I might be selling some things at a farmer's market in town that starts in a couple of weeks. Right now I think might do cookies (chocolate chip, no bake, etc), fudge, bread, cinnamon rolls, pies, etc. I was wondering how should I package the items and how many should I package (i.e. cookies), and how much should I charge for some of these items? I know I can't charge too much because we live in a rather poor economic area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I started at our farmer's market last year. I had to quit because my partner (mom) got sick and couldn't help.
Keep in mind that if you are in a typical setup, it will get very hot. Chocolate, fudge and other treats can melt. You have to have some sort of cooler to store the melting stuff.
You have to set you prices enough to make a profit-only you can determine what that might be.
It is best to put cookies in a small bag, say 3 for $xx
It is a real pain to sell one cookie-unles they are large enough to charge a $1 each.
You may have competition with baked goods. If there are bread vendors, don't bother to do breads unless you make a drop dead perfect product. People tend to buy baked goods from the same vendors from year to year.
It is hard work, but it can be fun and good exposure. Put good labels on everything that includes your business info.
Thanks for the post JoAnnB. I've never done the farmers market before so I don't know what to expect. I know for sure that at least one other person will be doing baked goods as well. I kind of consulted with her to see what she was planning on making so we didn't have the same things. I think the other vendors just do produce and flowers so hopefully I'll be ok.
Any suggestions for packaging and pricing brownies?
From your experience, do you find that certain foods do better then others? Anything that you've tried that didn't sell at all?
I have a local farmer's market around here, do they charge you for the space and do you have to be a licensed baker to participate???
This one in particular costs $5 to set up a table. As far as being licensed, they're not checking that.
JoAnnB: What did you use for your packaging? Did you use ziploc bags and plates with plastic wrap on top, or did you get plastic containers or hinged containers?
I use to sell at a Farmers Market. The items that sold best for me were small and regular size pies, cinnamon rolls, cookies, hot rolls, and tea breads. The pies were wrapped with plastic wrap, cinnamon rolls also wrapped with plastic, sold these individually and 9 inch cake pan size with 6 in it. Cookies were bagged, 3 to a bag and I got $1 for them but that's been 01 and 02 so prices go up. hot rolls and tea breads were also wrapped with plastic wrap. If I did it now though, I think I'd try to find plastic bags for the rolls and breads and possibly even the pies.
I have a local farmer's market around here, ... do you have to be a licensed baker to participate???
You're asking whether you need to be legal to sell, in public, to strangers, who may include people who work for your local food safety and enforcement organizations?
Yes, you should be legal.
maisiebake I have sold at bake fairs, and other bake sales within the community in public, to strangers, who may or may not have included local food safety and enforcement organizations! And I have NOT had to have a license, and apparently the one puzzlegut is going to doesn't require license either so I think my question was valid! It never hurts to ask the worst you get is a NO!
I sell at my local farmer's market - and you need to make sure you are licensed and have a state tax ID number.
Yesterday, someone from the tax commission was at the market making sure everyone had the proper paperwork (and you have to keep it with you).
You also need to ask the health department what their particular guidelines are on packaging. Some forms of packaging have special requirements (they have to be labeled with ingredients, etc.).
The laws in your area may be different - but I would make sure you check. Liability insurance is also worth looking into.
Good luck. 
I might be selling some things at a farmer's market in town that starts in a couple of weeks. Right now I think might do cookies (chocolate chip, no bake, etc), fudge, bread, cinnamon rolls, pies, etc. I was wondering how should I package the items and how many should I package (i.e. cookies), and how much should I charge for some of these items? I know I can't charge too much because we live in a rather poor economic area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Didn't answer your pricing question. I sell my cookies (which are normal size) for $1.25 each ... but mine are specialty cookies with more expensive ingredients (like sugar free chocolate and fructose). I sell them individually from a large clear glass cookie jar (so they don't have to be prepackaged) and place them in paper "french fry bags" I get from my local restaurant supply.
I sell scones for $2 - $2.50, small cakes for $4 (3") and cupcake size muffins for $1 - $1.50 each. I also do mini apple pies ($4) and cobblers ($2.50) I put the pies and cobblers in fold top sandwich bags - so they are not "sealed" and I avoid having to label them. I found some chinese style paper take-out containers at Cash & Carry that have a round bottom and are about $2 for 25. I use these to box up my little cakes.
I have a local farmer's market around here, do they charge you for the space and do you have to be a licensed baker to participate???
This is SOOO going to depend on the area you live in and the farmer's market you are going to. For instance in my city you don't even have to be licensed as long as you are not selling anything that is perishable.
So your best bet is to contact your local farmer's market or your local Health department and find out a defnite answer for your area.
I've not sold anything at the farmer's market here yet, but I have bought things. I have bought homemade sourdough bread and misc. canned good (preserves, pepper sauce, etc.). I can't remember the exact words but it had a label that said something to the effect of "Please enjoy my homemade goods. Since they are made in my home they have not been inspected by the Health Department." I don't know if that is "by the book" but it is pretty accepted by buyers around here. Basically it is saying "buy at your own risk", but in a nicer way. HTH
I can't remember the exact words but it had a label that said something to the effect of "Please enjoy my homemade goods. Since they are made in my home they have not been inspected by the Health Department." I don't know if that is "by the book" but it is pretty accepted by buyers around here. Basically it is saying "buy at your own risk", but in a nicer way. HTH
I would strongly suggest that you ask your insurance agent whether this language would protect you in case of a problem with your product. My gut sense is that no, it wouldn't.
I sell at our farmers market twice a month. Here you do not have to be licensed but you have to follow the farmers markets rules for packaging and labeling. I would recomed if there is other bakers there, find out what they sell and offer something different. I am about the 4th baker at our farmers market but all of us sell out nearly every week cause we all offer different products. I find that breads such as banana, zuchini and carrot sell really well. I package all my breads in freezer bags with a twist tie. My breads are all $5. I sell cookies (cocolate chip, oatmeal, etc) for $4 dozen and I package them in ziploc bags. When your pricing your item you should find out what other bakers at the market sell their products for. I also take orders for cookie bouquets for special occasions. I love selling at the farmers market. Hope this helps. Amy
I know here in Texas, you have to be licensed, and you have to be ServSafe Certified, in addition we have to have a hundred thousand dollar insurance policy and Hepitatis shots, and all products must be proper labeled per state requirements. Plus I have to buy a one day permit for each city we set up at.
It is a pain to carry your paper work with you - I had all my certificates laminated, so they don't get dirty.
But again, that is here in Texas. Every state varies.
I was going to do this as well, but I don't have a licensed kitchen at the moment, so I couldn't do it.
But I still attended the arts market last night, and it was hot, hot, hot. I would recommend getting a canopy and some fans if electricity is available.
I will be setting up at a farmers mearket also. I am planning on doing cookies, pies, sticky buns, quick breads, gobs and brownies. I am thinking about putting 1 doz. cookies on 2s size styrofoam trays and overwrapping them with plastic 2.50 or 3.00 a dozen. Selling brownies in 8x8 aluminum pans overwrapped with plastic $?. Pies in aluminum pans overrapped also $?. Not sure yet about the rest still just thinking.
Val
I might be selling some things at a farmer's market in town that starts in a couple of weeks. Right now I think might do cookies (chocolate chip, no bake, etc), fudge, bread, cinnamon rolls, pies, etc. I was wondering how should I package the items and how many should I package (i.e. cookies), and how much should I charge for some of these items? I know I can't charge too much because we live in a rather poor economic area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi, FIRST POST FOR ME!!
I am also doing a farmers' market this summer, in order to raise funds for my cookie business. I'm sharing a stall with my mum; she's just doing scones, cream and strawberries (she is undergoing cancer treatment so for her this is a kind of therapy).
I am thinking of doing the following items:
- a couple of types of 'regular' cookies (choc chip, oatmeal etc) packaged 8-10 cookies in a cellophane bag with a ribbon. Probably around $5 per bag (Canadian $)
- fancy decorated cookie pops - individually sold in a bag with a ribbon ($2.50 each/3 for $6)
- a few small cookie bouquets (not really expecting to sell many, but it will be good exposure for my beginning business - I will also have business cards there and a small album of cookie pictures)
- mini fruit cakes, banana bread etc ($6 for 3 mini cakes)
The market I'm selling at is quite small and newly established. You don't have to have a licence, just follow the market's rules. I'm very unsure how much of everything I should make, because I don't want lots of unsold items. Very hard to balance that one... For those that have done this before, is it ok to make ahead and freeze? Otherwise I'm not sure how I can get it all done. I am thinking of starting to bake soon..
One thing I am sure of, packaging is important. Package anything nicely and someone will want to buy it. For this reason I will be spending out on nice cellophane bags, white cake boxes and real ribbon. I have also designed myself a little logo which I will print onto stickers to go on each item.
For those that have done this before, is it ok to make ahead and freeze? Otherwise I'm not sure how I can get it all done. I am thinking of starting to bake soon..
I make my cookie dough, scoop it out onto sheet pans and freeze. As soon as they are frozen, I transfer them to large ziploc bags - and then I pull them out and bake them as I need them. I also make my scones, cut/freeze and bag 'em until needed.
For my small cakes, I bake them, put them in bags and freeze them. Then I pull them out the day before the market and finish them off (icing/ganache, etc.).
For pies, I only do the pie crusts ahead of time. I put the dough in the aluminum tins, stack them 10 high, wrap in celophane and freeze until needed.
I bake from a commercial kitchen, and I usually only have to go in once every three weeks to make enough stuff to get me through til the next time.
Thanks, that is helpful. I have this mental block that I need to get over, that everything has to be 'ultra-fresh-out-of-the-oven' to be worthy. That is clearly not going to work here.
Do you have any tips on how many items and what kind of selection works best? I can't decide if it's better to do, say, a dozen of 6 different things (it's quite a small market), or 2 dozen from a smaller selection.
Thanks for any help, Tubbs
Should I list the ingredients on all the stuff that I sell?
That will depend on your local requirements. That information should be available from your state's/county's environmental health department. I had to dig hard to find the information I required for Alberta, but it was there (and yes, I have to list ingredients on packaged goods - it is not necessary for unpackaged items).
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