January 2023 - 29

FARM MARKET & AGRITOURISM
vendors? How much product are they purchasing? When
was the last time we did a rapid market assessment,
including a dot survey of our customers? Do we need to
make any layout or display changes to gain more customer
attention? Realizing that vendors at a market can change
every year, we need to look at the current lineup and see
if it makes sense to the flow of the market. Who are our
" anchor " vendors, and are they strategically placed to
draw people through the market?
Display/signage - Shoppers are seeing these seasonal
items everywhere, so we need to tell them why they
should purchase them here at our market. Colorful signs
with bullet points highlighting the taste and nutritional
features. " First of the season! " " Freshly picked. " " Our
own. " Is the produce a variety that may have a particular
feature? " Super Sweet. " " Good for baking. " Vertical
signage at the market can grab a customer's attention and
tell customers what is available this week. Always freshen
the display to keep that look of abundance. If possible,
encourage your vendors to offer samples.
Specials - We like to get a premium price for our
produce if we have excellent quality and are early in the
season, but it won't matter what the price is if we take it
home at the end of the day. Rather than lowering our price,
perhaps we can offer a " two for " price. Recently, a market
manager I spoke with told me that a vendor was selling
strawberries for $6 a quart, but they were not selling them
all and taking quarts home. She suggested they offer " $6
per quart or 2 for $10. "
Social media and newsletters - When using social
media, stick to promoting the top seasonal staple items
that will be at the market
that week. Staple items
such as bread, eggs, dairy,
and seasonal produce are
what makes for repeat
customers. This will also
highlight the freshness of
the products at the market.
Research has shown that the
top things customers look
for in produce is quality and
freshness. Price ranks somewhere around number 3 or 4
in their purchase priorities.
Post on days leading up to the market day rather than
the day of the market. If I see your post on market day,
I may have made other plans for the day, but if I see it
earlier in the week, I can make plans to be there.
Exploring nature never stops
HIGH YIELD, FLAVOR AND QUALITY FROM BEJO
MOUNTAIN GEM
New late blight, TSWV resistant crimson hybrid from Dr.
Randy Gardner, NCSU professor emeritus. Vigorous
determinate plant bears high quality, deep oblate to flattened
globe shaped firm fruit. High yielder with extra-large fruit
and clean blossom ends. For market growers and commercial
production.
Contact:
f Greg Styers - Southeast, USA Market Manager
f g.styers@bejoseeds.com
f 805-689-1627
f bejoseeds.com
VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 29
MOUNTAIN VINEYARD
First of its kind- this grape tomato contains the crimson gene
for high lycopene and resistance to TSWV and fusarium 3.
Glossy dark red with appealing red locular gel. Firm with a
balanced sweet flavor. Crack resistant and no " yellow eye. "
Compact indeterminate vine with short internodes. Heavy
pruning recommended.
http://www.bejoseeds.com http://www.VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM
January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023
