It’s National Farmers Market week!

Have you ever attended a farmers market? Is there one in your town? Chances are you live within 20 minutes of a farmers market or a farm stand. And if you’re not attending one regularly, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

We’ve only recently been selling our meat at farmers market and I have to say it’s awesome all-around. I was skeptical at first, mostly because my former life was spent standing around at tradeshows, repeating the same sales pitch to potential (unwilling) customers coming by, all the while wanting to pluck my eyes out with an ice cream spoon. So bored. So boring. So blah. And I thought a farmers market might be the same. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Farmers Markets allow me to do what I love to do: talk about agriculture. Attendees are WILLING ears, eager to know how and what we do on our farm. They ask me questions about our cows and pigs and even care about my whacko kids. They even prefer for those little snot nuggets to be there at the market with me. Turns out, they think child farm labor is cool (that’s another blog post someday).

They want my opinion on what piece of meat to buy and how to cook it and come back the next week for more advice and another new cut. I’ve made so many new friends in such a short amount of time. I don’t have to “sell” them on what I’m offering. They appreciate all the hard work and love that goes into every single thing we bring to the market.

They trust us. And while someone’s full trust is a large load to carry, we are also comforted by that fact. Because I’m confident in our product. I don’t know what other sales profession would give you that kind of feeling, a feeling that is THAT rewarding. And believe me, I was in sales for half my adult life, I know a little bit about it.

The Farmers Market Numbers:

3X goes back into the local economy:

Locally-owned retailers, such as farmers markets, return more than three times as much of their sales to the local economy compared to chain competitors. Can you imagine if your local big box store returned three times their sales into the local economy?

Thirteen full-time jobs:

Growers selling locally create 13 full-time jobs per $1M in revenue earned. Those not selling locally only create three jobs.

15 cents vs. 100%:

On average, a traditional retailer gives $0.15 of every dollar to the farmer. But if it’s sold at a farmers market, that farm gets 100% of your food dollar.

A half a day and 50 miles:

Your food, on average, has been harvested within half a day and traveled only 50 miles to get to your farmers market compared to a traditional retailer that has an average harvested time of 13 days and traveled 1500 miles to get to your grocery store. Wouldn’t you rather that tomato be aging on your countertop and not inside a truck?

Farms are significantly more likely to survive if direct-to-consumer sales are a part of their business plan.

This week’s Eat. The. Dirt. lesson is just that. Eat the dirt…from a local farmer. Attend a farmers market, or local farm stand, a restaurant buying local or buy some veggies off your neighbor. Eat their dirt. I bet it tastes better than store-bought dirt.

To find a market near you, click here: USDA Farmers Market Directory

All facts and figures listed can be found on the Farmers Market Coalition website. And follow them on Facebook to learn more.