Farm Markets
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There are more than 6,400 farm markets, and you can enjoy agritourism activities at more than 700 farms in Pennsylvania. If you’d like to add your name to that list, Penn State Extension has the resources to help you. On this page, you’ll find information about getting started, pricing and marketing your products, farmers’ market management, and best practices.
Why Farmers Markets
Pennsylvania ranks third for the number of farms in the US that sell directly to consumers. Farmers markets carry an obvious appeal for consumers, but they are also key for the vendors themselves. A farmers market is a physical retail marketplace where farmers can sell food they have produced directly to consumers.
Attending community farmers’ markets is an excellent place to start learning the basics, but it’s also possible to open an on-farm market. By cutting out the middlemen, farmers receive more food dollars, and shoppers receive the freshest and most flavorful food.
Small and medium-sized farms can better access the marketplace via farmer markets. They provide ample opportunities to learn about consumer preferences and to grow your business. Understanding what the customer wants allows you to choose the type of farmer's market you want to have. They are also the cheapest storefront you can participate in.
Making the Most out of Farm Markets
Farmers markets are an excellent opportunity for producers to connect with customers and make sales. However, getting started is not as easy as reserving a booth or setting out a roadside stand. If you want to succeed when selling direct to customers, there are factors you have to bear in mind, and most of them have to do with how you market your products.
Lots of resources are available to help you learn farm market basics, including handling, preparing, pricing and selling your products, food safety, and the principles of sound management.
A Toolkit from the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems provides the necessary legal resources and best practice recommendations. The PA Department of Agriculture has also produced Farm Market and Farm Stand Guidelines.
Shopping at Farmers Markets
If you want to make the most of your local farmers market, there are many helpful shopping tips and advice available. Plenty of fresh farm products are available to purchase, but you have to know what to look for if you want to enjoy the farmers market experience to the fullest.
For example, did you know that many farmers markets in Pennsylvania participate in a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program? This is one of many helpful suggestions you’ll find here at Penn State Extension.
