to be squeezed. They are not grocery store rocks. Thank you." smile she never buys a thing from me and she comes to my market every week. __________________ carolyn k

June 12, 2013	#14
Master_Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Central Indiana 6a/41 Posts: 131	I guess I am not surprised that you need to tell people 'how' to behave. I haven't noticed that happening at my local farmers market, but I'm not a vendor. __________________ Russel USDA: Zone 6a, Sunset Zone 41 - 15 miles NW of Indianapolis, IN I had a problem with slugs. I tried using beer but it didn't work, until I gave it to the slugs.

June 3, 2013	#3
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	And mind your gosh darnoodley kids!

June 3, 2013	#4
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	Sorry you had such ill-mannered vistors! I have to admit, I've wondered #4 before. But some of the markets down here do sell imported or boughten produce without marking it as such. I don't think I would ask unless it was labeled home grown AND had a delmonte sticker or something. Tl

June 3, 2013	#5
lycoperson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 45	In our booth at farmers market we have bright pink, laminated signs on top of all the tomatoes in open crates. They read, "DO NOT HANDLE THE TOMATOES. PLEASE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY FOR YOU." And yes, it's in all caps. Most people ignore the signs. We used to have a sign that said, "Thank you for not squeezing us." Another one read, "Squeezers will be persecuted." (sic) One vendor has a round granite rock in his booth with a note attached, "Squeeze this." We finally gave up and now have a person posted in front of the most delicate tomatoes at all times. It is so much nicer in Europe where the customers are not allowed to handle the produce at a farmers market. Only the vendor handles the produce. Everyone gets better produce that way.

June 3, 2013	#6
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Our local "Farmer's Market" has evolved into more of an artisan fair with very few actual farmers. I stopped going, but last time I did, one of the "farmers" was selling corn way too early, and got very evasive when I asked them if they grew it...

June 4, 2013	#7
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	That stinks! Wonder if you could move up to a market Sugarland? Maybe the clientele would be a little more considerate of your hard work? I'm a frequent visitor to a F.M. in a N. Tx suburb that has through the years added great variety of produce, meats, baked goods, honey, etc, moved towards more organics, and has added more specialty growers including some heirloom tomato growers, something I've been shocked to see. It must be a hard decision to go that way when you can sell hybrids that produce much more reliably and in quantity, but at least up here, you can sell the heirlooms for a little more than the hybrids. I don't believe you would be able to charge more for them in every farmers market and the key is does your market attract any foodie clientele? If not, trying another market might allow you to up your profits as well as weed out the "garage sale" mentality it sounds like you have to deal with. Good luck. Dewayne mater

June 6, 2013	#12
Keger Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 327	Ahhhh well ............ We'll give it another go tomorrow and Saturday morning. Guess I will have to leave the tomatoes in coolers, put up a few buckets, and sell them by the bucket. Anybody that wants to ask can look in the coolers I guess.