farm market resources.pdf

Bburg

http://www.downtownblacksburg.com/farmersmarket.shtml
bbfarmersmarket@gmail.com (emailed request for additional information and application)
Article: http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/wb/xp-74712

Roanoke

http://www.downtownroanoke.org/market.htm
Application: http://downtownroanoke.org/application_to_sell_on_the_market.pdf
Handbook: http://www.downtownroanoke.org/market_handbook.pdf

Honey is considered a prepared food and requires “an inspection report from the Virginia Department of Agriculture.”
Signs have to be approved by the Market manager.
“No person shall make a public outcry, engage in “hawking,” play any musical instrument (except for Vendors who are demonstrating a musical item that they have crafted), or give other entertainment while selling on the Market, whether for personal pleasure or for public enjoyment.”

Radford

http://www.mainstreetradford.org/market.php
Application: http://www.mainstreetradford.org/images/2006%20Farmer%27s%20Market%20Application.pdf

Other Items

Growers’ Permit
“A current, valid certification sticker signed by an Inspector from the Virginia Department of Weights and Measures.”
Sales tax ID number

Updated 31 July 2006

Due Date……….Status………Task
———————————————-
14 July 06……Done…..Contact advisor w/ go ahead
14 July 06……Done……Prepare rough outline for proposal and send to advisor
24 July 06……Done……Locate references for writing business plan
24 July 06……Done……Read, read, read and write up notes – Business Plan
28 July 06……Done……Submit first draft of proposal to advisor
TBD…………..—…………Revise proposal and submit to advisor (repeat until done)

24 July 06……OVERDUE…..Collect documentation on area farmers’ markets: rules, applications…
24 July 06……OVERDUE…..Read, read, read and write up notes – Markets, etc.
29 Sep 06……—………………Research users / customers and write up conclusions
29 Sep 06……—………………Research competition and write up conclusions
29 Sep 06……In progress…..Observe area farmers’ markets and write up observations
27 Oct 06…….—………………Analyze resources and needs for various options
27 Oct 06…….—………………Complete analysis of which products to sell and where/how

10 Nov 06……—………………Draft Business summary
10 Nov 06……—………………Draft Mission / Goals
10 Nov 06……—………………Draft Financial Plan
10 Nov 06……—………………Draft Marketing Plan
10 Nov 06……—………………Draft Market Production Plans for next 3-5 years
10 Nov 06……—………………Draft Personnel / Personal Plan
17 Nov 06……—………………Submit first draft of business plan to advisor
1 Dec 06……..—………………Prepare old class projects
TBD…………..—……………….Revise and resubmit plan to advisor until approved
TBD…………..—……………….Self Analysis
1 Feb 07……..—……………….Submit completed package to advisor in time for application for Fall 07 semester at VT (March 1, 2007)

Bburg Farmers Market ~10:00 am

We really need to get out there early because by 10:00 am most of the stuff is sold. I was peeking around this time and saw lots of empty baskets and boxes in folks’ trucks. One vendor had a table that had nothing on it but a table cloth and a wilted sign.

There was no music or food tent set up this week. I need to find out what the schedule is for that stuff. It seemed to really attract a crowd. There didn’t seem to be as many folks there today, and the crowd seemed to be older. I saw one Asian family.

I also noticed that most of the female vendors were wearing skirts.

Prices (probably a lot the same as last time):
Cherry tomatoes – 2.50 lb
Honey – 7.00 pt
Garlic – 4.75 lb; 0.95 each
Bell peppers – 0.75 each; 3 for $1.00
Cucumbers – 2.75 lb
Swiss chard – 2.50 lb
Potatoes – 1.50 lb
Green beans – 2.25 lb
Onions – 2.50 lb
Tomatoes – 4.00 lb

We also went to two markets in Bburg that had local produce. Here are their prices:

Store 1:
Green beans – 3.55 lb
Squash – 2.84 lb
Chard – 2.84 lb
Bell peppers – 3.21 lb
Garlic – 5.68 lb
Onions – 2.13 lb
Eggs – 2.84 dz

Store 2:
Tomatoes – 2.49 and 1.89 lb
Onions – 0.99 lb
Long squash – 1.69 lb
Garlic – 3.50 lb
Potatoes – 1.29 lb
Bell peppers – 2.29 lb
Cucumbers – 1.19 lb
Asian cucumbers – 1.19 lb
Flat green beans – 1.69 lb
Blueberries – 3.99 lb

Sent first draft of proposal to advisor yesterday. Wasn’t real pleased with it but felt stuck. Today started reading more farmy related books. Part-Time Farming was written back in the 80s in the UK, but as in many things, the issues are still pretty pertinent today. There is a definite UK slant to some of the info (particularly the legal stuff), but I think the main ideas will be useful.

refnotes.doc
proposal_plan2.doc
reference_notes_home.rtf

We went to the Blacksburg Farmers’ market this morning around 10:00. It was way busier than any other time we’ve gone, but it has been over a month since we’ve been. They had live music and a covered tent for folks to eat and ready-to-eat-type food with a HUGE line. All the permanent spots were full, and there were folks also set up on the other street side of the parking lot the market is held in.

The people there seem generally younger than the Roanoke market, and there seemed to be more regulars v. touristy types. There were a few families, but not many. I think I saw two. The sellers were all healthy looking, except one of the baked-goods people who was an older heavy woman. Most of the sellers were tanned and had a slightly hippy aura to them. There set ups ranged from bare minimum (cardboard boxes, sloppy signs, bare tables) to all out (table clothes, fancy baskets, fancy written signs, matching umbrella). One of the baked good sellers was very hip and trendy. She had samples of her lemonade and even the little trash can for putting the cups in matched her set up.

Those sellers who had a permanent spot seemed to all have a big umbrella to go over their stuff. The ones along the street had the little tent things. Perhaps the little tent things don’t work so well in the permanent area.

In addition to edibles, there was soap, essential oils and that sort of stuff, wooden bowls, postcards / prints / magnets, and a older girl with a few beaded things.

I liked the feel of this market better than the one at Roanoke. It seemed more small town but still successful. There didn’t seem to be much space for new sellers, though. I do recall reading something somewhere about the market wanting to build a bigger site.

Prices of stuff (not everything…it was hard to write notes)
Cucumbers: 2.25 lb; 1.50 lm; 3/1.00 (pickling)
Squash: 2.25 lb; 1.60 lb
Swiss Chard 2.00 lb
Salsa: 4.00 / 8 oz
Onions: 2.60 lb; 2.00 lb
Black/Rasp Berries: 2.00 half pt; 4.00 pt
Basil: 0.50 lb; 9.00 lb; 10.00 lb
Tomatoes: 3.50 lb
Herbs: 1.00 bunch
Green Beans: 3.00 lb; 3.25 lb
Blueberries: 3.00 pt
Garlic: 0.75 a head; 5.00 lb
Lettuce: 2.00 a head
Eggs: 2.50 a dz
Honey: 6.00 pt; 6.50 pt

Worked a bit on getting bibliography assembled. I got distracted and started searching VT’s online catalog for other books or journals. I didn’t really find anything new, though.

Forgot to work on my project today.

Found this flier on my windshield after work yesterday. The scan is a little hard to read, but the back has coupons and a list of items. Pretty neat.