Tent Talk

Discovering new vendors that fill a need for shoppers at your farmers market is like hitting the jackpot. Finding the market that's the perfect fit for your business and your schedule is every vendor's goal. Communicate clearly and everybody wins.    This week the Farmers Market Pros are talking about balancing all the pieces that create a smooth, straightforward and welcoming application. With just a little effort on both sides the process can be the start of wonderful working relationships. Start here:   Know where you're headed and make your application a map Put that application button in all the places Find the right balance: more welcoming, less gatekeeping When applying, be as specific as possible  Auto responders and market management platform tools save precious time

The USDA just opened the Local Agricultural Market Program (LAMP) request for proposals and Farmers Market Promotion Program applications are due on June 5th. This funding has been a moving target the last couple of years, with tight deadlines,  slow responses and sometimes sudden terminations to confirmed contracts. Still, the grant amounts are some of the largest available to farmers markets seeking to accomplish big, multi-year projects.    This week we're talking to Reza Djalal of the Adams County Farmers Market. He's been part of a successful FMPP grant project and is submitting again this year. Listen in as we chat about:   What kind of preparation will help meet this tight deadline  Framing your project as one that helps farmers Checking meticulously for typos and math errors  The weight USDA gives to naming partners (like Farmers Market Pros) Making your 35 page proposal "beautiful"

We're in a farmers market (state association) state of mind. You already know we like all things local and farmers market associations are no exception. This episode of Tent Talk is all about the value of state market associations. Featuring Maggie Funkhouser, Director of the North Carolina Farmers Market Network, we discuss how state specific associations create more resilient markets, better market managers, and stronger food systems.   This episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast is supported by Manage My Market.

The future of farmers markets starts with surveys   That's right folks! The National Farmers Market Survey is right around the corner and we're discussing it in detail on this weeks episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast. Featuring local leader, data enthusiast, and food systems advocate, Amanda Edmonds, we're digging into everything about one of our industry's most important and influential surveys.   What we're covering: What the survey is and why it matters Who it helps and the impact it has Important dates and deadlines Necessary info needed to submit   Learn more and meet Amanda Edmonds at the InTents Conference in just one month: March 1st-4th, 2026.   This episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast is supported by Square.

Farmers markets are based on human relationships and market manager communities are no exception   In this weeks episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast, we're highlighting opportunities to strengthen your relationships with other farmers market professionals in your region and across the country. From national conferences to local meet ups, we're covering a range of ways you can engage in-person with the very people whose job is just as weird as yours.   What we're covering: The importance of networking with your peers Local conferences coming up Ways we'll be helping to build connections at inTents 2026   This episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast is supported by Loco Canopies.  

It's time to apply our knowledge towards market applications   It's application season at farmers markets across the country! Each year offers a new batch of farmers and entrepreneurs anxious with excitement for the opportunities markets have to offer. But before that 10x10 is popped and in-place, they have to get past one thing: the almighty market application.   A critical tool for establishing which markets are right for your business and which businesses are right for your market, applications, when done with intention, help pave a path to long-term market success. Tune in to this episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast as we discuss all things application related.    What we cover: How to ensure your application process is an extension of your market's mission Why you should be reviewing your applications with intention How to engage in effective application marketing Ways to evaluate whether a market is a good fit for your market business   Listen NOW at the in bio or wherever you stream your podcast.    Want to dig deeper into this topic? Join us in March at the 10th annual inTents Conference in San Diego, CA. Tickets available for purchase at intentsconference.com

Welcome to a new season of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast. The theme for our next 7 episodes is Grow Where You're Planted, and it's all about using your own resources and the others available to you locally and in the wider farmers market community. Here in episode 360, let's start with taking stock. What's in store for your market in coming months, and how can you plan now to make it the most successful market season yet? Listen in as we talk about:    Thinking about your core mission  Ways to increase income and reduce expenses  Creating win-win partnerships  InTents National Farmers Market Conference sessions  Stream the episode NOW on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.   Register NOW at intentsconference.com   

Welcome back to Tent Talk, it's been a minute! Be sure to stay with us until the end for an important announcement. Listen in to hear what's been happening at Farmers Market Pros and the rest of our community, what's coming in the next season of Tent Talk, the farmers market podcast, and new offerings at our Farmers Market Forum platform. Hear about some of the amazing speakers coming to the InTents National Farmers Market Conference in March (the South has something to say!). Do not miss the exciting news revealed near the end of this episode. Don't forget to register now for InTents 2026: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/farmersmarketpros/1764636     Listen in as we talk about: The next season of Tent Talk Farmers Market Forum newsletters Monthly live online calls Preview of InTents 2026 sessions  and a Very Important Announcement! 

Our theme for this season of Tent Talk is Survive and Thrive and boy does it feel relevant now more than ever. Between nearly a million government workers currently on furlough and 40 million people going without access to SNAP benefits, our customers, our farmers, and our communities are staring down the neck of truly dark and difficult times.That's why we're reaching into our toolkit and pulling out a word that guided us through the pandemic: PIVOT.   It's time to lean on each other, get creative and resourceful, and mobilize quickly and efficiently to ensure our neighbors remain fed and our vendors balance their bottom line. Join us TODAY as we do exactly that during SNAP to It! a FREE live Zoom call with market managers across the country. What: SNAP to It! Supporting Your Market Family Today When: Monday, November 3rd, 2025 at 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET Where: Zoom How: Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HALavysyRe6F09xnmrFtdQ#/registration This episode of Tent Talk, the farmers market podcast, is supported by the National Farmers Market Coalition.  

Every year the last quarter never fails to creep up on us and 2025 is no exception. As we reflect on the year and look ahead at what's to come, everywhere we turn we're haunted by budgets. How can we continue to ensure that our market business is turning a profit? How can we create a safety net so in times of stress we're still financially secure? The answer is simple: sponsors!    This week on Tent Talk, we're calling back to an old, but ever so relevant episode and are revisiting creative ways to harvest support. Tune in as we discuss: The importance of budgeting for your market Why you should be connecting with potential sponsors now, rather than waiting for "charitable giving" season Helpful tips on the most effective ways to reach out to sponsors Listen along and then get excited about making 2026 more profitable and less stressful.

Uncertainty often breeds innovation and periods of economic instability are no exception. Job insecurity can be the tipping point to that pushes makers to think outside the box and embrace the adventure of farmers market entrepreneurship. Suddenly there's space to turn that recipe into a money making reality.   In this episode of our Survive & Thrive series, we're focusing on an unexpected benefit that markets sometimes see during times of turmoil: an influx of business start ups. As people part ways with corporate America and dip their toes into farmers market life, it's up to market managers to ensure those new vendors are informed, prepared, and properly supported.   Listen in as we discuss: Why shifts in the economy and employment offer opportunities  Resources that benefit new business owners Incubating new vendors to increase success How to determine if a farmers market business is right for you   This episode of Tent Talk: The Farmers Market Podcast is supported by Vendor-101.

Farmers Markets offer food founders the chance to capture high margin sales, but it only matters if you know how to make them profitable.  In this episode, Sarah Delevan sits down with Catt Fields-White, nationally recognized farmers market expert and founder of the InTents National Farmers Market Conference, to answer real questions from Good Food CFO listeners about maximizing farmers market revenue. What You'll Learn: Why Catt told one cookie vendor to raise prices five times before adding production capacity The margin advantage of farmers markets vs. wholesale distribution (and why it matters for cash flow) Logistics for selling at 7+ markets weekly: staffing, delivery, and storage solutions Simple display changes that directly impact sales (including the pricing psychology most vendors miss) What to do before walking away from an unprofitable market, and more 

In this episode of our Survive & Thrive series, we're going back to the basics when it comes to maintaining a financially stable market. While grant funding feels unstable and uncontrollable, when your passion meets profit, you're prepared to weather even the most unpredictable of storms. A strong P&L around the core function of supporting farmers and incubating small businesses is almost like tent weights for your market operation.    Listen as we discuss doing the math on: Venue Equipment Operating costs Staff Marketing This episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa.

When your job is weird, it's easy to feel isolated. Who do you ask for help when all of your friends work desk jobs? How do you advocate for the importance of markets in your community when you're a team of one? Where do you go to brainstorm city specific issues? Well the solution just might be in your own backyard. In this episode of our Survive & Thrive series, we're emphasizing the importance of hyper-local coalitions on the success and longevity of markets in your city, county, or region. Because no one understands markets better than other market managers. Listen in as we discuss: The effectiveness of collaborative problem solving Why it helps to lean on fellow market managers How to collectively navigate changes to local permitting and safety protocols The benefits of exchanging farmer and vendor information  This episode is supported by MarketWurks, making market management easier.

In this episode of our Survive & Thrive series, we're speaking with Dana DiPrima. She's built the For Farmers Movement on consumer education and thousands and thousands of small donations. Her organization's simple grant application creates solutions for one challenge at a time and ensures small farms can keep farming.   Listen in as she shares all about her story, the movements role in sustaining local food systems, and the importance of investing in everyday farming infrastructure. Because no farms, no farmers markets.    This episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by SQUARE.   Dana's farmers market guide can be found here:  https://www.forfarmersmovement.com/farmers-market-guide 

Tent Talk has returned with a new series, Survive & Thrive! Before we dive deep into our scheduled content, we're sharing a quick preview of this season and a few reminders.   Tune in as we talk about: Next weeks episode featuring Dana DiPrima from the For Farmers Movement Our new online community, the Farmers Market Forum Early bird ticketing for the 10th annual inTents conference ends September 15th, 2025 RFP deadline for inTents 2026 extended to September 19th, 2025 Voting period for America's Farmers Market Celebration by American Farmland Trust closes September 30th, 2025 Interested in more Farmers Market Pros content? Subscribe to our newsletter at farmersmarketforum.com

The leaves aren't the only thing changing this fall! We're shaking things up with an adjusted schedule, a fresh new Tent Talk season, and an updated interactive platform. In our upcoming series, Survive & Thrive, we're focusing on how to operate a successful market business during unprecedented times. In this episode, we're taking a look back at where we've been and forward to where we're going. From 2020 to 2026, tune in as we reflect on all things farmers markets, Farmers Market Pros, and inTents: The Farmers Market Conference. Listen closely for a few important dates and deadlines. To keep growing your market business, subscribe to our newsletter at farmersmarketforum.com.   This episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by American Farmland Trust.

Almost 350 episodes in, we're making some changes to Tent Talk. We're still here, that big archive is still bingeable and new episodes are on the schedule. We're also moving our newsletter to a more interactive platform, making it weekly and adding related offerings. Watch for upcoming webinars, live calls and later this year additional private podcast episodes just for members. Tune in to hear what we're doing on our summer not-a-vacation. Pop over to farmersmarketforum.com to subscribe to the newsletter. Let's keep growing community. #farmersmarketpodcast #farmersmarketsdontjusthappen #farmersmarketforum   farmersmarketforum.com   

We're talking this month about Building a Bigger Tent at our farmers markets. Let's remember that the more people and communities we welcome to markets, the deeper our variety of produce, products and personalities. Exclusion, whether purposeful or just thoughtless, means we miss out on all the richness that comes with diversity.   Sagdrina Brown Jalal is back with us for this episode, just in time for Juneteenth. While that day of historic remembrance is coming up next week on June 19th, observances and events will start this weekend and extend into next. We're talking about how your market can support that holiday. And we're looking at how organizations like the West Georgia Farmers Cooperative are working to level the playing field and lift up small farmers all year round. Tune in while we discuss:   Support can be more appropriate than leadership The exhausting history of resilience Bridging urban and rural division Looking beyond Federal funding Partnership and collaboration as strength #Farmersmarkets #Juneteenth #Blackfarmersmarkets #Cooperatives #Belovedcommunity #SageDCollective

This month we're going to be talking about Building a Bigger Tent and keeping our commitment to making farmers markets a welcoming and opportunity filled place for everyone. We're also getting ready to launch some new ways to share information to make your farmers market more profitable and less stressful for farmers, producers and managers. Don't miss those upcoming announcements. Meanwhile, expect some shorter episodes this summer leading up to our next full season, and the occasional longer one. Dip into the archives anytime: there are currently almost 350 episodes there.  Quick reminder: you have just a few days before registration closes on June 5th for the International Public Markets Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this month. Our own Catt Fields White will be hosting a panel there on market operations. Click the PPS logo on the Resource Page at FarmersMarketPros.com to register.

Wrapping up our series on defining farmers markets, we're chatting in this episode about what a farmers market is, and what it isn't. Whether inadvertently or intentionally, a lot of places and platforms and events are identified as farmers markets that don't meet the definition. Tents alone do not a farmers market make and the same goes for fresh produce. Are there farmers present? Does it happen regularly? We're intent on keeping our word. Speaking up for farmers markets means reminding people what a farmers market really is, and why that matters.    Listen in as we discuss What makes a farmers market Helping consumers know the difference Other platforms, other names Calling out greenwashing Keeping our word    Today's episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by TentCraft

In this episode of our series on defining farmers markets we consider online ordering and delivery services by looking back to a June, 2021 conversation with Christine Farren, Executive Director of San Francisco's Foodwise. Back then, the organization formerly known as Cuesa was redesigning the curated boxes developed on the fly during peak Covid into a delivery service managed with a logistics partner. Tune in as we discuss how online ordering and home delivery fits into the definition of farmers markets as a place where farmers and eaters form relationships.    Listen to our conversation about: Flexibility as a superpower Sharing other organizations' strengths Doing the math on delivery Keeping new systems equitable The importance of face time   Today's episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by Project for Public Spaces  

Continuing our series on defining farmers markets we like to wonder: what if everyone in a region or in the country agreed on one set of best practices and one set of rules for farmers markets? In this episode we're talking with Dr. Kim Hutchison and Meredith Ledlie Johnson about how the Virginia Farmers Market Association has done just that. Bringing in multiple stakeholders helped create consistent standards. Education and certification of managers and farmers markets provides validation and a sense of pride. Leveraging that recognition to negotiate managers' compensation and public policy are additional benefits.    Listen in as we talk about: Creating consistent standards Recognizing our industry's strengths Bringing multiple agencies to the table Documenting the work we do How certification affects salaries    Today's episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by American Farmland Trust

Defining farmers markets starts with one common thread: the presence of farmers, selling to shoppers. From there all bets are off and protocols and structure can vary widely.  This week we're looking back to a conversation with farmer Jake Johannes from the Sacred Sun Cooperative. He shares how the Brookside Farmers Market in Kansas City, Missouri is organized as an almost all-volunteer market. Farmers and vendors serve on the board, actively assisting a paid manager to maintain standards centered on local food and "radically sustainable practices".   Listen in as we talk about: • Centering producers  • Maintaining market integrity • Avoiding conflicts of interest • Supporting your market manager • Compassionate decision making   Today's episode of Tent Talk, the Farmers Market Podcast, is supported by Farmers Market University.

We're wrapping up this month's Marketing Methods series with a reminder that social media is just one way to create loyal shoppers for your farmers market operation, and not necessarily the best one. Nowadays rules and algorithms and reach seem to change daily, at the whim of the platforms. Email newsletters let you control your list and your timing, and personalize your outreach to build connections. How do you maximize those results? In this episode, Erika Tebbens, the Director of Impact at woman-owned and woman-led local food marketing agency Taste the Local Difference, makes a convincing case for breathing new life into your email marketing campaigns. Listen in to this exclusive excerpt of Erika's presentation at the 2025 In Tents National Farmers Market Conference. We've skipped the parts of her session that relied heavily on visuals. Listen in for expert tips on how to keep your content in front of shoppers who will keep coming back to the market, as well as:  Determining the best email platform  Building and expanding your own contact list Including effective calls to action   

Is anyone else going all in on the Spring cleaning vibes? It's a great time to do a refresh, or even just a review of your market business website. We've been saying this a lot lately, but we'll say it again: have you made it easy for your customers to find you? Is your location front and center? Your website is an opportunity for you to tell potential shoppers not only where you are, but who you are and why your business is unique. Whether you've got thousands of social media followers, or you're just starting to grow your market business, your website is still often the first place a shopper will go to learn more about you. Tune in for another episode in this month's Marketing Methods series, and follow along as we discuss:  Making sure crucial information is front and center  Landing pages and links Vendors and sponsors and maps, oh my! Who updates your website, and how often

Marketing is just one of a market manager's or vendor's full time jobs. So a cooperative effort that benefits multiple markets is invaluable. Add in centralized sales of gift certificates redeemable region-wide and everyone will be harvesting a bumper crop of additional income. Maine Federation of Farmers Markets director Jimmy DeBiasi joined us last year to explain selling employers on using market dollars as part of their workplace wellness programs. He dug even deeper into the how-to at last month's InTents Farmers Market Conference. This week in our Marketing Methods series listen as we chat with Jimmy about: The power of cooperative marketing The impressive total of sales generated How tough is tracking and billing? (Not as hard as you'd think.) The key selling points for big buyers

Once folks experience your farmers market or market business you know they'll be hooked. How you get them there the first time, and how you remind them to come back until they form a habit, that's the marketing magic. We're kicking off this month's Marketing Methods series with a look at which social media platforms will most effectively get the word out about your market. Where you're posting, what you're posting, and what kind of content performs best is important. Which platforms you trust and want to support is also worth considering these days. Listen in as we discuss: What types of content the algorithms reward  When newer platforms are worth exploring  Whether going viral should be the goal  Why cooperation is the new competition

In the last of this month's series sharing farmers market stories, we catch up with Sina War about all the latest ways she's supporting our community. A multipotentialite, she's worn a lot of hats in our industry. She's been a hands-on farmers market manager and developed a food product made from peppers she grew herself. At the Minnesota Farmers Market Association she's shared recipes on local TV and advocated for local food systems at the state legislature. Sina has the heart of an educator, and nurturing new farmers comes naturally. Join us as we hear what Sina's up to next, and discuss:  Why multiple roles are natural in the farmers market world All the ways to speak up for farmers markets The little seedling that Sina's focused on right now When Grow Your Green will start helping new farmers thrive 

For our annual Live from InTents episode, Tent Talk producer Leandra Hays sat down earlier this month with almost 30 attendees of the hundreds at the national Farmers Market Conference in San Diego. They shared what keeps them going and what rewards them in the face of farmers market challenges. Tune in to hear all about it.  

Lisa Herlinger is a trained chef turned entrepreneur who launched her gourmet ice cream sandwich company at the Portland Farmers Market back in 2004. More than two decades later, it's a thriving business with wholesale grocery and convenience store distribution, spreading joy and dominating frozen novelty aisles nationwide. Tune in to hear about Ruby Jewel's growth as we share: Lisa's commitment to locally sourced ingredients  Finding the balance between quality and price The value of sampling at markets Financial considerations of scaling to wholesale

Michael Clark is a third generation family farmer who grew up working at farmers markets and on the farm. Over the years JR (for Joe Rodriguez) Organics, his family's business, has expanded to include more than a dozen weekly farmers markets, a robust CSA program and wholesale customers. Mike manages sales and production and still works at several markets a week himself. Listen in as he explains: Why the farm has a CSA program How a CSA can work hand-in-hand with farmers markets Benefits of and obstacles to organic certification The charms and challenges of working with family

Wrapping up our Recruit and Retain series, we come back to what makes it all come together: shoppers. Remember, we heard from Corinna Smith earlier this month that increasing market attendance is great, but what's critical is  how many of those attendees are buying something at the market. Are they filling those shopping bags and baskets? Then retaining farmers and vendors is a slam dunk. That income will allow you to retain staff. It's a whole ecosystem right there.  In the final installment of this series, let's talk about some Farmers Market pro tips, including:  Followers are fine, engagement is epic More attendees is good, more buyers is key Email lists may be more secure than social platforms Co-op marketing with local businesses is golden It's not QUITE too late to register for this year's InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference, in San Diego March 10th -12th and live online. Link in bio or click Register Now at FarmersMarketPros.com You need this. 

Every farmers market manager knows that curating a well-balanced market is both an art and a science. Whether you're running a seasoned market or developing a brand new event, recruiting and vetting vendors that fit the needs of your individual community is key. Keeping things balanced so that everyone profits is essential. Maintaining long-term, mutually respectful relationships with each of your vendors creates that consistent set of offerings that will build a loyal customer base. Listen in as we go deeper and consider: Identifying a mission and holding fast to your values Walking the line between scouting and stalking Considering trends while prioritizing balance Matchmaking the perfect vendor and market fit Teaching vendors to help you help them Use the link in our bio to register today for the 9th annual InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference, coming March 10-12, 2025 in San Diego. Nothing beats the power of market people coming together. 

By any reasonable definition, it's not a farmers market without farmers. Uniquely positioned to foster relationships between consumers and the people that grow their food, farmers markets help farmers thrive financially and feel encouraged and supported by their communities. Let farmers know about the advantages of selling direct, make them feel valued and help them develop sales skills and they'll stay with your market for years to come. Listen in as the Farmers Market Pros catch up with Corinna Smith of the Columbia Farmers Market in Missouri, where new farmers are blooming and some producers have been selling for over 30 years. Discover tips including: How to find new farmers for your market Ways to demonstrate the benefits of direct to consumer sales Making farmers proud to partner with your market Working with other farmers markets to create a local market culture There's still time to register for the 9th annual InTents the National Farmers Market Conference in San Diego, California 2025. Link in bio or register at farmersmarketpros.com 

The team that helps you sell vegetables or granola at your farmers market booth makes all the difference in your income. The staff that sets up and manages the market makes the job productive and satisfying or just a whole lot of work. Learning to recruit the right people will make your market business more successful and just more fun. Creating systems to keep the band together are just as important. Employees with more knowledge and experience are more comfortable on the job and that trickles down.    On this episode the Farmers Market Pros chat with Natalie Labejof Farm Habit about hiring and managing staff for multiple markets. Listen in as we discuss topics including:   • Detailed job postings save everyone's time • Your team is a key part of the interview process • Vibes just might be as important as skills • Budgeting for training pays off big time   Register today for the 9th annual InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference, coming March 10-12, 2025 in San Diego. Nothing beats the power of market people coming together. 

Where do you start to develop and maintain relationships with your farmers maket's neighboring residents and businesses? Start with outreach, then add big portions of listening and cooperation. Working together will make your community happier and your market more successful. Listen in for how-to tips including: Taking your team on a local field trip  Resolving complaints to gain loyal supporters Using surveys to prove rising tides float all boats Sharing stories and building friendships Use the link in our bio to register today for the 9th annual InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference, coming March 10-12, 2025 in San Diego. Hotel discounts end soon.

There's no one right way to manage vendor applications for your farmers market. Some managers prefer simple inquiry  emails before a detailed form. Some market management platforms integrate applications with online maps and vendor profiles. We all need to know business names and exactly what will be sold. An origin story makes an application more interesting, permit and insurance information generally gets it processed more quickly.    On this episode the Farmers Market Pros discuss our experiences and preferences, then we chat with Cara Mae Wooledge of Napa Farmers Market and Chloe Kuhn and SJ Osborne or the Riverside Arts Market.  Listen in for a variety of opinions and tips on topics including: Longer applications lead to good decisions Detailed instructions save everyone's time Should vendors visit before applying? You don't want to miss Michael Jordan There's still time to sign up for Farmers Market University's live online market manager certification class starting January 24th. Use code FMPROS25 to save when you register at FarmersMarketUniversity.com   Use the link in our bio to register today for the 9th annual InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference, coming March 10-12, 2025 in San Diego. 

How many eggs did Apricot Lane Farms collect in 2024? Eighty three thousand five hundred ninety seven. How do we know that? Because they posted a clever graphic that said so. What does that make us think about their farm? They must be hardworking farmers and have some happy chickens. Use numbers to share your farm, business or farmers market accomplishments and impress your shoppers. Make it eye-catching and fun to be sure it's memorable. Listen in for how-to tips including:   Exact numbers are more impressive and memorable Should you share products made or sales totals?  Creating graphics doesn't need to be complicated So much can be counted: how many tents did you pop?   Thanks @apricotlanefarms for the graphic. We love those chickens and those farmers.   There's still time to sign up for Farmers Market University's live online market manager certification class starting January 24th. Use code FMPROS25 to save when you register at FarmersMarketUniversity.com   Use the link in our bio to register today for the 9th annual InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference, coming March 10-12, 2025 in San Diego.   

Farmers Market Day logbooks can store valuable information, customer requests and market history. Whether you use them to track attendance or sales, complaints or comedy, they can be helpful and interesting if you both maintain and read them. Listen in for tips to decide what to include and how to format your market log, based on the Farmers Market Pros' experience and other market managers' and market business owners' input. These are some of our takeaways: A standard set of information can help predict trends Multiple team members reporting is most accurate  Open ended questions can yield better insights Don't spend time collecting info unless you'll use it   #farmersmarkets #recordkeeping #farmersmarketday #smallfarmers #smallbusiness #marketmanagerlife #farmersmarketsdontjusthappen

And just like that another year of farmers markets is coming to a close. We're ringing in this new year quietly. 2024 has been full of meaningful connections, community-building and so many conferences. In the coming weeks we'll be sharing our inTENTions for 2025, tips and how-tos, and new ways to connect. We're cooking up some exciting new things, so stay tuned. Don't forget to register for InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference; we can't wait to see you there.  Thanks for listening all year long, and we're wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Whether you're observing  a holiday this week or not, remember that you are a gift to your communities every week of the year. We hope you find time to rest and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Wishing happy holidays to all who celebrate and peace to one and all.

The season for holiday gifting is here! Whether you're a market manager, farmer or vendor, we have great tips for remembering all the people who have supported you this year. It really is the thought that counts so if gifts aren't in the budget we suggest other ways to acknowledge the people you appreciate. Grab your list, check it twice and listen in to this spotlight episode from 2023 as we discuss:   • Who's on our holiday list • Useful gifts for your team • Shopping local, of course! • Big impact on a low budget

For some folks making year-end donations is a tax strategy. Others just feel generous this time of year. It's a perfect time to bolster your farmers market's fundraising efforts and finish the year with a balanced budget. Even though your core market business is hopefully self sustaining, many market organizations also provide educational programs and supplement nutrition incentive programs. Those are efforts your community can help support. Listen in as we talk about how to make that ask effective:  Be specific about why you need support Explore the best ways to reach your fans Give your followers the opportunity to give Report back on results and say thank you

We've been talking about the 4 Ps for market success since we started our Vendor-101 class almost 15 years ago. Product, packaging or presentation, personality and today's focus: Professionalism. Farmers markets are a shopping environment where one vendor's actions and attitudes can affect a lot of people's businesses. Be a most valuable farmer or vendor by remembering some of the things we're chatting about today: Being timely during the application process Ways to build trust with shoppers Communicating the "why" helps  Remembering kindness counts  

This week we caught up with James Grevious of Rebel Marketplace in Aurora, Colorado. Since he last joined us on Tent Talk, he's been addressing  challenges around establishing a consistent location and a sustainable business model. Staying rebellious, he  continues to create neighborhood food security with a hyper local farmers market. Along with today's update, it's a pleasure to share our talk with James that was originally broadcast in August 2023.  Listen in For James' views and tips on: Intentionally developing and incubating urban farmers  Increasing community capacity from the inside  Balancing market growth and operator capacity  Weighing community needs and financial security

Inviting young people to vend at your farmers market can foster a new generation of market entrepreneurs and delight your community. Sure, there are challenges. It can be a trick to be sure that kids meet permit requirements. Their grown up is probably going to have to sign for insurance. Figure it all out and watch as family and friends come out to support the youngsters and maybe get hooked on farmers market shopping for the long term. Listen in as we consider:   Exploring local regulations for under age vendors  Deciding whether friendship bracelets fit your farmers market  Providing sales tips and training to kids Making sure your consistent vendors benefit too

Whether you're a farmer, maker or market manager, if you have a team, providing them with feedback will make their work life and yours better. It doesn't have to be awkward or uncomfortable to discuss workplace performance. (OK, sometimes it can be.) If you've provided employees with expectations and the tools to meet them, this is just a checkup. We're talking today about how we make these chats productive for everyone involved, including:  Giving people a chance for self evaluation Hire in a hurry? It's never too late to share job descriptions.  We're all motivated by know the why behind processes  Bosses can benefit from feedback too: listen!

What could be a more fitting fundraiser for a market organization than a dinner featuring local chefs and farm fresh ingredients? Organizing a farm to table dinner or a cultural food festival is a little different than coordinating a farmers market. Kasi Haire of Nolensville Farmers Market in Tennessee assures us that much of the skill set is the same: planning, staffing, renting equipment and marketing. Listen in to hear how and why her market keeps finding new ways to help people do good by eating well, including:   The pros and cons of serving dinner on a farm What to consider when budgeting for your event Why fundraising is just one of the goals How to use special events to incubate new vendors

Bookkeeping is yet another of the many hats that farmers market managers wear. There are so many formulas for setting space rent at markets and, especially post-Covid, a whole variety of ways to manage calculating and actually collecting those fees. Do you use a market management program with built in invoicing? Are you adding up percentages of sales and handling cash at the market? Either way, there's plenty to consider and to communicate to make sure things run smoothly. Let's talk about: Pros and cons of flat fees and percentage of sales rates Calculating processing fees vs labor costs Reimbursing for nutrition incentives  Understanding penalties for missing markets or late payments  Building trust with clear communication