After spending time and energy growing vegetables and fruit all season, the worst scenario is ending up without earning a profit. Watch those Hungarian wax peppers and ears of Ivory and Gold sweet corn fly off the tables once people get a taste of them. Learn market a produce stand and see the fruits of your labor grow into some cash.
Instructions
1. Romance the local media. Get free advertising every chance you get. Community newspapers love to cover farmer's markets. Make sure you chat it up with them when they do.
2. Advertise sparingly. Costs can skyrocket from high-priced newspaper ads. Opt instead for smaller newspapers or weekly publications sent to your customers for free which are often cheaper.
3. Join farmer's markets. Farmer's markets are a great way to gain access to many customers for a minimal daily fee without the cost of advertising.
4. Know your vegetables and fruits. Make sure you have tasted all of your produce so you can give details that sell. Telling a customer a melon is juicy is different from knowing the melon is full of sweet juice and describing it in detail. Customers will return once they realize you know your stuff.
5. Park your stand in an accessible location. Customers more often stop if your stand is on the way home and easy to reach. Free advertising is also another benefit to heavy traffic.
6. Display produce in an attractive way. Keep veggies and fruit in clean baskets and propped up for easy viewing.
7. Be friendly and informative. Always greet customers immediately and say thank you--even if they don't purchase anything. Inform all customers of the new produce you'll have the following week.
