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.

Guess I am lucky that I have Home Goods, Michaels,Ross, and Target all in one big shopping mall--not all close enough to just walk from one to the other though. For Kohl's and Marshall's, they are about 20 minutes away but not far from each other--but in very congested area like your's Sandi. It may be a good thing--that way I don't usually go to all of them in the same day! Keeps the temptation in check a little bit. ;o) Luvs

Thanks Jim. It was fun to do, and I'm not good enough at decorating to take it too seriously--so I just try to have fun with it and do it for the pleasure it gives me. Wanna hear something fun? Even before I found this forum, I always tried to do a little something special for a centerpiece for our family gettogethers. My DIL enjoyed it so much that she started doing it too. I just love it when I go over and see how she has added some pretties to her table now too. ;o) We all have to eat, so it's great if we can make it pretty and fun too. Luvs

To pick only one, probably Menards. I like picking up on their free after rebate items. Plus they have good prices on most everything else too. I also like Walgreens. Surprising variety for a drug store and they get in some good deals occasionally. Other stores that deserve honorable mention: -Target: Has *really* improved in the past 10-15 years. Got to where I wouldn't set foot in there but now I go there often and they're really getting to be a force in the grocery business. A station found them WAY cheaper than Walmart on the variety of items they surveyed and they've surprised me with their prices. Plus I like picking up on their clearance sales. Fleet Farm: Nice place to wander but it bugs me they want your driver license and a signed contract to use the electric carts! Not from me you don't get that there stuff! But they have good durable clothes at reasonable prices, best place around to buy car, boat or mower batteries. K-mart: For certain things. Plus they've cleaned up their act in the past 10 years but have sunk so low that nobody realizes it. I used to like going to Big Lots but they're not convenient to get to around here so I haven't been there for a long time.