Why Farmers Markets?
Raising animals for meat and selling it locally has always been our goal. There are so many avenues you can go when selling meat in the way we do. Shipping, wholesale, co-op, farm stand… the options are out there, but for us, we have always intended on getting into farmers market.
Why farmers market? For us it is a no brainer… WE LOVE MARKETS! Jeremy and I have been going to farmers markets for years, well before we started farming. I love going to a good market and loading up on fruits and veggies, homemade goodies, flowers! You name it, I love it. We would drive to different towns just to check out markets, find the “good” ones.. so once we got our own product it was a given that we would try to get into markets.
There is something about the magical vibe in a farmers market. All of the fresh stuff displayed on tables. Talking to the people who have farmed it. The hustle and bustle of all the people with baskets full of market goodies. Eating fruit that had been picked within the last 24 hours or so. The energy at a market is electric. Now being a part of it we feel it even more.
One thing that is so important for us is transparency. We are open about our practices, our procedures, our beliefs.. so what better way to talk and show people that then at farmers market. We love being there, answring questions, telling people what we do and how we do it. When someone is walking by and not 100% sure about what is special about what we are doing, we absolutely love explaining how our farm flows. And if after hearing the process they make a purchase! It is the ultimate high five, instant gratification that our hard work is paying off.
Meeting customers is HUGE for us. Having people return week after week with feedback about products they bought before, recipe tips, recommendations. WE LOVE IT. Hearing what people think about our product is soo important, the good the bad, we need to know! Market is such an amazing way to connect with our community and customers, we have learned soo much from some of the people we met through market. My personal favorite is the recipe tips… bacon ends fried rice, deep fried ham, sour cream pork chops.. all some of the favorites our customers have shared.
On top of meeting amazing customers, we have also met some AMAZING people within the community. We have met other farmers and been able to network between what we offer and what they offer. WE have met people who do non profits in the community, we have met local photographers, videographers, many chefs! People who are building small businesses. It is such a fun place to meet people working and living right in our backyard!
Market is a family affair for us (most weeks, kids are unpredictable) but most weekends we try to all pile in the car early in the morning and make our way to market as a family. We love having the girls there to experience it and understand the process. Our oldest has recently started math and loves to give change and handle money exchanges, she loves to pass out flyers and business cards. Our littlest love to see all the faces and people watch, usually cozy in her baby carrier. Probably one of the biggest factors that makes it worth it for us is that we are all together, were working, but at least we can all spend some time together with some play in between customers.
Overall, we love market not only because it is an outlet for us to sell product, but it is a way for us to be involved in our community. To be surrounded by like minded people who are excited about better food choices! We love the one-on-one connection markets allow us to establish with customers. We want to meet the people who want to purchase our meat. We put so much love and care into our farm that when we meet someone who is just as excited as we are it is the ultimate reward! Someday we dream of being in a position to ship meat all over the country. But until then and I am sure even after we will spend our weekends, together, at market.. meeting all of you!
What do you love about the farmers market? Where are your "good" markets? Drop them in the comments below!
Until next time,
Elizabeth