Things To Sell at a Farmer’s Market Other Than Produce
When you think about the farmer’s market, the first thing that comes to mind is colorful produce straight from community farms. And if you’re a farmer, this is usually the first thing you think to bring to market.
However, farmer’s markets are also a chance for an entire community to put their best wares on display and make a profit while they’re at it. Whether you’re looking for something to add a little extra pizazz to your vegetable stand or want a shot at the next market without growing crops, here are things to sell at a farmer’s market other than produce.
Baked Goods
When people visit the farmer’s market, they usually make an entire outing out of it. They bring families, strollers, and a picnic lunch to enjoy when they’re done browsing. And if you’ve ever been out walking with children, you know that, eventually, they’re going to start asking for something to eat.
That’s why a baked goods booth works so well at farmer’s markets. Even people who aren’t planning on buying much at the market will likely stop to buy a pastry. A few things you might include are:
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
- Doughnuts
- Scones
- Tarts
- Bear claws
- Paczkis
Pro Tip:
If you’re also selling produce, try to incorporate it into your sweets. If you run an apple orchard, offer apple cider doughnuts. If you have strawberry fields, offer a jar of preserves for people to eat with their scones.
Honey
Many farmers enjoy keeping bees as part of their farm anyway, so honey is a popular non-produce item to sell at the farmer’s market. Honey is an especially popular item because those shopping are often concerned about health-conscious, eco-friendly foods—which honey is.
Along with the jars of honey, you can sell other honey-related items. For example, you can sell honeycombs and beeswax. And, for the children, you can sell flavored honey stick packets as snacks.
Handcrafts
Farmer’s markets are also the perfect place for people to pick up gifts for their loved ones from local artisans, and handcrafts are lovely gifts for anyone. If you want to sell handcrafts at your local market, you may want to consider specializing in making one specific type of product and mastering that skill.
Some common handcrafts that you might sell at the market include:
- Jewelry
- Handmade soaps
- Handmade candles
- Carved wooden figurines
- Homemade birdhouses
- Clothing items or accessories
The one thing that can be difficult about selling handcrafts is deciding on a fair price. For instance, when you’re pricing homemade jewelry, you have to consider the cost of the materials as well as overhead costs, such as labor and your lapidary tools.
