Tent Talk

Farmers markets come in all different shapes and sizes, depending on the communities they serve. Some are big, some are small, some urban, some rural, some seasonal and some year round! This week our guest is Megan Harris, market manager for the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market in Virginia. Megan started her farmers market journey as a farmer and vendor, but now she is a full-time market manager and feels like she's found her true calling in life! In this episode we learn about what it's like for Megan managing a smaller market in a rural area. While some rules and regulations differ based on locality, many of the realities of farmers market life are universal! This week's episode is made possible by support from Vendor-101.

Our guest this week is Darlene Wolnik, Farmers Market Support Program Director at the national Farmers Market Coalition and official farmers market Data Wizard! Darlene has worked with FMC since its inception and currently oversees market support projects including network facilitation, development of the farm-direct portion of the GusNIP Hub, Farmers Market Metrics data collection and evaluation resources, and risk management tools including the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit. In this episode Darlene shares her 20+ years of experience supporting farmers markets through the best of times and the toughest of times. This week's episode is made possible by support from Nutrition Incentive Hub.

This week our show is all about hard-learned market manager lessons and what we would tell ourselves if we could travel back in time! With new markets opening and new market managers on-boarding all over the country, we're sharing advice for new market managers, and managers navigating new market conditions with tips from our Farmers Market Pros Facebook community. We also have exciting news about InTents: the Farmers Market Conference 2022! This week's episode is made possible by support from MarketWurks.

This week we welcome farmer and educator Michael Kilpatrick as our Tent Talk guest! After blowing us away with his jam-packed presentation at InTents: the Farmers Market Conference 2021, we had to have him on the show to hear more about his farm education projects Growing Farmers, Small Farm University and the Thriving Farmers podcast and online forum! With years of experience under his belt as an educator and consultant as well as farmer selling at farmers markets, and a stint as a market manager, Michael has tons helpful info to share! Tune in to hear us chat about how to increase your production and make a comfortable living selling at the farmers market. This week's episode is made possible by support from American Farmland Trust.

The last year has really turned farmers market marketing on it's head. Though we still want to draw shoppers to our markets, attracting large numbers of visitors is not currently ideal. This week on Tent Talk we speak with Heidi Anderson, Co-Founder and CEO of theFarmBoard, about developing a value-based marketing strategy for your farmers market business. Heidi shares ways to develop loyal customers who actually shop at the farmers market. She also explains how her app theFarmBoard helps farmers and market managers reach their target customers. This week's episode is made possible by support from Blue Owl Promos.

It's time to put the FUN in fundraising! This week on Tent Talk we chat with Kathy Newsom, Market Coordinator for The Corner Farmers Market in Greensboro, North Carolina about the innovative fundraising programs she uses to balance her market's budget. Thanks in part to their robust market sustainers program, The Corner Market has been able to implement pre-order and pick up services for the last year as well as and support a paid market staff. Fundraising is no easy feat, but Kathy has lots of great advice and creative ways to gain financial support from community members, vendors, followers and local businesses! This week's episode is made possible by support from WhatsGood.

Our guest this week is Christopher Hudson, owner and operator of Benny Blanco Tortillas, which has become a main attraction at the Gilbert Farmers Market in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Prior to working as a vendor, Christopher was an avid farmers market shopper. When his favorite tortilla seller put his business up for sale, Christopher leapt at the opportunity and purchased it! 3 years later, Benny Blanco has a devoted farmers market following and continues to sell out week after week, no matter how many tortillas they produce. Christopher's customers keep coming back for his delicious product and his great sense of humor! This week's episode is made possible by support from Blue Owl Promos.

Spring has sprung and markets across the country are opening for the season! In a normal year there's a lot that goes into prepping for a new market season, so with COVID-19 restrictions still in place in most areas, there's even more work to be done. We received lots of comments and messages from market managers in on our Farmers Market Pros community about some of the challenges they are facing reopening on-site markets after a long, strange year. Listen along to hear Catt, Brijet and Justine chat about getting your market staff, vendors and shoppers prepped for opening day! This week's episode is made possible by support from MarketWurks.

This week we're joined by fisherman, farmers market vendor and consultant, Cynthia Wallesz. When she's not in Alaska harvesting and processing wild salmon, Cynthia is in Idaho, selling her fish at the Boise Farmers Market and providing consulting services to farmers market managers and foodmakers. In this episode we hear all about the impact COVID-19 had on this year's fishing season, how Cynthia balances her busy market life schedule, and the importance of establishing clear values and mission statement for your farmers market business. This week's episode is made possible by support from Loco Canopies.

Last time we heard from Nathan Macaulay, Director of Sales at Apricot Lane Farms, was at the 2020 InTents Conference (right before COVID-19 turned the world and farmers market operations upside down). Over the last year, Nathan and his team have adjusted and adapted, and this week on Tent Talk, he updates us on the goings on at Apricot Lane Farms. To learn more about this incredible biodynamic farm in Ventura, California, check out the film "The Biggest Little Farm" now available on Hulu! This week's episode is made possible by support from Local Food Marketplace.