Episodes

  • Ep 330: Better Together | How To: Nurture Community Connections

    Ep 330: Better Together | How To: Nurture Community Connections
    Jan 27 2025

    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.
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    38 mins
  • Ep 329: Good Form | How To: Manage Market Applications

    Ep 329: Good Form | How To: Manage Market Applications
    Jan 20 2025
    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.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ep 328: By The Numbers | How To: Share Your Market Data

    Ep 328: By The Numbers | How To: Share Your Market Data
    Jan 13 2025
    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.

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    30 mins
  • Ep 327: Log Polling | How To: Track Your Market Day

    Ep 327: Log Polling | How To: Track Your Market Day
    Jan 6 2025
    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
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    35 mins
  • Ep 326: Start the New Year with Good InTENTions

    Ep 326: Start the New Year with Good InTENTions
    Dec 30 2024

    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!
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    2 mins
  • Ep 325: Happy Holidays

    Ep 325: Happy Holidays
    Dec 23 2024

    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.
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    4 mins
  • Ep 324: Holiday Gifting

    Ep 324: Holiday Gifting
    Dec 16 2024
    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
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    32 mins
  • Ep 323: Give and Let Give

    Ep 323: Give and Let Give
    Dec 9 2024
    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
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    21 mins