Roadside Produce Stand Best Sellers?

[bluelacedredhead]

I've just finished reading Ohiorganic and Alan's threads on their successful first market days.

Yesterday, while I was starting more seeds, we got to talking about the possibility of me putting out a few items at the end of the laneway.

Here's what I have planted that should appeal to the tourist trade.


Green Zebra Toms
Mennonite Orange Toms
Thai Pink Egg Toms
Jerry's German Giant (striped ones) Toms
got others..but with less 'flash'

Chicken Heart Peppers
Eggplant
Moon & Stars Watermelon
Collective Farm Woman Melon
Schoons Hardshell
Kansas Melon

Lemon Cukes
Armenian Yardlong Cukes

Black Futsu
Red Kuri
Long Island Cheese Pumpkin
Rouge vif d'etampes Pumpkin
White Cushaw
Green Striped Cushaw
Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck Squash
Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato Squash
Egg Gourds
Cypriot Bottle Gourd

and Hooligan (a striped variety of Jack Be Little) pumpkins

And of course herbs in season. I have well established stands of lemon balm, tarragon, oregano, sage. Also put in some dill, Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, Cilantro.

What am I missing??

I see lots of greens on Ohiorganic and Alan's lists.... Guess that would be something to consider??
I have Swiss Chard seed..


I know Flowerpower is thinking of selling at roadside as well. She's in the same sort of area as I am. Lots of tourists pass by the door...What are you planning on putting out FP?

[ohiorganic]

For the farm stand i go light on heirlooms. mainly because my cliantel is different. at he FM's we have a lot of highly educated foodies who like advenures in food. At the store the cusomers are less educated and want more pedestrian fare-1/2 runners, peaches, mater's peppers,

Tomatoes that sell best are big red ones. Sweet corn is a must have for drawing in people. beets sell really well at our farm store as do peppers-green, red, yellow, orange.

[bluelacedredhead]

"Everybody" around here sells sweet corn. And pumpkins are just round howden or connecticut field types. Nothing different. I've sold Rouge vif d'etampes to someone every year since 1998 or 1999. But that's only cuz she knows I have them and she comes to the house to ask for one. I figure it wouldn't hurt to put some down at the highway and see what kind of response I get?

[ohiorganic]

I too live in a place where everyone sells sweet corn and did not want to deal with it anmd sell someghing differen and my sales tanked. Went and found sweet corn and went heavy on beets, red maters and other "normal" produce and sales got a lot better. people don't want wierd and it takes a lot of education to get them to try new foods. They want what they see in Wal-Mart.

The farmers markets i do are very upscale and full of highly educated people so it is far easier to sell wierd items to them. I also have been selling at these markets for years so have the reputation of having offbeat items and people look for them. At the store he people are not as educated and do not want heirlooms generally.

That said, good saleswomanship can convince a lot of people to buy green zebra maters and once they taste them they will be back for them

[bluelacedredhead]

Thanks for the pointers Ohio!!

I've got time to work on signage and strategy, but you've definitely helped.

[bunkie]

allowing customers to taste the product is a biggie in selling the product too, we've noticed!

and right on about the Farmers Market having people who will try new and different varieties.

we have a lot of campers here and have noticed that they don't want to buy huge melons or squash, etc... so we always have varieties of small versions, like Blue Ballet and baby watermelons, etc...

what about some green beans, or other colored beans, edible flowers? )

[bluelacedredhead]

I've got Missouri Wonder Pole beans (very flavourful as a young green bean and colourful as a dried), Black Valentine, Black Turtle, Cherokee Trail of Tears..

I bought mixed gourd seed yesterday and a buttercrunch head lettuce type for those who don't care for coloured lettuces....