Frequently Asked Questions - for Growers

I'm a good farmer, but I can't sell.

Good produce will sell itself, and the market rules and regulations allow a designated representative to sell for you. However, people view the grower as an expert and will seek you out to visit with. Talking with customers enhances your chance to increase your sales, and also lets you determine customers' wants, and, most importantly, build a long-term customer base.

What's in it for me?

The market is a low-cost way to sell directly to consumers at retail prices. By eliminating middlemen and making cash sales at retail prices, you maximize your profits. The market is also a way to publicize other on-farm ventures, such as farm tours. Because we will publicize the market widely, you may also be interviewed by newspapers and television and radio reporters. In addition, the market will give you ideas about other things you could be growing or producing, and will connect you with a greater number of customers, including possibly larger customers. For more information about the many benefits of markets to growers, you might want to go to the web site of Growing for Market and download the excellent special issue on farmers markets.

What's in it for Urban Harvest?

Urban Harvest is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people in our area learn how to use land productively, creatively, and sustainably. To build upon our programs and further improve the quality of life in our community, we want to help create a truly local food system, providing consumers with access to the freshest, most nutritious local produce. To do this, we must provide local growers and producers with a profitable, direct-retail market.

What are you guaranteeing?

We will be open every sale day. We will make every effort to bring customers through advertising, press releases, news stories and street signage.What do I have to guarantee?

A best effort to be there, on time, with good food, good presentation and a cheerful attitude. The market rules and regulations spell out the responsibilities of growers and producers and of Urban Harvest in detail.

Will you tell us about pricing?

We will offer guidance on pricing but not set prices. Pricing must be appropriate, giving you profitable returns while at the same time allowing you to be competitive. Appropriate pricing can be determined by studying prices and knowing the value of your products, based on your production costs, on the prices charged by similar producers for similar products, and on what customers in any particular marketing venue will pay.I already have a roadside stand and Saturday business. Why should I participate in your market?

People who shop at this market are potential new customers for your farm-based business. Think of your participation as an investment in overall development of your farm. From a Boston farmers market customer: "I want good food, not a vacation day trip. I don't have time to drive a great distance."

A question from a flower grower: "I cut and deliver on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the restaurants. Weekends are for my family. Why should I consider a Saturday market?"

This is an understandable concern. But, as indicated above, think of the market as an investment in business development and consider involving someone whose schedule would permit participation in the market.I already have a place and grow for Houston markets, how do I get started with you?

Fill out a market application and return it to Urban Harvest. The market manager will contact you to discuss your interest and arrange for a farm visit.

What will sell best in this market?

Things that taste best when fresh. Things that are a little different, such as "gourmet" or other types of specialty items. Things that beat the market. Also, produce that is popular in the supermarkets is popular with consumers. Producing a better version is the trick.

How can I get information on ways to expand or diversify my current production?

The Urban Harvest library is an excellent source of information. So is Bob Randall's book Year Round Vegetables, available from the Urban Harvest office.

I don't like rules and regulations; that's why I'm a farmer. Why have them?

In a perfect world, rules and regulations wouldn't be necessary. In reality, however, they're needed to protect the interests of everyone involved in the market, and in order to ensure the fair and professional operation of a first-rate business.Why must my farm be inspected?

It is important that the market be able to assure the customers that the food comes from clean, well-run farms and hasn't been purchased in, say, Laredo or other distant places. We need to be able to stand behind you if someone questions the source of your products. Visits are the only way we can do this. At the same time, though, visits are also an opportunity for you to talk with the manager and make use of his or her knowledge about resources for growers and producers. Visits are also a chance to tell the manager how the market can be improved.

Who wrote the rules, anyway?

Farmers. These rules are an adaptation of rules developed largely by farmers in preparation for the Downtown Farmers Market in Austin. They will be further adapted as the need arises, with the participation of member-growers in Urban Harvest's market. The Urban Harvest Green Market Committee meets the third Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the Urban Harvest offices. Feel free to come by and participate.