Farmer's Market Report Week 2

11 years ago

It was cool and raining yesterday during our farmer's market. That didn't seem to deter the die hard shoppers though. We were very happy with sales.

This week I made Pretzel Sandwich Rolls (sold out), Cinnamon Rolls (sold out), Blueberry Lemon Bread and Zucchini Bread (3 loves left) Sugar Cookies (just a few left), No-Bake Cookies (sold a few) and my Jams. The Pretzel rolls were a clear winner and I'll have to make a lot more for next week. The sugar cookies and cinnamon rolls sold well, with most being bought for immediate consumption. :)

David sold out of his Living Butter Crunch lettuce and zucchini and sweet basil did well also. Next week he'll have more variety in the produce.

Here's a few pictures from this week...

view from street level

street level row

This is the bagel guy, he sells out every week @ $1.50 each. He's been doing the FM for several years.

Next week the annual Venetian Festival takes over our usual park, so we will be down the street a block in a smaller park. Should be interesting as it's the busiest week of the year in our town.

Nancy

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Comments (17)

annie1992
11 years ago
Nancy, I'd sure buy bagels from that bagel guy!

It sounds like you're doing pretty well. Not that I'm surprised, since I've eaten your baked goods and everything you've ever made is delicious.
doucanoe
11 years ago
Wow....I have serious Farmer's Market envy right now! The location next to the harbor, the sheer number of vendors, the variety of goods. I am speechless! (And those of you that know me know that doesn't happen very often! LOL)

So happy to hear that sales are going well for you Nancy. I would love to be one of your customers, as I too have been lucky enough to sample your creations!

Have fun and keep up with the reports!

linda
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I usually give my friend David most of the leftovers, he enjoys them. I did bring home the extra peach pie muffins, Kim took two for work today and I had one for breakfast. I forgot to mention, there was a small cruise in the harbor yesterday (around 100) and I had a nice rush on sales then. I gave out samples of the raspberry bars and I think everyone that tried a sample bought at least one. They also liked the sugar cookies. My cinnamon rolls were already sold out by that time. We will get many bus tours that stop in town during color season, they love to pick up things to nibble on. Charlevoix has been on the color tour stop list for many years. Nancy
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Nancy, the peach pies look beautiful, but I'll bet they are labor intensive? Could you make a large cobbler with a top crust and maybe some struesel crumbs on top then portion out two servings in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap? Have you considered tea breads - mini loaves of lemon bread, banana bread, applesauce walnut bread, etc. could be made mid-week and would hold well in the fridge until market day. This type of bread is usually very moist and will hold longer than yeast breads. Last year my friendship starter breads sold well. The starter keeps the loaf very moist - you don't have to call the breads "friendship" or Amish Friendship as people who don't bake have probably not heard of them and might not understand the concept. And have you tried mixing up your pretzel roll dough a day or two ahead and keeping it chilled until ready to bake? Are the three large loaves the asiago bread? Does one recipe produce 3 loaves that size? I'd try making four slightly smaller loaves and price them a little less. Also, I would try making a recipe of the sugar cookies mid-week, then wrap them well with plastic wrap, put them in a zip bag or container with a lid and store them in a cool place until market day. You could make a test batch and see how they taste to you several days later. The cookies could also be frozen on the day they are made and pulled out the day before market day. Or, make the cookie dough ahead and freeze then bake the day before market day? You are getting a feel now for what sells well for you and what your customers repeatedly buy - that's good. But think about how you can begin your baking earlier in the week and try new items that can be made ahead. Do you have a flyer on the table offering to make special orders? When I did this I sold by the recipe - i.e. an entire recipe of yeast rolls or 4 loaves of my Amish bread recipe. I would offer the customer a slight discount for ordering the entire recipe and I would tell them how to freeze the breads. This way they could order ahead to be sure what they wanted was held (out of sight) for them. I have some great recipes if you want those. Teresa
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OK, I'll keep the reports coming on the weeks that I am at the market. We are getting into the time of year that the weather will be changing. Even if I do get the canopy fixed, I have to be careful as I now know it won't take much wind. Karen, dried and silk? From 1988 to 1992 I owned a company that did dried and silk wreaths and arrangements. We sold all over the country and even had products in a couple of mail order catalogs. We were wholesale only and did the gift shows in Chicago. Then the look died and I gave it up when I moved here. Under Michigan's Cottage food law you are limited on the canning to jams, preserves and jelly. No salsa's, relishes, tomatoes or pickled items or low acid vegetables in general. But you can take your chances since you are doing a one shot festival. We had the USDA guy come through last week and I know several were told they couldn't do some things, those people were MIA this week. Labeling also needs to follow the rules. You should read the law, they are pretty specific. Baked goods in general are OK as long as they do not contain too much dairy. Cream pies are a no but fruit pies are fine. Some items I would think about for a Harvest Festival.... Cinnamon rolls if you have morning hours, they won't do as well later in the day. Pumpkin donuts, pumpkin bread, apple breads, cider donuts, apple bars, apple pies, caramel anything....AnnT's recipe for the Caramel Rice Krispie Treats went over big time this week and I'll continue doing those through fall. Caramel corn in bags is another idea. People like to buy goodies they can eat as they walk around and items to take home. Some things can be made two days ahead, other things you have to do the day and night before. I do the pretzel rolls last, as the salt draws out the moisture and dissolves. That is one thing I wouldn't do for a one shot show. Don't forget to cut up some things for samples. I keep plastic containers tucked away and offer as needed. If you put them out people will grab them that have no intention of buying. Hope this helps, you can email me if you have other questions.. Nancy
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Olychick
11 years ago
Where is your farmer's market?
mustangs81
11 years ago
Can you say road trip? I could hit Teresa's FM, meander up north for the week then hit Nancy's FM! And the neat thing is I have tasted both of these ladies' creations.

So, what's going on with the guy lying down on the street?
mitchdesj
11 years ago
It's such a nice location ! I enjoy your reports !
caliloo
11 years ago
So glad to hear things are going well! And I am going to haved to try the Pretzel Rolls this weekend. It is cool and rainy (finally!) and perfect for an inside cooking project.

And I have Farmers Market Envy too... we have 2 nearby, one is called the Amish Farmers Market and though there are Amish people that bring in baked goods, meats, chickens, bbq, canned goods, etc there is also a good Middle eastern booth, a great sushi place and a fishmonger (to name a few) and the only guy who sells produce seems to be importing everything from China. It is almost like a mini version of the Reading Terminal Market for those who have been to Philly.

We also have a weekly farmers market that is a little closer to what you are doing. I wish we had more vendors though. There are a couple of people selling produce and cut flowers, a honey vendor a soap vendor and a pottery guy. That is pretty much it.

Best of luck and I am so glad you are seeing success early on!

Alexa
chase_gw
11 years ago
I sure wish you were closer Nancy.I'd love to visit that market. I really miss not having a decent farmers market close by. The nearest one worth going to is an hour's drive. I go but it's a mission rather than a hop around the corner.

Got to make those pretzel rolls soon....
wizardnm
Original Author
11 years ago
olychick, here is a link to info about Charlevoix.

Cathy, you know you are welcome any time, so come on up!
The guy laying in the street was trying to fix something on his truck. I wondered who would notice that.

Lake Charlevoix is currently in a USA Today travel poll as one of the most beautiful lakes in the USA.

Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: Charlevoix MI
lindac
11 years ago
We have the world's stupidest excuse for a farmers' market I have ever seen....
It's held on Tuesday from 4 PM to 6 PM....in a baked or wind swept parking lot next to a couple plot of land where a building was torn down.....and they charge the participants a yearly fee for participating.

4 or 5 years ago it was held around the square and it was so easy to just walk around and pick up stuff while you were going to the bank or drug store or whatever. And there was a n unofficial Saturday morning market in the parking lot of a car dealership....under some big trees planted at the edge....no fees paid to the city.....somehow that was shut down.
I envy you all your lovely farmers' markets....you might think that in the middle of the "bread basket" there would be a decent farmers market....I know several "farmers" who take their produce to other towns for their markets.
lbpod
11 years ago
Caliloo, I'm glad you mentioned the Amish.
They always have a baked goods table at our paultry farmer's market. Their pies, cookies and breads
always look so good . . . but, having tried them
all, I have to say that they are seriously lacking
in flavor. Maybe it's salt, or maybe sugar, but
everything is just 'meh'. Is it just me?
bcskye
11 years ago
Here's another who would love to be able to go to your farmers' market. I'd load up on David's lettuce and some of your goodies. Salad and bread with a bit of cheese.
triciae
11 years ago
Nancy, even in the rain your FM looks like fun. I'm pleased you are doing so well. Are you enjoying it?

lbpod,

No, it's not just you. I also feel PA Dutch baked goods are lacking something. I doubt it's salt because I eat a low sodium diet, do all of our baking, and my baked stuff tastes good. I'm more inclined to think it's the quality of the ingredients - fat (margarine/Crisco vs good quality butter, quality of add-ins like chocolate, even the flour can add (or detract) from the finished product. Shortly after moving to New England, we made a special trip to Lancaster County because we'd heard so much about the great food. The baked goods were a real disappointment. In sharp contrast, the meats available were very good.

/tricia
compumom
11 years ago
Tricia & lbpod, your sentiment resonates with me too. When DH and I tried a number of Amish goodies at noted spots during our trip to PA, I was underwhelmed. I liked a couple of things, but in general, I wasn't impressed. Meh is a good description.
Rusty
11 years ago
How fortunate you are that your state
Lets you bake at home for public sale!

That is not allowed here.
All foods must be prepared
In a certified kitchen,
And there is no way they will
Even consider inspecting and certifying
a home kitchen.

Yet there are absolutely NO laws about labeling.
Makes no sense to me at all!

I, too, am thoroughly enjoying your "Market Reports"
And the pictures, too!
It looks so peaceful, pleasant and fun.

Please keep them coming,
And best of luck for a continuing successful
Farmers' Market season!

Rusty
ann_t
11 years ago
Nancy, it really is a beautiful setting for a farmer's market. Glad you and David are successful. Look forward to next weeks photos.

~Ann
Olychick
11 years ago
Thank you for the info about your city. It looks beautiful. What a setting for a market, too.
nancylouise5me
11 years ago
I too was wondering what the guy was doing laying on the street. lol More great pictures, Nancy. Keep them coming! NancyLouise

Farmer's Market Report Week 2

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