It seems like my produce sold better when people could choose their own and weigh it up rather than prebagged. Also, just in case it doesn't all sell, you haven't wasted your time bagging it up.
That being said, there's a few things I'd never sell loose, like cherry tomatoes, blueberries, apricots, okra, because there's too much loss of your product when people handle through them.

Since last year was our first year selling at market, and we are starting out small it really just didn't seem practical to put the money into a certified scale. We sold grape tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, green and yellow beans, in quart size containers all of which sold very well. We sold pears and apples both in quart size containers and 2 for whatever (don't remember how much we sold them for), and people bought them both ways. Of coarse we sold beets, scallions, radishes, and basil in bunches. Those are just some of the things I could think of off the top of my head.

We tried selling bell peppers, mixed colors in a quart size container, about 3 or 4 per container and it just didn't sell well. We came home with almost all of them, I was really surprised because some of them were nice size peppers too. The next week we sold them 2 for $1.00, and they became one of our best sellers. The reason that I tried selling them in a container was because I was afraid that people would pick all the colored peppers first and I would be stuck with all the green ones, but this was not the case some people actually picked the green ones over the colored ones. We pretty much sold all the colors equally.

I say if it is in your budget and if you are going to be selling a lot of produce then it would probably be easier for you to get a scale instead of spending the time to put everything in containers and bags (like Sandy had mentioned), but if you are starting off smaller like we did you may want to just wait till you sell enough to make it worth while.

Good luck with your first year and make sure you have fun!

I am definitely starting out small, and a scale would be a big purchase for me right now. I already have to invest in other thing slike a tent, tables, insurance, and a banner. These are reuquired by the markets, so I have no choice. I'd like to avoid the scale purchase for a while, until I even know if this is going to be worthwhile. I have a few other avenues for selling produce that won't require weighing. so I won't need it for that.

I know people like to pick out their own produce, but I think that's pointless on lettuce mixes, for one thing, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, etc. I was most concerned about the heirloom tomatoes and peppers. That's interesting that people did not buy the peppers already set into quarts. I love the idea of 2 for $1.00/etc. I didn't think of that before. I may try it both ways and see what wors better. Thanks for the input! :-)

For me at least I figured I was better off putting the money into things that would make my table more presentable, so people would remember me since I was just starting out, than into a scale. Such as baskets, table cloth etc. Of course those things are not necessary but if you are willing to spend the money I think they help.

I really want ideas on how to make my table look as inviting as possible, too. I see some people at market who have spent a small fortune in big bushel baskets to hold all their produce. Does anyone know of a site that has a lot of good pictures on market table presentation? Should I start another thread for this? I got one book on Market Gardening, but have not seen a section on presentation yet (haven't gotten thru the whole book yet.)

You might want to start a new question. I have read some past threads about presentation, but it would be interesting to see if anyone has any new ideas.

I think I got the idea to use a table cloth from this forum. I had a hard time finding fabric with vegetables on it, looked every where and finally found some. Another thing that I did was print up nice looking signs for prices, on my computer instead of just writing the price on a piece of paper. I bought my baskets at PatCatan's craft store, but if you are going to be buying a lot of baskets I am sure someone would have some suggestions of cheaper places online to buy them. I did not need a ton of baskets since last year we only sold at one small farmers market, although this year I will probably need more since we were planning on adding one or two larger markets.

I will post some pictures of our table last year and some samples of the signs I made, for you to see, once I can find the pictures.

I prebag/package just about everything before market (if it is a morning market, than the day before). I do sell squash, onions, apples, pears, eggplant and rutabagas by the pound but everything else is pre weighed.

This save so much time at market. Weighing a lot of produce takes more time than you think and you will lose potential customers who tire of waiting in line (though greeting everyone and asking if they can wait does go a long way in keeping them in line)

Also when you pre package the food will not get as damaged from being handled. this is especially important with things like lettuce and tomatoes which are delicate. When I sold maters by the pound I would have to toss out about 40% of them when I got home because they were handled badly by the public. When I started putting them into quart boxes the damage went down about 90% and I also sold more volume.

Lettuce and other greens simply last a lot longer if they are in a bag. Out of a bag and on display on the table a head of lettuce will last about 25 minutes before wilting too much to sell (and this is if you have it on ice and are spraying the stuff). If bagged it will last hours on the table (I only put 2 or 3 bags on the table at a time and the rest stay in a cooler). And when bagged you can put your farm brand on the bag so people know/remember where they got that great lettuce or spring mix and will come back next week.

I like the idea of putting your farm brand on the bag. I could probably do that with my containers too. Thanks for the idea boulderbelt! I will have to get to work on that!

I sell a lot of my stuff pre-bagged, too. At our small farmer's market I am the only one that sells greens - lettuce, spinach, etc. Pre-bagged it stays freshier longer. Besides if it is left over, I just take it home and pop it the fride for my own use because it is still fresh. Otherwise its just compost.

However, we have never had a state inspector visit our farm so none of the vendors have a certified scale - they are all cheap household kinds. Mine's an antique farm type with a big clock like dial. None of our customers have ever complained about the scales, in fact I suspect they would protest if the "gobermint" step in to say anything.

We sell both ways at market. I sell with a woman who grows mostly lettuce, so her heads are loose and we bag upon request, but we've also started selling mixes, which are prebagged.

We sometimes have peppers or eggplants or tomatoes, etc., which we either sell so-many-for-so-much, and those are lose and people chose their own, or perhaps a pint/quart for so much,and those are boxed up already.

One thing I will add - from a customer's perspective, it kind of grosses me out when people come up and handle all the produce, whether they buy or not. I suppose the same thing happens in supermarkets too, but I don't like the way some of the people paw through things.

Oh, and to take that a step further, from the seller's standpoint, I've had both produce and flowers damaged by people who are "looking" and then don't buy, and then I can't sell the damaged goods. Having stuff pre-bagged or pre-boxed helps to cut down on this.

:)
Dee

Where do you all get your bags and produce containers?

I buy my bags at Sam's, if you don't have a membership, find someone that does. The savings on my bags pays for my membership. All you need is a business card to prove you are a business. Print them yourself with MicroSoft office.

We sell alot of produce by the "each" method. Such as $.75/each or 3/$2.00.

I don't bag or box hardly anything, except berries.

Last year I offered my cherry-sized tomatoes either already boxed up or bulk. I charged alittle more if boxed, example loose $1/lb, boxed $1/pt (.9#). I also offered boxes of same varieties or a mixed variety boxes. Both bulk and box sold about the same. By the end of season, we didn't have time to box, and the customers would take a box and choose their own and paid the box price. We did have a few customers buy bulk cherry-sized tomatoes, 5 lbs or more at a time.

I sell my lettuces as loose-leaf and don't bag them. I do keep a spray bottle with cold water nearby and regularly "fluff" the lettuces.

The main things we sell per pound are beans, tomatoes, potatoes and greens.

For a certified scale, check ebay and look for a "legal for trade" scale. My first scale cost $300 (yr 2001) and last year I found one for less than $100. You will save alot of time if you have a scale. Be sure to get one with a platform at least 8x12". Anything smaller is a pain.

Entwife,
be sure and check the California State regulations regarding sealed vs unsealed. There is an issue there to be considered. If you seal it, it must have a label staing what it is, what it's weight is. Of course this means you must a certified scale, calibrated by the weights and measures office of your local Ag department.
Last year we had a meeting with the state ag department, and this fellow told us, if we leave the tops of the bags open, there is no issue, but once you seal, or even close up a ziplock type, there is a lable that is required.
You want to read Barclays California Code of Regulations, section 1390, Article 6.
Steven (President of a local Farmers market association)