Has anyone else been feeling exhausted lately? The weather has been all over the place from triple digits to alleged "hurricanes", and that makes scheduling farmers markets hard. It’s been a long, busy season, and the holidays are right around the corner. We know being a grower, vendor, or market manager is not a job for the faint of heart. The danger of burnout is REAL, Y’ALL! Don’t forget to make time for yourself and take a deep breath once in a while. We’ve gathered some tried and true tips ...
Sep 11, 2023•31 min
Are farmers markets a space for long term business success, or a springboard for your product to make it into wholesale? Short answer: yes. Long answer: It all depends on your product, your goals, and of course, your market. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking wholesale is the only path to success. Tune in as Catt and Brijet dive into: • The benefits of staying in Markets long term • Common misconceptions about what it takes to sell at a Farmers Market • Farmers Market to Wholesale succe...
Sep 04, 2023•24 min
This week on Tent Talk, Farmers Market Pros and InTents Conference founder Catt Fields White takes us inside the evolution of InTents: The National (actually, multi-national) Farmers Market Conference. From the start, the purpose of the InTents Conference has been to educate, connect, share, and build community in this wonderfully weird world of farms, food and event management! Because we all know, farmers markets are so InTents. Listen for the inside track on: How the conference started and wh...
Aug 28, 2023•22 min•Ep. 256
We're talking with James Grevious of Rebel Marketplace in Aurora, Colorado. He's creating neighborhood food security with the hyper local farmers market he has developed and managed, featuring urban gardeners and farmers. Listen in For James' views and tips on: • Intentionally developing and incubating urban farmers • Increasing community capacity from the inside vs outside intervention • Market growth pacing based on operator capacity • Funding education for farmers and vendors • Balancing fina...
Aug 21, 2023•36 min•Ep. 255
Today we’re chatting about what to wear and what not to wear at your farmers market. Find that perfect blend of comfort and creativity in staff uniforms to make your team stand out and be recognizable. Encourage your farmers and vendors to do the same for their teams. Listen in as we discuss everything from punny t-shirts and safety vests to comfortable shoes and how we wish everyone from farmers and vendors to shoppers wore name tags. You look amazing! Today's episode is supported by Blue Owl P...
Aug 14, 2023•24 min•Ep. 254
B. Griffin, Farmers Market Support Program Manager for Community Farm Alliance, a non profit serving farmers markets throughout Kentucky. In this episode: B. gives us a rundown of the new Electronic Farmers Market Nutrition Program that was recently rolled out in Kentucky and the problem-solving efforts CFA has put into action. We also get an update on the impact last summer's floods in Kentucky had on their local food system and what the rest of the country can learn from their disaster respons...
Aug 07, 2023•41 min•Ep. 253
Are you a farmer or small food business trying to navigate finding spaces to sell at farmers markets? Are you a farmers market manager buried in application emails and trying to find the perfect needles in that haystack? In this episode we're chatting about how we process applications for our markets and approaches used by some of our fellow market managers. Yes, you can have an amazing product and still not be a perfect fit for a specific market. Learn how to narrow down your targets if you're ...
Jul 31, 2023•55 min•Ep. 252
How do you learn and grow in your farmers market career? We met Jessica Mullen of South Carolina's Travelers Rest Farmers Market when she traveled to San Diego for InTents, the national Farmers Market conference. In this episode of Tent Talk, Jessica shares what she finds valuable about InTents and other conferences and networking with other market professionals. She's all about learning, and also about offering educational opportunities at her market. Listen in for Jessica's tips on: • Interact...
Jul 24, 2023•48 min•Ep. 251
National Farmers Market Week is right around the corner! Sometimes we plan way in advance for this important week, and sometimes it sneaks up on us. Guess what happened this year? Not to worry, we all still have time to take advantage of this national campaign to bring attention to our local markets. Tune in today as we discuss this year's theme and how to finish this sentence: Farmers Markets are changing the way... Check out this past episode of Tent Talk for more on the history of Farmers Mar...
Jul 17, 2023•17 min•Ep. 250
The Information Booth is open! It's time for another Hot Topics Q&A episode of Tent Talk, where we provide some answers and insights around recent questions that we've heard from vendors, farmers and market managers. Our social media direct messages and our private Farmers Market Pros Community on Facebook are full of great discussions this month and always. We also hear about hot topics from the other forums we moderate or participate in, and from small farmers and vendors at the markets we...
Jul 10, 2023•44 min•Ep. 249
School's out for summer and that means even more kids at the market, both in the aisles and in the tents. Whether developing programs for kids visiting your market, or putting teens to work in your booth, this episode is full of ideas to help you make the most of this season for market fans of all ages. Tune in today to hear: Ways that markets, farmers and businesses are putting their kids to work this summer Ideas for fun kids' activities that will engage the littlest shoppers All the ways to m...
Jul 03, 2023•32 min•Ep. 248
We recently celebrated a big milestone at the Little Italy Mercato farmers market - 15 years! - and a not-so-big milestone at our Chula Vista market - 1 year! Whatever milestone you have coming up at your market, whether it's big or small, this episode is packed with tons of tips to help you celebrate your vendors, your community, and your farmers market family. Tune in today to hear: How to secure a *MARCHING BAND* for your big farmers market anniversary Tips for fun things you can do that won'...
Jun 26, 2023•30 min•Ep. 247
Jorge Bustamante had a problem. Covid-19 completely shut down his thriving transportation business and he wasn’t sure what to do next. He knew one thing, however, people loved his family’s pozole recipe. So he formed a business plan, took our Vendor 101 course and My Pozole was born. In just a few short years, he’s grown his business so much that he’s at farmer’s markets seven days a week and recently opened a food truck! Listen to this episode to learn: How Jorge turned his family’s recipe into...
Jun 19, 2023•30 min•Ep. 246
A few years ago our guest and friend of the show, Sagrdrina Jalal set out to create the anti-racist farmers market toolkit . Sagrdrina was the founding executive director of the Georgia Farmer's Market Association and is the lead facilitator of the anti-racist farmer's market toolkit and related communities of practice. Tune in today for: Tips for making your farmers market more inclusive The history of Black farmers in America and the ways in which we can better represent them at our farmers ma...
Jun 12, 2023•34 min•Ep. 245
What happens when farmers market managers from 50 countries assemble in Europe to talk about strengthening local food systems, shortening food chains, preserving biodiversity, and protecting small farmers? Listen to this week's episode where we follow Catt on the road as she attends the FIRST general assembly of the World Farmers Market Coalition in Rome! Their mission is to cultivate and promote intentional, managed farmers markets and we were thrilled to attend. Hear our takeaways from the exc...
Jun 05, 2023•20 min•Ep. 244
Last time Daniel and Kasi Haire were on Tent Talk, back in early 2020, we were all adjusting our farmers market operations to accommodate COVID-19 protocols. In the time since, this farmers market power couple who manage the Nolensville Farmers Market have become invaluable contributors to our online community, sharing brilliant market hacks and solutions to the sticky situations market managers constantly find themselves in. We're thrilled to welcome them back again to Tent Talk this week to le...
May 29, 2023•40 min•Ep. 243
Our guests this week are Jonathan Przybyl and Amanda Abou-Eid, owners and bakers at Proof Bread in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Jon and Amanda took over an existing farmers market and wholesale bakery business in 2017 when their favorite bread vendor decided to retire. After four years of baking in their garage, Proof Bread has expanded into a commercial bakery space and is now sold at 5 weekly markets across Arizona. Tune in this week to hear Jon and Amanda's incredible story of how they've...
May 22, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 242
Spring is just around the corner and it's time for market managers, farmers and vendors to get in the zone for peak farmers market season! This week on Tent Talk we're chatting about all the things you need to do to get ready for those excited shoppers who'll be flocking to your market. Tune in to hear what you should be doing a few months, a few weeks, and a few days before the start of your market season. This week's episode is made possible by support from California Palms.
May 15, 2023•31 min•Ep. 241
This week on Tent Talk, we're chatting about big changes at Farmers Market Pros just in time for a spring refresh! Tune in to hear about our favorite takeaways and moments from InTents 2023, our travel plans this spring, and what we're looking forward to in the future. This week's episode is made possible by support from MarketWurks .
May 08, 2023•26 min•Ep. 240
This week on Tent Talk we’re joined by our friend, Tamara Cameron, former farmers market manager and Executive Director of the Boise Farmers Market. Tamara worked for the Boise Farmers Market for over 4 years, implementing new software programs, harnessing an impressive volunteer force and leading them through the trials and tribulations of COVID-19 by implementing systems to keep farmers farming and shoppers shopping! Her most recent accomplishment was helping the Boise Farmers Market organizat...
May 01, 2023•40 min•Ep. 239
Do dietary supplements, nutritional powders, health and CBD products have a place at the farmers market? Well, it depends! This week on Tent Talk, we tackle the topic of vendor products that straddle the lines between food, medicine and dietary supplements. Join us as we discuss what types of nutritional supplements and products make sense in a farmers market setting based on the mission of your market, how to develop clear policies around non-food ingestibles, and what to consider when vetting ...
Apr 24, 2023•34 min•Ep. 238
This week on Tent Talk, our guest is Chef Michael Ceraldi, owner of Ceraldi on Cape Cod. Chef Michael opened his namesake restaurant in 2014 and has become well known for his rotating 7-course tasting menu of upscale fare with an Italian accent, focusing on hyper-local ingredients sourced from Cape Cod purveyors. Tune to hear his fascinating chef journey, what led him to his philosophy and devotion to seasonal menus, and how he's built close relationships with local farmers and purveyors. This w...
Apr 17, 2023•54 min•Ep. 237
The clock is ticking! USDA FMPP Applications are due May 2, 2023, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time! This week on Tent Talk we chat with Amanda Cross, Programs Manager for the Oregon Farmers Market Association about applying for grants for your farmers market. Amanda has been working in and around farmers markets for twelve years and she joined OFMA in 2019 to support Oregon farmers market managers, coordinating OFMA’s Farmers Market Learning Network, and providing technical assistance to markets needing...
Apr 10, 2023•42 min•Ep. 236
This week we’re sharing another live recording from the InTents: the Farmers Market Conference 2023 held in San Diego last month. In this Tent Talk Live episode, you’ll hear a presentation titled “Marketing: It’s Not Just for Shoppers Anymore” from Christine Hawks who manages Columbus’ Worthington Farmers Market, the largest year-round market in Central Ohio. As a Certified Farmers Market Manager and recently certified Ohio Master Urban Farmer, Christine serves as an ambassador for local food an...
Apr 03, 2023•42 min•Ep. 235
This week we’re sharing a live recording from the 7th annual InTents: the Farmers Market Conference which we hosted in San Diego and online earlier this month. In this Tent Talk Live episode we hear from shiny flanary, a queer Black farmer and founder and manager of Come Thru Market, a Black and Indigenous incubator farmers market and farmer training program in unceded Chinook and Cowlitz territory (so-called Portland, Oregon). In her session “Creating and Retaining Confident Vendors”, shiny lay...
Mar 27, 2023•39 min•Ep. 234
Earlier this month we hosted hundreds of farmers market managers and participants at our 7th annual InTents: the Farmers Market Conference. Farmers market folk flew in from all over the US and Canada and even more tuned in virtually for 3 days of learning and growing with people who understand that #ourjobisweird. It’s no secret that being a farmers market manager draws on an eclectic set of skills and we were curious to find out what talents our attendees wield in their day-to-day. So over the ...
Mar 20, 2023•27 min•Ep. 233
As the current US Farm Bill is set to expire later this year, legislators and policy-makers are hard at work behind the scenes, negotiating and developing the massive omnibus bill that will eventually impact all of us. The details of the final bill aren't clear yet but it's never too soon to start paying close attention to the policies that will impact farmers, market managers and anyone working in the agricultural industry! To get in the zone for the 2023 Farm Bill, this week on Tent Talk, we'r...
Mar 13, 2023•35 min•Ep. 232
This week the Farmers Market Pros team is busy hosting the 7th annual InTents Conference in San Diego, California so we're replaying our interview with Melissa Maltais, past conference speaker and Membership and Program Lead at BC Farmers Markets, from last Spring. Melissa is a brilliant marketer, fundraiser and advocate for farmers markets in Canada. This episode is jam packed with tips on marketing your market through community outreach and simple ways to reel in sponsors - all the things you’...
Mar 06, 2023•38 min•Ep. 231
Eek! April 15th is just around the corner! It's time to get your receipts gathered and your books in order so you can file those 2022 taxes. This week on Tent Talk our guest is Danielle Hayden, CEO of Kickstarter Accounting where her and her team help entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits. In this episode Danielle gives us a pep-talk & much-needed reprogramming on how we approach bookkeeping. She shares her philosophy on j...
Feb 27, 2023•46 min•Ep. 230
As state legislatures across the country rethink laws on food safety and street vendor permits, farmers market managers are having to rethink their market guidelines and policies. This week on Tent Talk we go over some of the various regulation changes that have been rolled out and implemented and how they are impacting farmers, food makers and local farmers market communities. Listen in for updates on recent shifts in public policy, how these changes are shaking out on a local level and what ma...
Feb 20, 2023•38 min•Ep. 229
