Farm Stands

[Vermonster]

I live in a relatively small town (+/- 3,500 people) in Vermont along the main stretch of the two-lane State Highway that runs through the center of town. We cultivate about 3/4 of an acre and have lots of room to grow (no pun intended).

We started a small vegetable farm stand this year and have had some measure of success. Because the road is not within view of the house and we don't have enough traffic to justify babysitting the cart, we've been putting the stand (which is on the back of a cart) near the road and have provided a locked box to put money into. In effect, the stand is self-serve and relies heavily on customers to be honest.

We've noticed a marked increase in the quantity of stuff sold over the past three weeks. We've also noticed that there has been an increase in the number of vegetables disappearing without being paid for. Suffice it to say, this was a BIG disappointment but not entirely unexpected. However, the percentage of missing produce has jumped from 5-10% (which was expected) to 50%. Yesterday, the lock box was destroyed by someone interested in making off with the day's receipts. I have the satisfaction of knowing that they didn't get much, if anything, because I had emptied the box within an hour before.

In any case, we've decided to call it a season--primarily because we'd rather not continue supplying premium produce to our local neighbors for free--and will donate the remaining crops to the local food shelf. We will be selling our crop of pumpkins out front in a month and a half or so. We've learned, however, that some folks just can't be trusted--even in a small town--and we'll be limiting our hours and actively manning the stand.

We're still thinking about what to do next year. Our current idea is to look into doing the local farmers market circuit and donate any crops that mature between markets to the local food shelf.

I'm interested in hearing anyone else's experiences with having/running a farm stand or similar agricultural enterprise.

 

[TerryinMD]

I am very sorry to read about your experience. And yes, sad but true, some people cannot be trusted. I would venture to say that your stand was "targeted". People knew what was there and just took advantage of it.

We have a small market garden and do reasonably well with what we grow and market. We do not have any traffic except our neighbors and so we elected to join several market garden centers in our area. The first two were 30 to 45 minutes away from our home and we good learning experiences. We were finally able to get a spot in a market about 15 minutes from our home and it has been very successful. Our sales have grown somewhere between 15-20% a year.

We sell baked goods (cookies and muffins), jams and jellies, pesto, and fresh pickles. Of course, the pesto and pickles are more seasonal. We have limited our produce to things that grow well in our soil and generate good profits. We have targeted onions, leeks, beets, potatoes, basil, kale, collards, pickling cucumbers, and swiss chard as our main crops. We have tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and some other herbs. These are supplimentals on which we do not depend. We also sell our surplus to a couple of stands in our area. This way, we get some return on our investment instead of throwing produce away.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should investigate what market garden centers may be in your area and try to join them. Also, you could supply other stands or resturants with your produce. You may not make as much money, but you do not have to worry about selling your produce on a day-to-day basis.

Good luck, Terry

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by TerryinMD on 08/27/01 10:59 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Anonymous Poster]

One of the local farm stands, near Rochester, was experiencing the same type of "loss". The farmer installed a video camera with a tape recorder...probably hooked to a motion detector. Anyway, he recorded some stealing, the tape was shown on the evening news and the sheriff had plenty of call-ins ID ing the thieves. In a second recording the license number was taped. There was even a sign posted that indicated that the farm stand was "protected" by video camera. May seem like a pricey way to go but you only have to buy it once and may pay for itself in the first season. Hate to see you give in to those kind of people. Good guys don't have to finish last!
Tom

 

[DocHeb]

As Tom/WNY suggested, for a bit of revenge you might try looking at:

<font color=blue>x10.com</font color=blue>

A jump from 5% to 50% does not necessarily indicate a 10-fold increase in the number of people stealing. All the increase may come from one thief. I'm a big fan of righteous revenge.

 

[DFB]

<font color=blue>In any case, we've decided to call it a season--primarily because we'd rather not continue supplying premium produce to our local neighbors for free--</font color=blue>

Real good neighbors ya got there. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

Anyhow I can kinda relate with this. For many seasons the wife's stepdad had plenty of his crops growing on a 25 acre tract he owns just over the state line (about 5 mi from the house). Had been doin it this way for years with no problem. Real rural area with only a few homes. Over time the houses got built up along the main road and also on the dead end road that leads to his land and it didn't take long before people began to access the property and started helping themselves to the tomatoes, melons, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers etc. that were growing there. Things eventually got so bad he decided to pull all the vegetable crops out of there leaving only his hay and straw growing there. Even with signs and a locked gate people still think it community property, taking dogs for runs in thru the standing hay and tramping it down trying to get to the river that runs thru out back, also using the gravel bed for target shooting and dumping brush at the end of the access road too.

Here's to good luck on doin' the farmer's market. Look to find one that doesn't ask a lot for in the way of fees for participating (low overhead). My major competitor is traveling 50 mi one way from her place passing up 2 other markets to do this one. A tough choice, and a decision resulting from both market fees and projected growth opportunities. There are seven competing markets within a 45 min drive I can go to over 3 different days. Weekly fees range from a nominal $1.00 to $40.00. Competition can be tough too. The larger markets have more customers but also more vendors, usually with produce purchased elsewhere for resale. It also takes some time to build up a good rep with customers, many are very selective as to whom they will buy from. It is really something to have people walk right past 4 or 5 other vendors to come straight to your stand.

Try to find an outlet for your produce between the farmer's market days. Like a speciality or health food store or a restaurant or two. Small independent places, maybe someplace like a pizza shop that could utilize fresh produce items such as green peppers and eggplant, or lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers for salads etc.

Hey, you could even get paid in pizzas. Works for me. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

What have ya?

DFB

 

[Vermonster]

I thought about putting up a camera and videotaping the stand but it's just too cost prohibitive. My house is at least 1000' away from the cart and there's a hill in-between. I doubt a wireless camera would work.

In any case, it seems kind of silly! There's a lack of police presence in the area--a State Trooper is VERY hard to come by--and I doubt they'd do anything even if I was able to show a video of someone stealing.

 

[Vermonster]

Something tells me I should have seen this coming a few weeks ago. My wife was leaving the property and couldn't get out because there was a car blocking the end of the driveway. Turned out one of our "neighbors" decided the sunflower patch we planted between the road and the stand was too good to pass up. When my wife arrived, this woman was busy clipping sunflowers and already had an armload full of them. The woman said she thought they were growing wild and quickly retreated. Either she thought we were idiots or she herself is an idiot--I haven't ever heard of 'wild' sunflowers growing in straight rows!

 

[Vermonster]

I hadn't thought about attempting to turn my competitors into customers. Interesting thought! I don't know how interested or willing they'd be--maybe quite willing since I understand most of the stands in the area import at least some of their produce from elsewhere. Hmm.. ..thanks for the idea!

 

[TerryinMD]

At the market we sell, there is one vendor in particular who imports nealy 75% of her stuff. The "guidelines" for the market state that the produce/products are grown/produced locally. All of the the other vendors do grow/produce their goods. What is interesting is that most people stop at her stand last!!

Do not get discouraged!! Building a business takes time and effort. 90% of our business is repeat customers. Weekly!! We are developing a group of customers who are now ordering her jams and are shipping them whenever they order. We have had pesto carried to Europe and Japan. Now that is a complement!!!

Another interesting fact about Market Garden selling is that you begin to enjoy working with the customers. They are typically people who enjoy good wholesome food and are willing to pay a little more for the products. They appreciate the effort you expend into producing a good product.

 

[ejb]

A farm stand that operates by us uses the honor system, but they also have video-cameras (several) all around the room where the food and money is. I don't know for sure if all of them are activated or not, but it is very obvious they are there (which I am sure was the point).

They really funny part, and if I have time I'll take a picture and post it here, is that on the back wall of the room, just below where the cameras are mounted is a bulletin board that says:

PEOPLE THAT HAVE STOLEN FROM US:
Joe Blow, 123 main street, jonestown 8/18/01
Nancy Smith, wendell road, cummington 8/17/01 4PM
etc. etc.

If I remember correctly it even has phone numbers and in some cases license plates listed...kinda makes their point don't you think?? I got a laugh out of it..

I like shopping at farmstands like this...they even have a sign that says it is OK to leave an IOU as long as you come back to pay it....not sure how anyone could sleep with themselves after ripping off a place like that...