Best Farmers Market Pros Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 291: Encore Episode: Pirate Vendors 32:56

3d ago32:56

32:56

Pirate vendors, aargh! No, we’re not talking about buccaneers that sail the seven seas, we’re talking about sellers and solicitors that set up in or around a farmers market as unofficial vendors. Though usually well-intentioned, hawkers, buskers, petitioners, and street vendors can confuse shoppers about where and when the actual farmers market beg…

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Ep 290: Encore Episode: Make Your Farmers Market Opening Grand 37:39

10d ago37:39

37:39

Opening a new farmers market or starting a new season at an existing one is exciting. A lot goes into getting ready to launch, and building up to a truly grand opening. Building awareness and anticipation for both the community and your family of farmers and vendors means a busy opening day. Planning for the natural cycles of a new market will keep…

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Ep 289: Encore Episode: Communicate with your Market Community 58:42

18d ago58:42

58:42

Communicating with your farmers market community can take a lot of forms nowadays. Do you send emailed vendor advisories? Use a private Facebook or Instagram group? Smoke signals or carrier pigeons, maybe? One way or another it's important for farmers, vendors and managers that everyone stays in the loop. In this episode Catt and Brijet and Justine…

1
Ep 288: Market That Merch 38:11

25d ago38:11

38:11

What do farmers market people bring home from vacation? Our first stop is always is the local market, and farmers market merch is our favorite souvenir. Selling shopping bags, t-shirts, water bottles and magnets can add to your income stream and also provide a valuable marketing tool. Depending on local regulations, farmers and vendors can also use…

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Ep 287: Welcome to the Info Booth 33:34

1M ago33:34

33:34

Your Info or Welcome Booth is your market home away from home. It's often the place that shoppers and farmers and vendors find your team, where you sell fun merchandise, and where you process SNAP EBT transactions. All the things that apply to making farmers' and vendors' booths effective apply here too. Listen in as Catt and Brijet discuss how to …

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Ep 286: Taking Funding for Granted with Melissa Siwiec 40:33

1M ago40:33

40:33

What project could you complete if you had funding? The deadline for submitting Farmers Market Promotion Program grants is just 51 days away. This week, we chat with Melissa Siwiec, executive director of Pennsylvania's historic Lancaster Central Market, about the process of applying for and then implementing an FMPP funded project. The process seem…

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Ep 285: Live From InTents 2024 34:51

2M ago34:51

34:51

Our Live from the InTents Conference episode has become an annual tradition, and it's one of our favorites every year. Tent Talk producer Leandra Hays sat down with conference attendees and asked them to share the best part of their market day. They made us laugh, and cry and sometimes say, "What the heck?" Drop a note in the comments to share the …

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Ep 284: Moving Your Market 30:22

2M ago30:22

30:22

Moving a market is not as simple as scooting a tent or two down the street (not that scooting any tents is without drama.) Sometimes you lose part of your site to a construction project, sometimes a conflicting annual event happens and you have to move the entire market for a day. Finding a new site that can accommodate an established event is a pu…

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Ep 283: Best of Tent Talk: Application Excavation 55:52

2M ago55:52

55:52

Are you a farmer or small food business trying to navigate finding spaces to sell at farmers markets? Are you a farmers market manager buried in application emails and trying to find the perfect needles in that haystack? In this episode we're chatting about how we process applications for our markets and approaches used by some of our fellow market…

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Ep 282: Social Media is a Team Sport 37:00

2M ago37:00

37:00

Plenty of us have a love-hate relationship with social media.There's nothing like it right now for keeping shoppers up to date on market offerings days and times, and helping your farm or bakery stand out at a busy market. It's free, sort of. It takes so much time. It's so effective, until they change the rules. It's a trick to find the sweet spot …

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Ep 281: Farmer Julie Stoner Has Eggs in a Few Baskets 29:46

2M ago29:46

29:46

Farmers Julie of Stoner Family Farms has diversified her products to achieve better sales at her farmers markets. Her farm is a family operation, and the market business is her baby. Bringing her daughters into the tent helps lighten the load, and teaches them all the things that small business owners learn along the way. Listen in as Julie shares:…

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Ep 280: 2024 InTents Conference Preview 33:42

3M ago33:42

33:42

The 8th annual InTents Farmers Market Conference is just around the corner, starting 3 weeks from today. Listen in to hear more about this year's schedule and what's coming up here in San Diego and live online. There's still time to register, just use the link in our bio or on the home page at farmersmarketpros.com Learn all this and more in this y…

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Ep 279: Maya Madsen: Black History Month and Beyond 53:43

3M ago53:43

53:43

We've known Maya Madsen since the beginning of her phenomenal Black woman-owned business' journey. You've heard from her before. We check in often enough to consider her an unofficial Tent Talk podcast co-host. From the start she told us she meant to create a vegan cookie empire and she's done what it takes to accomplish that. She not only makes de…

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Ep 278: Hatching New Vendor Businesses 33:01

3M ago33:01

33:01

How can talented food makers learn to be successful farmers market vendors? In this week's episode of Tent Talk we're chatting about vendor education. Being passionate about your product is important; being fully prepared will increase sales and reduce stress. That makes small businesses enduring. Whether you're starting a new business or you're a …

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Ep 277: Chef Saeed is on Fire 43:51

3M ago43:51

43:51

Enjoy this week's Vendor Story episode. Hot sauce is a fast growing category at our farmers markets nowadays, and Chef Saeed is on fire with his fermented sauces featuring unique flavor combinations. It's not just the taste that makes a food business successful though. In our Vendor-101 program we talk about the 4 Ps: Product, Packaging, People and…

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Ep 276: Back To Basics 49:20

4M ago49:20

49:20

With lots of new farmers markets ramping up for their first or second season, let's take it back to the basics. Experienced manager? Stay with us, sometimes a little refresher can be a great thing. Farmer or vendor? Let's see if you think this is sound advice. There's a lot to know and a lot to do to launch a farmers market and get through those ea…

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Ep 275: 2024 InTENTions 52:30

4M ago52:30

52:30

It's a new year, a blank slate. January always feels like a good time to think about what's working, what's not, and create your list of things to change and things to do at your market, and personally. We're all about setting InTENTions (see what we did there?). Market managers and market vendors coast to coast, from Florida to British Columbia, j…

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Ep 274: Ringing The Bell on 2024 2:37

4M ago2:37

2:37

Happy New Year! 2023 was a lot, full of changes, excitement, highs and lows. We're welcoming 2024 and looking forward to focused growth, outreach and some exciting collaborations. Unless the universe throws us onto a whole new roller coaster of course, and then we'll do what farmers market pros do: we'll make the very best of whatever we encounter.…

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Ep 273: A Holiday Message 1:52

4M ago1:52

1:52

Whether and however you're celebrating Christmas today, we hope you're getting a day off from at least most of your duties and chores. Farmers are still feeding animals and food makers may yet be delivering holiday orders. 2023 has been a lot: happy, sad, busy, full, and all of that has been better because we've done it together. Community is the g…

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Ep 272: Christy Campli: Managing All the Events 42:11

5M ago42:11

42:11

How do you go from zero to 60, or maybe 90, in a bit less than three short years? For Christy Campli, some keys were starting with experience in local food systems, and building on an established brand. Now she manages multiple year-round weekly farmers markets, regularly scheduled artisan markets and several annual events with a small but mighty t…

1
Ep 271: The Best Time for Markets 34:46

5M ago34:46

34:46

Farmers markets are always a good time! The question is when is the best time for your market? Setting market hours is a foundational decision. There are a lot of factors at play. Whether your market lasts for two hours or six can be influenced by everything from farmer commutes to parking disputes. Fortunately, the beauty of markets is that there …

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Ep 270: Holiday Gifting 32:00

5M ago32:00

32:00

Tis the season for holiday gifting! Farmer, vendor or market manager, it's time to remember your employees, volunteers and maybe some of your great customers or loyal CSA members. If material gifts aren't in your plan this year, we’ve got tips for other ways to acknowledge people who have supported you this year. It really is the thought that count…

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Ep 269: Rules of Engagement 31:38

5M ago31:38

31:38

Social media is a perfect example of a blessing and a curse. Engaging with your online community can strengthen existing connections, while inspiring and educating potential new shoppers. Navigating the comments? That requires a whole different skill set and sometimes a tough skin. There's nothing more fun than conversational volleys with your foll…

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Ep 268: Winning Websites 31:55

6M ago31:55

31:55

Whether or not you have a robust social media presence, your website is your markets' home. Whether you're a market manager, a farmer, or a vendor, use your website to tell people the who, where, what and maybe why of your farmers market business. This is a great time of year to take a look at what's there, what should be, and what might be streaml…

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Ep 267: Sounding Off On Surveys 38:05

6M ago38:05

38:05

Survey says: surveys can help you take the pulse of your market! Many of us are winding up our seasons, so why not take some time to listen, gather some data, and look at our markets from a different perspective? Opening a channel for honest feedback can help you improve, understand, and grow your market. No matter what you’re asking, surveys are o…

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Ep 266: Best of: Kathy Zeman on Effectively Advocating for Small Farmers 54:19

6M ago54:19

54:19

Ever wonder why farmers markets and small farmers don't have a bigger say in public policy? Us too! This week on Tent Talk, we brought in an expert to help shed light on the big issues that small farmers are facing. We learned a lot and it confirmed that the old addage is true: the squeaky wheen gets the cheese! Join us for this week's episode in w…

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Ep 265: Best of: The Best Time for Sponsor Outreach 31:07

6M ago31:07

31:07

This week's episode is made possible by support from Sarah Delevan Consulting.By Farmers Market Pros

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Ep 264: Inspect for Success 41:04

6M ago41:04

41:04

Unpopular opinion: inspections can actually be great! Of course, as market managers, farmers, and self-employed business owners, we definitely like to make our own rules, but it’s important to remember that inspections provide value in maintaining a market’s integrity and keeping things safe. Tune in while we help you navigate the regulations that …

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Ep 263: Sina Pleggenkuhle: Trading Places 30:07

7M ago30:07

30:07

Say it together, folks: OUR JOB IS WEIRD! Minnesota Farmers Market Association Director of Engagement and Inclusion Sina Pleggenkuhle chats with us about how widely varied experience qualifies us for all kinds of positions in the farmers market world and adjacent. She’s developed skills on skills on skills, soaking up all the knowledge this busines…

1
Ep 262: The Beginning of the End 19:21

7M ago19:21

19:21

It’s the beginning of the end…. end of year planning, that is! Heading into the fourth quarter means the holidays are upon us, folks. Get planning for Halloween costume contests, thanksgiving recipes, special holiday markets and events, and if you’re lucky, latke cook-offs. It also means tackling some less exciting clerical stuff and reports. It's …

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Ep 261: Chris Cirkus: Competition or Coalition: Working with Produce Distributors 54:41

7M ago54:41

54:41

We all advocate for farmers keeping the full retail price of their products by selling at farmers markets. So are produce distributors competing with markets for chefs' dollars and sometimes home shoppers? Or are they providing one more valuable income stream for farmers? Chris Cirkus manages the award-winning West Windsor Community Farmers Market …

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Ep 260: 5 Years of Tent Talk! 33:52

7M ago33:52

33:52

This week we celebrate 5 WHOLE YEARS OF TENT TALK! 🎉🎉🎉 It has been an absolute delight creating this podcast week after week, and it wouldn’t be possible without you, our listeners! Come party with Catt and Brijet as they reminisce over: Our amazing guests and followers Swoon-worthy accents Helping markets and vendors world-wide What we’ve gained t…

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Ep 259 Cara Mae Wooledge: Fundraising The Bar 58:28

8M ago58:28

58:28

This week on Tent Talk, Cara Mae Wooledge of the Napa Farmers Market invites us into the world of successful fundraising for farmers markets. From sturdy tents to the compostable trash liners, it costs money to make a market go. It can feel uncomfortable asking your community to contribute financially to your market beyond simply shopping there. It…

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Ep 257: 108 Degree Burnout 30:49

8M ago30:49

30:49

Has anyone else been feeling exhausted lately? The weather has been all over the place from triple digits to alleged "hurricanes", and that makes scheduling farmers markets hard. It’s been a long, busy season, and the holidays are right around the corner. We know being a grower, vendor, or market manager is not a job for the faint of heart. The dan…

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Ep 257: Farmers Markets: Long Term or Springboard? 24:07

8M ago24:07

24:07

Are farmers markets a space for long term business success, or a springboard for your product to make it into wholesale? Short answer: yes. Long answer: It all depends on your product, your goals, and of course, your market. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking wholesale is the only path to success. Tune in as Catt and Brijet dive into: • Th…

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Ep 256: Catt Fields White: What's Next for the InTents Conference 22:17

8M ago22:17

22:17

This week on Tent Talk, Farmers Market Pros and InTents Conference founder Catt Fields White takes us inside the evolution of InTents: The National (actually, multi-national) Farmers Market Conference. From the start, the purpose of the InTents Conference has been to educate, connect, share, and build community in this wonderfully weird world of fa…

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Ep 255: James Grevious: Rebel with a Cause 35:54

9M ago35:54

35:54

We're talking with James Grevious of Rebel Marketplace in Aurora, Colorado. He's creating neighborhood food security with the hyper local farmers market he has developed and managed, featuring urban gardeners and farmers. Listen in For James' views and tips on: • Intentionally developing and incubating urban farmers • Increasing community capacity …

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Ep 254: Farmers Market Fashion 24:14

9M ago24:14

24:14

Today we’re chatting about what to wear and what not to wear at your farmers market. Find that perfect blend of comfort and creativity in staff uniforms to make your team stand out and be recognizable. Encourage your farmers and vendors to do the same for their teams. Listen in as we discuss everything from punny t-shirts and safety vests to comfor…

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Ep 253: Best Of: B. Griffin on Problem Solving in Stressful Circumstances 41:21

9M ago41:21

41:21

B. Griffin, Farmers Market Support Program Manager for Community Farm Alliance, a non profit serving farmers markets throughout Kentucky. In this episode: B. gives us a rundown of the new Electronic Farmers Market Nutrition Program that was recently rolled out in Kentucky and the problem-solving efforts CFA has put into action. We also get an updat…

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Ep 252: Application Excavation 55:09

9M ago55:09

55:09

Are you a farmer or small food business trying to navigate finding spaces to sell at farmers markets? Are you a farmers market manager buried in application emails and trying to find the perfect needles in that haystack? In this episode we're chatting about how we process applications for our markets and approaches used by some of our fellow market…

1
Ep 251: Learn, Teach, and Grow with Jessica Mullen 47:30

9M ago47:30

47:30

How do you learn and grow in your farmers market career? We met Jessica Mullen of South Carolina's Travelers Rest Farmers Market when she traveled to San Diego for InTents, the national Farmers Market conference. In this episode of Tent Talk, Jessica shares what she finds valuable about InTents and other conferences and networking with other market…

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Ep 250: Celebrating National Farmers Market Week at Your Market 17:19

10M ago17:19

17:19

National Farmers Market Week is right around the corner! Sometimes we plan way in advance for this important week, and sometimes it sneaks up on us. Guess what happened this year? Not to worry, we all still have time to take advantage of this national campaign to bring attention to our local markets. Tune in today as we discuss this year's theme an…

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Ep 249: Hot topics: Q's & Advice with the Farmers Market Pros Team 44:08

10M ago44:08

44:08

The Information Booth is open! It's time for another Hot Topics Q&A episode of Tent Talk, where we provide some answers and insights around recent questions that we've heard from vendors, farmers and market managers. Our social media direct messages and our private Farmers Market Pros Community on Facebook are full of great discussions this month a…

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Ep 248: School's Out, Market's On 31:49

10M ago31:49

31:49

School's out for summer and that means even more kids at the market, both in the aisles and in the tents. Whether developing programs for kids visiting your market, or putting teens to work in your booth, this episode is full of ideas to help you make the most of this season for market fans of all ages. Tune in today to hear: Ways that markets, far…

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Ep 247: Tips for Celebrating Market Milestones 30:18

10M ago30:18

30:18

We recently celebrated a big milestone at the Little Italy Mercato farmers market - 15 years! - and a not-so-big milestone at our Chula Vista market - 1 year! Whatever milestone you have coming up at your market, whether it's big or small, this episode is packed with tons of tips to help you celebrate your vendors, your community, and your farmers …

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Best Of: Turning a family recipe into a thriving farmers market business with Jorge Bustamante 29:37

11M ago29:37

29:37

Jorge Bustamante had a problem. Covid-19 completely shut down his thriving transportation business and he wasn’t sure what to do next. He knew one thing, however, people loved his family’s pozole recipe. So he formed a business plan, took our Vendor 101 course and My Pozole was born. In just a few short years, he’s grown his business so much that h…

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Please don't celebrate Juneteenth, honor it with Sagdrina Jalal 34:03

11M ago34:03

34:03

A few years ago our guest and friend of the show, Sagrdrina Jalal set out to create the anti-racist farmers market toolkit. Sagrdrina was the founding executive director of the Georgia Farmer's Market Association and is the lead facilitator of the anti-racist farmer's market toolkit and related communities of practice. Tune in today for: Tips for m…

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Live from Rome at the World Farmers Market Coalition 20:23

11M ago20:23

20:23

What happens when farmers market managers from 50 countries assemble in Europe to talk about strengthening local food systems, shortening food chains, preserving biodiversity, and protecting small farmers? Listen to this week's episode where we follow Catt on the road as she attends the FIRST general assembly of the World Farmers Market Coalition i…

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Best Of: Why It's So Important to Collect Data and How to Use It 39:47

11M ago39:47

39:47

Last time Daniel and Kasi Haire were on Tent Talk, back in early 2020, we were all adjusting our farmers market operations to accommodate COVID-19 protocols. In the time since, this farmers market power couple who manage the Nolensville Farmers Market have become invaluable contributors to our online community, sharing brilliant market hacks and so…

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Best Of: Expanding Your Farmers Market Business Sustainably with Proof Bread 1:00:07

12M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

Our guests this week are Jonathan Przybyl and Amanda Abou-Eid, owners and bakers at Proof Bread in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Jon and Amanda took over an existing farmers market and wholesale bakery business in 2017 when their favorite bread vendor decided to retire. After four years of baking in their garage, Proof Bread has expanded into a …

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