Any Advice for Farmer's Markets?

[myrdale]

I've never been much for visiting farmer's markets, however the honey side hobby took off.

2022 I harvested 4 gallons.
2023 I harvested 8 gallons.
2024 I harvested 19 gallons!!

Previously I gave it away and sold a few jars here and there. This year with $100 wrapped up in jars I've got to start moving it in a big way.

Has anyone had good luck with farmer's markets in your area?

[disneysteve]

We’ve never sold at one but there are plenty in our area. It may be too late in the season to get a spot if they’re booked up but can’t hurt to check. Also around here there are a bunch of fall festivals so look into those too. My wife sells her sewing and crocheting work at one of those. And then holiday markets after that.

[disneysteve]

Make sure you check local requirements for selling food. They may vary from town to town also.

[crazyliblady]

I've never been much for visiting farmer's markets, however the honey side hobby took off.

2022 I harvested 4 gallons.
2023 I harvested 8 gallons.
2024 I harvested 19 gallons!!

Previously I gave it away and sold a few jars here and there. This year with $100 wrapped up in jars I've got to start moving it in a big way.

Has anyone had good luck with farmer's markets in your area?

I have not harvested honey, but a couple of farmers where I live do sell honey at the farmer's market. Typically, a smallish jar like around 10 oz might sell for around $10 and it just goes up from there based on the size of the jar. Price may depend on your area, so you could check around. But that would be a great side gig if it does not take much time or effort to harvest and put in a jar. Can I ask where you learned the process to harvest? I would love to put up a bee farm, assuming that is okay in city limits where I live.

[crazyliblady]

We’ve never sold at one but there are plenty in our area. It may be too late in the season to get a spot if they’re booked up but can’t hurt to check. Also around here there are a bunch of fall festivals so look into those too. My wife sells her sewing and crocheting work at one of those. And then holiday markets after that.

What about facebook marketplace?

[disneysteve]

What about facebook marketplace?

That’s okay for one off sales but not as an ongoing business. Way too many time wasters. I’ll get 50 “is this available” messages for every 1 who actually follow through and buys it.

[Fishindude77]

I'd think farmers markets would add a lot of work and time hauling it back and forth, loading / unloading, etc.
This isn't going to be a get rich deal, so keeping you sales effort and cost to a minimum will maximize profit.

If you could come up with a single (or a couple) locations that have the kind of traffic you are looking for, then display your product for sale it would be so much simpler.

A local honey grower near me has their products for sale in my local feed store, where we've purchased some.
I assume he sets a minimum price and store owner sells it for whatever he can above that minimum, making it a good deal for both.

Good luck !
Always appreciate home grown food products.

[myrdale]

If you could come up with a single (or a couple) locations that have the kind of traffic you are looking for, then display your product for sale it would be so much simpler.

Make sure you check local requirements for selling food. They may vary from town to town also.

For selling to an individual there aren't any requirements.

For selling at a farmers market type situation, a label is really the only requirement from my understanding. Its got to say honey, have a weight, and an address.

For selling to a store / gas station, at that point you have to have inspections done by the state, and there are licensing fees. It gets complicated fast from what I've been told.

[bjl584]

My neighbor sells honey right from her driveway.
She has a wooden box set up with the jars in it.
You just pull in, take a jar, and deposit money in a slot.
It's all on the honor system, but it seems to work for her.

[disneysteve]

My neighbor sells honey right from her driveway.
She has a wooden box set up with the jars in it.
You just pull in, take a jar, and deposit money in a slot.
It's all on the honor system, but it seems to work for her.

There’s a lot of that in this area. Of course you need to live on a busy street for that to work.

[myrdale]

My neighbor sells honey right from her driveway.
She has a wooden box set up with the jars in it.
You just pull in, take a jar, and deposit money in a slot.
It's all on the honor system, but it seems to work for her.

That would be a really interesting experiment. I don't think it would do well in my case due to living in the very back of my neighborhood, but maybe if word got out.

I think I'd have to look at security seals for the jars though. So long as they are in my custody I know there is 0% chance of tampering. But leaving them on the side of the road feels bothersome. I have the image of someone opening a jar and sticking a finger in then putting it back.

[disneysteve]

That would be a really interesting experiment. I don't think it would do well in my case due to living in the very back of my neighborhood, but maybe if word got out.

You can always advertise in your local Facebook groups. Still, I think this method works best on a well-traveled road, not deep into a housing development.