“Start a Green Business” Series: Farmer’s Market

1. What is a farmer’s market?

Farmer’s markets are usually open-air, outdoor gatherings where growers and producers can sell their crops directly to consumers, as opposed to selling them to a grocery store.  Accoding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the explosion in the number of farmer’s markets continues despite the poor economy, up 13% from October 2008 to October 2009, with roughly 4,000 new farmer’s markets starting since the USDA started keeping track in 1994.

Bill McKibben, in his groundbreaking work Deep Economy:  The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future, makes an extremely compelling case for local food (production and processing) as the primary key in the transition to a sustainable economy full of good jobs, functional communities, reduced poverty, and environmental sustainability.  Farmer’s markets are a quintessential element in the development of local food systems.

2. What required knowledge or skills are necessary?

There are no formal educational or training requirements for this job.  However, the work is strenuous and requires that the worker be able to be on their feet for extended periods of time, be well-organized, a good ‘people person’, and be able to lift up to 25 pounds.

3. How much money is required to start?

$   (on a scale of $ to $$$$$)

4. What is the income potential?

$   (on a scale of $ to $$$$$)

5. What is the best location for a farmer’s market?

Urban (best), semi-urban (very good), suburbs (very good), rural (fair/poor).

6.  Three best questions to ask yourself to find out if this business is right for you (if you can answer yes to all three, this business might be for you):

Are you social, extroverted, and love to connect people?
Do you have a passion for healthy food?
Are you in a position where you can start a business that might take 10-20 hours per week and not pay very much?