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| Perishability |
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| If perishability will be a problem for this market, consult the table below. If you are going to ship perishable produce, check the price for cold shipping and determine if it is in a reasonable range. If perishability or shipping costs will be a problem for you, then stop -- this is not a market for you. |
| PERISHABILITY TABLE |
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| Very Low |
Low |
Moderate |
High |
Very High |
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- Apples
- Dry Onions
- Garlic
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Sweet Potatoes
- Winter Squash
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- Beets
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Celery
- Grapes
- Green Onions
- New Potatoes
- Turnips
- Watermelons
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- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
- Chinese Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Green Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Strawberries
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- Asparagus
- Blackberries
- Lettuce
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Peas
- Raspberries
- Spinach
- Sweet Corn
- Tomatoes
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| Income |
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| Will this market provide the income you need? Consult the information below for an idea of the range. If the income looks acceptable, continue down this page. If not, consider how you could increase income by increasing days at the market, open more days on-farm, sell more shares, etc. Also, consider entering more than one type of market or producing some value-added products. |
| MARKET VALUES |
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| Farmers' Markets: Many factors will determine how much a farmer can make at a farmers' market, such as the type, quantity, and quality of the product being sold, the number of customers, the preference of the customers, the management of the market, etc. Morningside Market in the Atlanta metro area is a high-value market, while many of the newer markets in smaller towns would be lower-value markets. It takes time for a market to become established so that people know about it. In Georgia, the average amount a small farmer makes seems to range from about $50 to about $1000+ for a weekly four-hour market. Total income will depend on the length of the season in which a farmer participates, the amount and type of produce, the value of the market, and how many markets are attended. For a May-October season with a lot of produce at a high-value market, the income could be approximately $20,000. |
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| On-Farm Markets: On-farm markets will vary in their value depending on many of the same issues as farmers' markets, such as type, quantity, and quality of the product. Visibility and accessibility are also important factors in how many customers will be attracted. The number of days the market is open and the number of customers are the critical factors. For a 4 to 5 hour market on a week day, once a week, with 10 to 15 customers, the total could be $100. Saturday morning markets bring more people and more sales. |
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| Community Supported Agriculture: The number of shares sold and the cost of the share determine the money brought in by a CSA. The average income for four southern CSAs was about $33,000. A recent national survey found the average income of CSAs to be $20,000. |
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| Internet Market: This market is new for farmers. No Georgia farmers have been found selling fresh produce over the Internet at this time. Quite a few farmers are using the Internet as a tool in their marketing, especially as a means of taking orders for produce that is then delivered or picked-up at the farm or a drop-off site. Values could not be reported due to a lack of data, but the potential customer base is huge if the right products are developed. |
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| Personality |
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| Is your personality suited to this marketing strategy? If you would not enjoy working with customers, consider a partner to do the customer work. |
| Personal or Family Issues |
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| Consider any personal or family issues that may effect your marketing. |
| The Final Results |
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| If it all checks out, then you have found a marketing strategy that you should be able to use successfully. Most farmers utilize a mix of markets to maximize their profits. Investigate several to find those that are suited to your situation.
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