Management
There are lots of things you’re responsible for if you want to run a farmers market. On this page, you’ll find a range of helpful resources. Learn about farmers market management, best practices, and farm market safety.
Farmers Market Management and Best Practices
Farmers markets come in many shapes and sizes, but management skills and best practices are common to them all. All retail food facilities, including farm markets and farm stands, have to be inspected and licenses by the PA Department of Agriculture (PDA). A guidebook has been issued to help farmers markets and people selling products through a retail farm market or farm stand meet the regulatory requirements.
Rules and regulations have to be followed, and these are important for setting guidelines for vendors at a farmers market. Legal incorporation of a farmers market is one of the legal issues you might have to contend with.
If you want to increase your market day bottom line, take some time evaluating how you plan to sell your products. Prospective customers will expect to see certain things from you. When you get ready for farmers market season, consider signage, displays, and telling your story.
Developing a roadside farm market is a viable alternative to community farmers markets. However, it does require a great deal of planning and a thorough examination of a wide range of issues. A basic understanding of some accounting principles is key for managing cash flow for your market. Financial support is available via Community Supported Agriculture.
Farm Market Safety
Food safety practices must be in place at every point along the farm-to-fork continuum, including farmers markets. Ensuring food safety at farmers markets is an important responsibility of the vendors. The Farmers Market Food Safety Resource Guide provides detailed information on food safety concepts and includes practical tips and checklists.
Farm market safety also involves preparations for natural disasters. See what you can do to prepare your market, vendors, and shoppers for what might come next.
- Articles
4 Benefits of Buying at the Produce Auction
Produce auctions allow farmers to sell their bounty efficiently, leaving more time for farming. Here, we set the record straight on produce auctions. - Webinars
Free
Farmers Market Manager Forum
When 05/29/2024Join this virtual event to discuss issues and solutions with other market managers. - Webinars
Free
Retail Farm Market School: USDA's Farmers Market Pricing Project
When Watch NowLength 1 hourRecorded Feb 15, 2024Come join our discussion on leveraging regional pricing data for farm market vendors to enhance their pricing strategies. - Articles
Asset Mapping for Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are essential businesses and community spaces. Asset mapping is a process that can help markets grow despite limited resources. - Articles
Results of PA Farmers Market Assessment Survey 2023
Results from a QR code market assessment survey of farmers market customers. - Articles
Proper Handling of Eggs: From Hen to Consumption
To ensure egg quality in small flocks, egg producers must learn to properly handle the eggs they produce. - News
Opportunities for Farmers to Receive Free Legal Services
Date Posted 10/3/2023This article details a great resource for growers to utilize for guidance on agritourism. - Webinars
Free
Retail Farm Market School: The Price Is Right
When Watch NowRecorded Mar 13, 2023Explore factors to think about when selecting your product prices, reasons to resist defaulting to market pricing, and tips for navigating circumstances that require price changes. - Articles
What's the Difference Between Markup and Profit?
Understanding the difference between markup and profit margin is critical to the success of your business. - Articles
Knowing What Customers Will Support
How do you engage with your market's customers to better understand what they purchase and what they would like to purchase. - News
New Market Assessment Tool
Date Posted 6/1/2023Penn State Extension has developed a digital market assessment tool for farmers markets. - Articles
Moving Customers Along the Value Ladder
A value ladder is a marketing tool that allows businesses to gradually increase the value they offer to their customers over time. - Articles
What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?
SNAP is a federal nutrition program that helps participants stretch food budget dollars and purchase healthy food. - Articles
Testing New Ideas at a Farm Market
This report showcases results of a study done at a Delaware farm market. - Articles
Mystery Shop Form
A mystery shop can allow a farm market to see how a customer views their market experience. - Articles
Municipalities and Urban Agriculture
The Urban Agriculture Special Committee of Pittsburgh created a guide to explain the benefits of urban agriculture. - Articles
7 Takeaways from Benchmark Survey of Markets
Survey of farmers markets and retail farm markets. - Articles
Farm Market Disaster Resources
This listing describes resources that are available to farmers and farm markets during disasters. - Articles
Agritourism in Pennsylvania - Legal and Regulatory Issues
This article provides an overview of issues agricultural operators in Pennsylvania must consider if they would like to start or expand an agritourism operation. - Webinars
Free
Retail Farm Market School: Building and Expanding your Market
When Watch NowLength 1 hour, 30 minutesRecorded Feb 27, 2023During this informative event, we will cover some of the most common considerations for developing your farm market business, from building codes to shopper psychology. Learn from experts about permits, zoning regulations, and other compliance burdens that can add time, costs, and stress to the process. - Articles
Free SNAP EBT Equipment Program
The USDA has partnered with MarketLink to provide a grant program that provides EBT processing hardware for SNAP benefits. - Articles
Counterfeit Money at Our Markets
Markets are very busy places and we do our best to take care of the customer as fast as we can. How are we supposed to do that AND check the money they hand us to make sure the currency is legitimate? - Articles
A Study on the Effectiveness of Pittsburgh Farm Markets
This study from the Farmers Market Coalition explored how to maximize the benefits of farm markets for the city of Pittsburgh. - Articles
Basic Steps Towards a Successful Market
Some simple management practices can be the difference between a profitable market and a marginal one. - Articles
Market Data is More Than a Four Letter Word
Help make some decisions such as how many people shopped at the market that day and what they spend their money on or how much they usually spend.