Farmers markets have become a favorite destination for many people looking for a wholesome activity on a weekend morning. Selling at a farmers market can also be a fantastic way to start a small business or expand an existing food enterprise. If you’re wondering how to sell at a farmers market, there’s a lot you need to know before you can begin.
Prospective food vendors need to account for local rules and regulations, customer preferences, and business practices to ensure they’re set up for success when selling at a local market. Luckily, we’re here to help. Check out this comprehensive guide telling you exactly how to sell at a farmers market and set up your own stall in a marketplace near you.
Farmers market vendors sell all kinds of food items and agricultural products. As you stroll around your local market, you’ll find growers of fresh fruits and vegetables, producers of artisanal dairy products, and sellers of prepared foods.
Vendors can sell homegrown produce and ingredients, developed products such as jams, jellies, and sauces, baked goods like cakes and cookies, and even hot food items that are ready to eat.
If you’re a food producer of any kind, you can sell your wares at your local farmers market.
Selling at a farmers market can be a fantastic way for growers or food producers to reach customers directly. Food establishments don’t need to find a third-party seller or develop professional relationships with grocery stores — nor do they need to share a cut of the profits. You may have to pay a small fee to sell at your local farmers market, but you’ll get to keep most of the money you earn from sales.
For example, selling at a farmers market in a park in New York City costs $25 for a permit processing fee plus $15 for each day the market is open. Beyond this, every penny you earn will be yours to keep.
Farmers markets also allow for direct marketing. You’ll have access to a pool of new customers who are all there to buy fresh food items. You have a high chance of making sales since everyone there is already a lead. You just need to tempt them into buying your food product!
Now you know why you might want to sell at a farmers market, you might be wondering how to sell at a farmers market. There are several steps to take before you set up a booth at your local market. Follow our helpful guide to open your business quickly.
Finding a market near you is the first step in learning how to sell at a farmers market. It might sound simple, but it’s worth remembering that some markets work on a nonprofit-only basis, and others have specific market rules about what you can sell.
Research markets near you, and contact market managers to see if there are any rules you need to be aware of. You can then ask for more information about how to start a stall.
Farmers market vendors must follow local food safety and business laws to sell their goods.
Check the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and look up local laws with your county health department. You’ll also need to apply for the relevant business licenses and ensure you have the right insurance. Some states require vendors to have liability insurance before they’re allowed to sell.
Your product labeling system should also meet all public health requirements. Depending on what you’re selling, you might need to include an ingredients list, nutrition labeling, country of origin, and other essential information.
Your market operator may be able to help guide you in the right direction.
With some basic information and licensing, you can write a business plan detailing your mission statement and how you’ll achieve your goals. Writing a detailed business plan is essential in starting a small business as it sets out exactly how you’ll proceed before your first market.
Your business plan should include:
An executive summary
A company description
A detailed budget
A marketing plan, including market research
Many small business owners neglect to conduct market research when researching how to sell at a farmers market. It’s so important that you know who you’re selling to so you can make your booth and products appealing to them.
Marketing a food booth at a farmers market is similar to restaurant marketing or branding. Consider your target customers and their demographic. Look at the average age, gender, and income of the people you plan to sell to. You can then use this information to ensure your marketing plan is effective.
Farmers market vendors need the right equipment and supplies before opening their food market stalls.
The specific items required will depend on the goods you’re selling. For example, vendors of jarred goods obviously need a supply of jars and a sterilizing station, while those selling fresh fruits may need shopping bags or baskets.
Here’s a short list of equipment for your farmers market stall.
Produce containers: Ensure you have enough containers to store and sell your products. You might need large containers for your stall and smaller ones for customers to take home with them. Plastic or paper bags could work for this, or you may need larger plastic containers. Remember that many people shop at farmers markets to be more eco-conscious, so you might want to choose a sustainable option.
Table or display stand: A surface from which to make your sales is another necessity. Ensure it’s sturdy enough to withstand bad weather conditions and heavy goods. You might also want to purchase a pop-up gazebo or tent to protect your products (and yourself) from the rain or sun.
Refrigerators: If you want to sell perishable goods, a refrigeration or temperature control system is critical. You’ll also need a power source, such as a generator or large battery, to ensure you have electricity.
Transportation: You’ll need a spacious car, pick-up truck, or van to transport your stall items and supplies from your home to the marketplace.
Payment processor: A point-of-sale (POS) system is crucial for market sellers. You’ll need to be able to process payments and keep track of your sales. Many customers at market stalls now expect to be able to make cashless payments, so ensure you have a credit card reader in addition to a cash drawer.
Self-service kiosk: If you’re trying to keep costs low and run your booth without hiring additional staff, a self-service kiosk app like KioskBuddy could be helpful. Customers can place orders themselves, meaning you’re free to package their items quickly or prepare their order. This might be especially useful if you run a coffee stand or a food truck at a farmers market.
When you have all your equipment ready, you can start to design your booth. Farmers market sellers should aim to make their stalls visually appealing to passers-by to encourage people to stop and browse the items on offer.
One way to do this is to create an aesthetically pleasing stall. You don’t need to spend vast amounts of money to do this. Start by buying a colorful or eye-catching tablecloth and arranging your products nicely.
It’s also worth designing signage to promote your business. You could do this yourself or work with a graphic designer to produce a logo. You can also use this logo on your packaging. Remember to include contact information and your social media accounts on your signage so people can find you at a later date. You may also want to have business cards available for people to take.
Before your first market day, it’s important to do a practice run to ensure you can set up and take down your stand quickly. Try setting up your farmers market booth in your home kitchen or your backyard before you do it onsite on market day. You might need to practice a few times before you get the hang of it.
Selling homegrown produce or homemade food products can be an excellent way to attract new customers to an existing food business or start a small business from scratch. And with the right tools, you can be up and running in no time.
Choose KioskBuddy to set up an easy-to-use self-service kiosk at your market stall. Your customers can tap through the items they want to buy and place their orders. With a Square Kiosk hardware mount, they can even make cashless payments, leaving you and your market staff free to prepare the items and chat with customers.
Sign up for KioskBuddy today, and get a 30-day free trial.