Farmers Markets for a Living
Ingenuity is the key to earning a living as a farmer. However, exclusively earning a living at most farmers markets is somewhat difficult since the money being made is only made in the few months during the summer. Those that make a living out of it must work at it constantly. While not actually working at producing marketable goods, planning and getting ready, and making contacts and being involved in the whole process is necessary.
A farmer's market is made up of several produce contributors who supply the market with food and often the take-home pay for individual contributors is small. At best, this subsidizes their regular income. The actual owner of the market can be a municipal organization, a local food supplier, or an individual investor. This has proven to be the best reason for local markets.One headline in April, 2008 "U.S. economy rebounds thanks to huge growth of farmers markets" shows how local economies are benefiting from the resurgence of farmer's markets, but divide this fifteen, twenty-five or fifty or more ways with those who actually grow, produce and deliver the produce, then making a living is out of the picture. At best it helps keep food on the table for all concerned.
Yet for those who grow food as a business or for supplementary income, and have no other options, they will find ways to make this a year round activity. In the wintertime time does not stand still for those who depend on the quality of their soil and their ingenuity for feeding and educating their families. This will be time for learning, planning, for repairing fences, potting sheds, buying seeds and for seeing their tools are in good shape.
They will busy selling apple butter, sorghum, baked goods and other home grown items that make good Christmas and holiday gifts. This keeps money coming in and keeps them busy during the cold months. Some may even grow evergreen trees to sell during the holiday, or wreaths from vines and other gathered materials free from the taking along creek banks and forests. Basket weaving may even be a sideline talent for some. Ingenuity is the name of the game where earning a living at local markets is concerned.Early springtime time speeds up and the workload increases dramatically. By June, often earlier, the first pickings of beans and tomatoes, kale, early corn, spinach, and most green vegetables show up at farmer's markets. Those who have carefully planned for this will be those who arise at four in the morning and pick their produce. By six-thirty thirty they will be unloading at the market.Local markets are an important part of local food producers money making plans, but there's more. Growing and selling produce at local markets is only part of the farm operation of those who make a living out of their gardening ventures; they use every season of the year to their best advantage. They will see every store as a potential supplier of their produce. Just look around and you will see local chain stores such as Kroger and other large supermarkets with bins of locally produced foods.All vegetables and fruits are not equal. The flavor and texture is important and successful growers and marketers know how to take care of their soil and how to select the type of vegetables for best flavor. They know that a good reputation is the best advertisement available and they want those who eat their carrots, their watermelons, their lettuce to bypass all other stalls and make way to theirs. That is how a living is earned selling at local markets. It is finesse, entrepreneurship, and a friendly and inviting personality that tells those who buy, you are the best.
