After a particularly cold and rainy late May market Saturday, some of the MFFM Board members engaged in this exchange of emails, commenting on how to decide whether to go to market at all, and wondering what sort of rules or policies that markets might have regarding inclement weather. Anne K. Saggese, Belfast and Camden […]
Q & A
Advice and perspective for new market applicants
February 13, 2013 CategoriesThis was written by Janet Weaver and Tom Roberts in the Winter of 2013 as an introduction to the world of farmers’ markets to be given to new market applicants. Why are you joining a market? Is hauling your wares to a farmers’ market going to be your only income source? Is the Market a […]
How can I get started selling a specialty food at farmers’ market?
July 18, 2012 CategoriesTom Roberts’ response: First of all, in order to sell a processed food product, you’ll need the proper licensing from the Maine Dept of Ag. Exactly which licenses you’d need dependents upon what type of food products you are considering. Contact the Department for more detail; you’ll want to talk to someone in Quality Assurance […]
A farmers market in your town?
June 22, 2012 CategoriesDownload this as a brochure. Should there be a farmers’ market in your town? Of what value is a farmers’ market in a town? What is a Farmers’ Market? A farmers’ market is not a random collection of tailgate vendors. It is a self-policing non-profit organization that consists of farmers, gardeners, bakers, specialty food producers and/or […]
Product Liability Insurance Q & A
April 20, 2004 CategoriesHi Tom, I got your name off the internet at the MFFM website. I am a farmer and I currently sell at a local market. The question on “product liability insurance” has come up and it looks grim for the small farmer (once again!). The market master has come to the conclusion that we will […]
Don’t Use Hanson Hanging Scales
December 22, 1992 Categoriesby Tom Roberts, Selling Outdoors, 1992. The first issue of Selling Outdoors contained an article about the State Bureau of Weights and Measures ruling on the Hanson scales that are commonly used at farmers’ markets. That ruling made it clear that in 1992 there should be no more Hanson hanging scales in use at markets. […]