I am thinking of expanding my herb garden and possibly start selling dried herbs on line. If you were to buy dried herbs online, what would you be looking for? Would it be for culinary purpose or crafting (soaps, potpourri)? I have supplied fresh herbs to a farm stand and may get back into that as well. I would appreciate any feedback if you have the time.
Thanks,
Karen
Selling dried herbs
Hi Karri_Sue ~ I think culinary would be a hard sell online. When I have been perusing the online inventory, the first thing that crosses my mind is how organic they are raised. For human consumption, I wouldn't want certain sprays or fertilizers and you just don't know...
Now, catnip? Hmmmmmm... LOL
For culinary purposes, I'd stick with my favorite mail-order source... I think their controlled conditions make a difference to the flavor of the final product (I've tried drying my own -- not even close! Some of their stuff is freeze dried). So, if I were to buy herbs on-line, it would be for crafting... or what about selling them as finished potpourri?
I've been contemplating potpourri myself... I can seldom find commercial varieties that I really like, but I'm treating myself to an Excalibur from the April co-op special deal, so that's one of many possible uses for it that have come to mind.
I dry my own. I think there might be more interest in fresh herbs?
Shipping fresh herbs would be prohibitive, cost-wise, wouldn't it?
ya critter that would be tough. What about a local market?
Fresh herbs move really well at our local farm market. But with the new DG auction feature in development, online sales should get easier! :-)
Thanks for your imput. I'd love to sell at a farmers market but I live 60 miles from the nearest one. I'd probably use up my profit on gas.
Are you thinking of the DG Auction? or Ebay? or?
I think I might do a DG auction. I saw a site that sells sells fresh lavender bunches in the mail so that may be one possibility. My niece makes soap and always needs lavender and rosemary so I thought that might be worth looking into. I grow organic but I would rather not sell for culinary purpose because that involves so much more like critter said. I appreciate your imput Podster.
Karen
Lavender bunches are just as good dried as fresh, so they're probably a good candidate for mailing... Fresh basil, on the other hand, might be tricky. When you hang up a lavender bunch or put it in a vase (even without water), it looks "fresh" and smells wonderful for a long time.
A lovely local woman raises and sells lavender. She sells only freshly harvested at three farmers markets, one a small Wednesday market and two Saturday markets during the 3 or 4 week lavender harvest season. So that she has two price points, she sells bunches of 100 stems and 20 stems. Bunches must be cut approximately the same length. Bunches are measured between the thumb and forefinger, like you would measure pasta, always erring on adding a few additional stems rather than having one too few. Each bunch is caught up in a lavender rubber band, wrapped in pretty lavender tissue like long stemmed roses, and tied with a pretty lavender ribbon. Initially I was surprised at the price per bunch, because it isn't inexpensive, but it sells quickly. After helping harvest the lavender last year, I can tell you that it's worth what she charges. We harvested side by side, talking and laughing the entire time. There were a bazillion bees large and small that didn't give a hoot that we were cutting while they were gathering nectar. It was sunny and hot and the scent of the lavender was exquisite. In late afternoon after hours of bending, stooping, cutting, and lifting bucketsful of lavender, my hands hurt from gripping the shears, and I was exhausted. I had a wonderful time, but was happy to go home to shower and then out to dinner. She, on the other hand, had a glass of cold water and returned to harvesting until dark, because lavender, like time, waits for no woman. Her work is not restricted just to harvesting, preparing, transporting, and selling. Plants must be tended other times of the year, added or replaced, watered, sheared for maximum flower production, protected in harsh winter weather. I've never asked her if she makes a profit or even breaks even. I think this is more a labor of love.
What a lovely mental image that is... Truly must be a labor of love.
I am thinking of planting herb seeds and raising plants in my greenhouse to sell. The road and farm stands are asking so much for them, just now people are hurting financially and herbs are a big part of many people's lives. I am not sure if it will work or not, but I can undersell any of my neighboring farm stands because I do not have the overhead they have. I already have customers for cut flowers coming here and I am working on adding some tropicals to my stock. I just need to know which herbs will sell and which can I grow easily and quickly. Any suggestions?
Here basil and lavender are popular. It probably varies from place to place. Cilantro is also popular but I've never had much sucess with growing it. Rosemary is very easy to start from cuttings and has sold well for me also. I would start out with what you like so that if it doesn't sell you will have use for it. It wouldn't hurt to try.
Good luck,
Karen
Good advice! Depending on the market, you could also try mixed bundles, like basil plus oregano and a sprig of thyme labeled "pizza herbs"... some people look at fresh herbs and have no idea what to do with them, so they pass on by. Likewise, label italian basil "pesto basil" and include a recipe. In fact, if your herbs aren't selling, recipes may be a big help... just simple things, like stuffing a bundle of rosemary and a lemon inside a chicken, or fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil, splashed with olive oil & balsamic vinegar...
jeepers, now I'm hungry. LOL
Critter and Karen, what great ideas, Proper marketing is so important when you are trying to build new customers. I live near two military bases and they have such limited income I feel I will really cater to them and offer them ceaper bunches than the other stands. We already sell them cut flowers and christmas trees. When you bunch your herbs do you dry them or sell them fresh? In the Market Place they have them in plastic boxes and they are never cheaper than $3.00 for a tiny box of herbs. I wonder how they preserve them in the plastic containers. Does anyone know? I need to work on a display for them too.
At our farmer's market (I don't sell, but I browse & I buy!), I see fresh herbs bundled (rubber bands around the stems, I'd guess) and put into big vases or little buckets with water (just a couple inches) to keep them perky. The bunches are generally pretty generous, at least 2-3 times the size of what you get in the grocery store in those plastic containers. Some of it depends on the herb... people are more likely to be able to use a big bunch of basil for pesto than a huge wad of oregano, but then again with something like rosemary you only need a couple of sprigs for cooking and the rest is very pretty in a flower bouquet!
If you want something the equivalent of the plastic container, you could try a quart zip-top bag with some air blown into it. I've used that to keep herbs fresh in the fridge or on the counter for a couple of days... for longer storage, though, I think you need a container that's vented for a little air circulation.
I used to sell fresh herbs at a farm stand on weekends. I put them in recycled jars (starbucks coffee drink jars) and whatever didn't sell I dried for myself or tossed in the compost pile.
Karen
Hello Im new here, I have an Herb business, I sell Wildcrafted and Organic Herbs, Teas, Tinctures, and Herbals
Im going to be putting an Ad in the Market Place here when I get back from vacation. I grow alot of my product myself and I have Wildcrafters all over the US and Abroad that grow for me. No chemicals are used. Im a small 2 person business. I also have an online shop where I sell also.
If you would like to talk or like some input, you can mail me here or I can post my email address.
Lori
Lori, please feel free to contact me privately, I have alot of questions I would like answered.