When you go to a Farmer’s Market, have you ever thought about the amount of work it takes for a farmer to get there every week, so you can have the freshest farm fresh produce available? I never gave it much thought, until we started hawking White Rabbit’s wares at the Fort Pierce Farmer’s Market.
For three weeks, we’ve been getting up at 5:30 am every Saturday to sell a variety of organic produce, nuts and grains. The market is only four hours long, but it takes an entire day to set up, tear down, clean up and take stock back at the Farm. By the time we’re done, it’s usually around 3pm and we are exhausted.
Brian and Valerie have been too busy running the farm and their organic foods store to attend the market, so Jim and I happily volunteered to do it, and get the word out about this unique store, one of the only health food outlets on the entire Treasure Coast. With Jerry and now, Fannie the Goat, as our attention-getters, we’ve managed to triple sales in just three weeks!
We’ve Still Got It!
Our corporate and retail marketing background has come in handy, and so have our big mouths, as we love talking with the locals around here. We’ve started a line of White Rabbit bean sprouts, and are creating DIY sprouting kits too. We were also happy to create some simple fliers and a banner for them.
Jim and I have come away from this feeling confident in knowing that no matter what business we venture into next, we know that we have what it takes to make it a success. We work together really well (mostly), and thanks to this RV road trip, we have become so much better at making quick decisions. We’ll keep attending the markets, and will hopefully see our sales continue going up.
Meanwhile, the next time you talk to a farmer at a market, remember; they’d rather be out on the farm with their tractor, so be extra nice, and spend extra cash too!
Hi! I just came across your blog while researching Florida Farmers Markets! My husband and I have been vendors at the Fort Pierce Farmers Market for over three years. Our company, Lucky Onion, offers all-natural dips, seasonings, and spice mixes. One of our goals is to buy an RV and travel around the country, selling our products at festivals and markets. I wish we had met while you were working at the FP Farmers Market! Your story sounds so inspiring – and we really appreciate your positive promotion of farmers markets! I will check back regularly to read more about your adventures!
Theresa
P.S. – I DID meet Fannie the goat – what a sweetie!
I agree with Sara, you guys look and sound like you are really having a good time there. Keep up the good work! We all are living to read your next adventure. And I think most of us are so jealous and envious of you too! Life doesn’t get any better than what you guys are doing. Happy New Year. We miss you!
i daresay! you`re such an agronomist!, admirable, your grandpa would be so proud to know it ! “pocha”!
This is such a great post…I laughed out loud at the goat on the leash in front of the booth. Thanks so much for enlightening everyone on the hard work that goes into a market. We have a local farm that we always support at the market in Des Moines…and we’ve chatted with them about the long day. Such hard work for what seems like (in my mind) such little return. It looks like you are having so much fun there!
mira nomas! eres tan agricola !,admirable, le daria mucho orgullo a tu “tata” si lo supiera !