The New Farmers' Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers Managers & Communities [Paperback]

Vance Corum (Author), Marcie Rosenzweig (Author), Eric Gibson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

If you are a farmer, market manager or city planner and want to succeed at farmers markets, The New Farmers' Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers, Managers & Communities is the book for you! Written by Vance Corum, Marcie Rosenzweig, and Eric Gibson, The New Farmers' Market covers the latest tips & trends from leading-edge sellers, managers and market planners all over the country. FARMERS/VENDORS: Best products to grow & sell; insurance, rules & regs; booth design & structure; product display & appearance; containers; line handling; bagging/packaging; sampling; price signs & labels; setting prices; cash-handling & security; recordkeeping; hiring & training employees; selling tips & styles; customer service; educating customers about products; recipes; boosting sales via the internet, & more! MARKET MANAGERS/PLANNERS: Planning & starting a market, recruiting farmers; market master; legal advice, rules & regs; 46 pages on promotion: special events; co-promotions with community groups; media coverage; market newsletter; setting up a market web site; market issues including farmer-grown, market mix, supermarket competition, etc.; building community support & educating the public about local agriculture; farmers' market resources (articles, books & tapes, web sites, etc.), & more.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The authors divide their book into three sections. Part 1 one covers selling at a farmers' market, offering advice on choosing crops and products, keeping records, staffing a booth, setting prices, setting up displays and merchandise, and using color and texture to enhance eye appeal. Part 2 gives information on starting a neighborhood market (the name's important, the authors say), attracting farmers, market demographics, advertising, publicity, tastings, and other special events. Location, timing, and day-to-day concerns also are discussed. Part 3 deals with such topics as social issues and Web sites. In five appendixes the authors discuss insurance, a market study, customer surveys, market profitability, and benefits. An extremely helpful public library handbook. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Finally! A really good book on farmers' markets!"  - Lynn Byrzynski, Editor, Growing for Market

"As one who spent 15 years working with farmers at Seattle's Pike Place Market, I was amazed at how much I could learn from this book. The book is laced with practical tips from growers and market managers from all around the country." - Steven Evans, Farm Specialist, King County, Seattle, WA

The definitive guide to farmers' markets is here! (The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: New World Publishing (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963281429
• ISBN-13: 978-0963281425
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What to do when you participate or start a farmers' market?, November 9, 2001

By 

Anna M. Lucio "kyjabber" (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Farmers' Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers Managers & Communities (Paperback)

The answer is read this book! You don't have to be a student of marketing or have a masters degree to become an excellent marketer of your farm products. "The New Farmers' Market" is a great way to get your ideas rolling for you as a farmers' market manager or even a vendor. Information is presented in a clear, almost common sense way. As a marketing specialist for a government agency, this is a great asset to my library of resources for my clients.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of all the market books I've read!, September 11, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New Farmers' Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers Managers & Communities (Paperback)

The cover is kind of "blah" but there's lots and lots of really god solid information inside. In fact, so far every question I've had has been addressed. A lot of the other books seem big on theory ("You must be organized!") but this book has the nuts and bolts. In fact, it's the only one that sits on my desk. The others are nicely preserved on my bookshelf.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Reviewers Are Saying about The New Farmers Market, September 20, 2001

By 

Eric L. Gibson (Auburn, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Farmers' Market: Farm-Fresh Ideas for Producers Managers & Communities (Paperback)

As the publisher/co-author of this book, I'm proud to have received the following reviews and testimonials:

"As one who spent 15 years working with farmers at Seattle's Pike Place Market, I was amazed at how much I could learn from this book. The book is laced with practical tips from growers and market managers from all around the country."
-Steven Evans, Farm Specialist, King County, Seattle, WA

"The definitive guide to farmers' markets is here! Whether you're part of a large, successful, urban farmers' market or you are a beginning farmer who wants to start a market in your small town... or you are somewhere in between... The New Farmers' Market is the one book you need. Put it all together and you've got a complete guide to farmers' markets, more in-depth and practical than any college course I know of, and highly readable."
-Editor Jean English, for "The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener"

"I've recouped the cost of the book several times over already and it's only our second market!"
-Joan Vibert, Windwalker Farm, Ottawa, KS

"The New Farmers' Market is the most comprehensive, pertinent source of information out there on selling at farmers markets. The breadth of the topics, issues covered, real-life information for all-size farmers and markets, and in-depth presentation of material will be invaluable for the farmers' market industry."
-Randii MacNear, manager, Davis Farmers Market

"In The New Farmers Market, the steps for establishing a farmers' market and for successful vending are well documented. The book includes stories from vendors, managers and other experts from around the country who share their experiences on what is required to be successful. In reviewing the publication, I could find very little detail that was omitted... After 20+ years of experience working with farmers' markets, it is great to see a detailed summary of how markets really work."
-Reviewed by Monika Roth, Extension Educator, Ithaca, NY, (Book Review for "County Agent Review")

"Fantastic! I honestly can't think of anything you have not put in there and
it reads like a who's who of the farmers' market industry. It is the
definitive guide for Farmers' Markets."
- Brent Warner, Direct Marketing Specialist, Province of BC, Canada

"GREAT! Very practical AND inspiring!"
-Dianne Stefani-Ruff, Manager, Portland Farmers Market