farmers market competition or lack thereof.

[Dill]

I'm sure we've gone through this before. I've never done farmer's markets before. But I was asked to do winter market back in april. I brought beef and syrup and did decently even though there wasn't much traffic. So they wanted me to come back to the summer markets. I said fine and got 1/2 of the last cow cut and packed for it. One of the directors just swung by my place and said they only want me to sell beef. Because there is another maple producer. I'm more than a little annoyed. We make more than 1 product and I don't like being limited.
Anyone run into something like this before? How did you handle it?

[wiam]

Different markets have different rules. Pretty much have to go with the flow. We did a winter market one place and asked about the summer market there. Found out summer/winter are run by different people an summer did not want us. I have a friend in Rutland MA. He told me the market near him allows only one vendor of each product.

[mountainvan]

I do several markets in the hudson valley, winter/summer, and have been for 9 years.pretty much all markets have one of each thing. every farmer wants an exclusive in their market and if they have a good product and the customers are happy it stays that way. farmer markets can get a bad rap from the farmers and no one will want to sell at it, the organizers know this and want to keep the farmers happy. I like my markets and the people who shop there, many of witch have become my friends and come hang out during sugaring season.if you do well with beef and the other guy does well with maple you both win, and you have someone at the market to talk to about sugaring!

[maple flats]

We only do 2 markets at this point and both allow more than 1. In fact at one summer market 3 vendors sell syrup, but 2 sell my syrup. I have never experienced a farmers market that wanted just 1. I did however try to get into a rather busy indoor market that was mostly a second hand shop but also sells other things. We were in there selling fresh produce and some homemade framed pictures, but could not bring in syrup because another had it. We are far larger but they had the spot. To top it off, they were from almost 50 miles away and I was local to the venue. It did bother us, since others started selling framed pictures after we did. We no longer do that, but will be in there with fresh produce.

[jmayerl]

I pretty much hate farmers markets. Here by Green Bay, there are 6 farmers markets. All are full and are not letting anyone else in.(I have been on waiting lists for 6 months). There is a farmers market in our small town but for the few people that come its not worth it, plus they have 2 guys with syrup there and I'm not giving it away at their prices of $10/qt. not to mention this market it$200 for the year.

[maple man-iac]

Simple in fact, if the manager only allows one vendor with said product the market isn't worth going to as a farmer or customer. The managers idea is that there are not enough customers to support more than one vendor of the same product. The vendor with the superior product is going to get most of the customes and the other vendor will drop off. Let the customers decide who they won't to supply them with the products. No time should a manager make the choice for the public of who's product is available, keep this a free market country not dictated.

[maple flats]

I think competition is good. At the markets I go to, I have the highest price (along with the vendor I sell to) and we outsell by far what the other guy who undersells us. The main reason is syrup quality, but likely a second and very important reason is the we are there, we make it and people know where we are located. This certainly helps sales. I don't agree with any market or other venue that limits competition.

[wiam]

I think competition is good. At the markets I go to, I have the highest price (along with the vendor I sell to) and we outsell by far what the other guy who undersells us. The main reason is syrup quality, but likely a second and very important reason is the we are there, we make it and people know where we are located. This certainly helps sales. I don't agree with any market or other venue that limits competition.

There has to be a point. If there were 10 guys selling maple it is not going to be worth it for any of them. But it should be more than one

[maple flats]

I think the participants should decide if they want to be in a market against the others, not the market itself. If you want to be in with a market with several others, so be it. May the best product prevail.

[maple man-iac]

I'm with you Maple Flats, completely agree! At this point I will no longer support a market that limits me from selling syrup because of another vendor already doing so. I'm sure at that same market more than one vendor will have tomatoes.

[Dill]

Yup they have 3 people selling kale however. So far the big excuse I got was "All he does is sell syrup", well he has competition at all the other markets. And it's not like I farm only to have fun. I like putting a couple bucks in my pocket. I'm going for the first time next week. And a few jugs of syrup might just happen to already be in the truck. I don't do well with bullies. And they haven't been able to find any other beef producers who will attend.