Selling Produce- Advice Please

[indy]

For the past 18 months or so I have been selling the produce that comes off my little patch from a table in front of the farm and have been doing quite well. Three weeks ago the whole lot was stolen and a pound in change It amounted to about £20 worth of stock and this I can't afford to lose as all the money I make pays for the restoration of the farm. I need to find another outlet but when I have researched this I get a lot of conflicting information. I do have a food hygiene certificate. Has anyone any ideas please as to how I can sell my wares successfully? Gratefully accepted.

ps: Has happened twice since.

[Silver Ether]

Sorry to hear about your stuff being nicked ... nasty buggers What about a list of you goodies with maybe a few laminated photos of your stuff instead of actually putting the goods out along with invite to knock the door or call your name down the garden....

Do you have a farmers market where you can sell... or even setup a stall for yourself at certain times of the week so folks can come buy...

[paul123456]

Hello Indy ,

shame you don not know who steals , you could give them something extra in the veg .
But then again maybe it is someone who is up sh!##@ creek cos of the credit crunch , maybe even a banker .

Could you not leave the table there with a sign asking the clients down to you're farm ?

I used to do this back in Holland but in a very populated area , just started asking around and handing out
free boxes of fruit and veg , after a while it turned out to be an outlet of my whole produce .
From day 1 it did not pay fully back it needed time to collect a whole crowd of clients , but if you are in a
populated area and have the patience it could work .

good luck ,

Paul

[indy]

Where I live is very rural and some people are brave enough to come in and say but most don't. I have put a sign out explaining why the stuff isn't there anymore but will certainly try the photos. I hadn't thought of that thank you

[indy]

would love to have a little stall

[pelmetman]

Hello Indy

I used to sell plants from the verge outside our last house in Essex and used an honesty box. Was lucky in that nothing was ever stolen.

Have you thought about car boot sales. A friend of ours in Norfolk did a roaring trade last year selling plums, said she used to sell out in no time.

Another idea might be to place a sign saying security cameras in operation, might put the thief off.

Good luck.

[Mullein]

Take it to your greengrocer/local shop and ask them to give you a price - no regulation problems there (as I understand it) as long as its not processed. What I've yet to source is somewhere to check what the market price is. But really, if you are happy with the price - take it. Also, think about taking it round your local restaurants/pubs - local is very in...
Make it clear that you can't guarantee supply but will offer what you have in season - seasonal is also very in...
It should be as simple as ringing round as and when things are ready to harvest - get a yes and its worth the petrol - get a no its cost you the price of a phone call.

edited to add:

ps - it doesn't matter how little you have. I know someone who gets their kids to pick berries and sells them to the greengrocer. The kids get the proceeds as pocket money - they've earned it.

[bonniethomas06]

Scumbags!

Sorry to hear that, what a shame that a couple of shi*$ can ruin it for all of your other customers.

Is a mini-veggie box scheme practical for you? If you had say, four/five different types of veg in one of those old greengrocers boxes? People at work have offered me £5 a week for this in the summer (including 6 eggs).

Could you leaflet or advertise in local shop windows?

Also, I second the local resteraunt idea - a friend of mine has a resteraunt and regularly buys ad-hoc things from local people - truffles, golden wonder potatoes (apparently not easy to get hold of) and just ordinary homegrown veg. He then uses them for a 'special' - so doesn't require regular supply or large quantities, and charges a premium because they are 'local homegrown'.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[indy]

Thanks for all the ideas guys, I have scribbled them all down

[snapdragon]

BIG sign saying 'Produce for Sale' and a list and arrow showing them where to go to get it (down the path etc)