Hi,
I'm new to this forum - but I do grow perennials and veggies for my own roadside stand/nursery.
Can anyone please share with me what other unusual types of things that folks sell at farmers markets? Or are they all standard as to whats permitted?
Or are there any new trends coming to markets...because of the ecomony?
I subscribe to Hobby Farm Home, Hobby Farm, are there any other good mags out there for cash crops or new trends in cash crops?
Thank you all so much in advance.
Sandy
What unusual things are being sold at your Farmers Market...
Sandy, there is a market growers forum here on DG so you might want to post your question there.
As for unusual, do you mean products like breads, canned goods, crafts........or do you mean unusual vegetables?
Our market has rare tropical fruits like sapote and bitter tangerine along with winter melon, asian vegetables, aloe leaves, tunas (fruit of the prickly pear)........but those things are normal for the Valley.
Hi Calalily,
Thank you for the important info- lol, I was wondering if I had a wrong place to post- lol
But yes, that is what I was looking for. I was trying to figure out if folks seen anything new or unusual at there local markets. But In a few days I will try the other forum.
Thank you again so very much! I think I will hang out here too- I love going veggies!
Garden Hugs!
Sandy
The market growers hang out here too. They always have lots of good info for growing veggies.
I'm not a grower or seller at any markets, but I am a regular shopper at both our summer and winter markets. In the summer, the most unique things I've seen have been dog biscuits, herbal tea, herbal lotions/bath salts/soaps etc; some spreads/dips/dressings, kettle corn, honey, mushrooms, fresh pasta.
Our winter market is a little more varied (and only in it's 2nd season). As you can imagine, there is not a lot that can be grown in Indiana in the winter unless you have a heated greenhouse (we do occasionally get some fresh baby greens that way). Winter market has meat, wine, cheese, canned goods (chutneys, veggies), dried herbs, tea, coffee (local roaster), tamales (warm ready-to-eat or frozen), natural/safe cleaning supplies, and even one vender that sells cloth/flannel diapers and similar items.
Hope that helps from a consumer perspective.
mom2goldens,
Thank you for your imput! I have never heard of a winter market. What months does the market consider winter months?
Those are some unique goods, thats for sure!
Thank you again!
Sandy
I was thinking about your article... to me nothing really new is out - but okra is getting popular. I never seem to get mine as early as the farmstands...
Anyway, there is one thing that pops in my head. Not many people up here know what to do with it. What I mean is, A stand i visited in upper new york sold 'kits' of sorts. I loved it. they had meals of the day baskets, and had bags of soup ingredients, gumbo ingredients, even everything including the herbs for spagetti sauce. every basket and bag had a recipe flyer and an order form for larger events.. I left there with a few 'meals in a bag' they were nearly as good as my mixes - the fresh pea soup took time to shell, but sold me on growing peas in force this year.
You could go the the kids handling the farm, tell them what you want off the menu on the wakk and they measure, bag, insert the instructions, and hand you your dinner.
I wish they had something like that around here to try some new fresh recipies that will compliment my garden.
-joe-
Joe,
Also a great contribution to a roadside, fresh market stand, or Farmers Market!
Its amazing what people have seen or been to from all around the country!
More great ideas!
Thank you so very much for your imput to this discussion!
Sandy
Hi, Sandy:
Our winter market runs from November - April, and is indoors. It started as a trial last year, and was supposed to run for 6 weeks. It was so popular, it got extended through April last year. The space it was originally in was entirely too small, so it had to relocate this year. Our summer markets generally run June - end of Sept, although there are a few that go til end of October.
Unfortunately, we don't see a lot of unusual or exotic produce here in central Indiana, although each of the markets is a little different. Some of the baby salad greens are becoming popular, as well as some of the hot peppers, and different varieties of eggplant. Cut flowers always seem to do well, as do fresh berries in the summer.
I would love to see something like the "meals in the bag" like Joe has at his market--what a great idea!
My daughter lives in Colorado Springs and they have several really nice farmers markets which we like to go to. My thing is the spicy hot pork tamalies...love em! I spoke to her just the other day about doing a local farmers market here and she started throwing out a number of 'added value' ideas which made sense. For example a mix of vegetables like potatoes, onions, and carrots in a zip lock bag along with some spices like black pepper. The quick fix crowd like my daughter purchases these and tosses them in the freezer until ready to use in a pot roast. She rattled of about four more similar ideas, but you get the picture. The other thing she does is the salad mix in a bag already to use. The number one problem with purchasing these from the grocery stores is lettuce being one of the top ten crops on the pesticide list.
Thank you for the info mom2goldens, and yes having meals already in bags are a super neat idea!
mraider3, thank you for taking the time to share with us also. It is all valuable information and good to know.
Sometimes I put easy recipes out on my stand as a little bonus.
Like everyone else I'm always on the lookout for new trends.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply!
Were in the - degrees right now- but that dosen't stop me from dreaming about fresh tomatoes or remembering the smell they make when touching the leaves while watering- or the smell of the warm, fresh spring-time soil as it bakes in the sun!
Take that old man winter-LOL
ohhhh you are making me hungry now..
-joe-
I got my hunger fix by going to the supermarket and getting fresh green beans, cauliflower, strawberries and had a fruit and veggie feast! ;-) Yum!
But I know what you mean Joe!