Tent Talk

By Farmers Market ProsBusiness Entrepreneurship Arts Food

Tent Talk episodes

September 09, 2024Ep 310: Transforming Communities: The Power and Potential of Farmers Markets with Catt Fields-White
This week we're sharing something a little bit different: a podcast episode where Catt Fields White is the featured guest. Enjoy this conversation from the Fresh Take podcast about the importance of supporting local farmers, small businesses and of course farmers' markets. If Catt doesn't convince you over the next 45 minutes that farmers markets will save the planet, you might want to listen one more time. 😜 Follow along as Catt and Lana over at Fresh Take discuss:

The transformative impact of farmers markets on communities and local economies

Challenges farmers are facing today

Navigating regulations, pricing, marketing, and community engagement

Preserving healthy food options for future generations
47 min
September 02, 2024Ep 309: Giving Away The Farm: Market Discounts And Donations
Market participants are a generous bunch, so how do you make sure your farmers and vendors don't give away the farm, so to speak? Freebies and discounts that are shared with market managers, staff and fellow vendors are fun. Still, some guidelines are important. Gifts from the market to your community's worthy causes are the same. Keeping your heart and your business mind aligned is important to keep your whole market family financially healthy. Join us as we consider:

Appreciating generosity while watching out for farmers' well being

Developing guidelines to avoid conflicts

Balancing the costs and benefits of donations

Using donations and giveaways to build loyal shoppers
42 min
August 26, 2024 Ep 308: Ashley Colpaart: Prepping Partnership: Farmers Markets and Shared Kitchens
When The Food Corridor offered a Shared Kitchen-101 workshop at the 2023 InTents Conference, it was a sell out. It's no wonder. In a survey of food businesses operating out of shared kitchens, farmers markets were the most commonly used sales channels, with over 50% responding that they sell at one or more farmers markets. A shortage of kitchens ultimately means a shortage of food vendors at farmers markets, so many markets are exploring developing their own incubator kitchens. Join us as we chat with Food Corridor CEO Ashley Colpaart and discover: • How to find a shared kitchen that has what you need • Like market managers, shared kitchen operators' jobs are weird • Why swim goggles are required while making habanero hot sauce • The excitement about the Shared Kitchen Summit being back in person
42 min
August 19, 2024 Ep 307: Jimmy DeBiasi: Harvesting Maine's Bumper Crop
Selling farmers market gift certificates are a great way to help dedicated customers introduce friends, relatives and associates to the world of fresher food and local community. Now kick that idea up 350,000 notches. Maine Federation of Farmers Markets proactively sells employers on using market dollars as part of their workplace wellness programs and farmers markets statewide are harvesting a bumper crop of sales and shoppers. Listen in as we discuss that program and other topics including: • The power of cooperative marketing • How tough is tracking and billing? (Not as hard as you'd think.) • The key selling points for big buyers • Don't miss a little tangent about possible changes to SNAP at markets
1 hr
August 12, 2024 Ep 306: Free Speech at Farmers Markets with Wendy Chen and Lihlani Nelson
With election season upon us, managing free speech issues at farmers markets is top of mind. This week we're chatting with Wendy Chen, of the Center for Agricultural and Food Systems at Vermont Law School for a quick update on court decisions that might affect how you manage free speech at your market. And we're spotlighting an episode originally broadcast in 2021, with Lihlani Nelson, also of Vermont Law School, home of the Farmers market Legal Toolkit. Topics today include • Limiting your farmers market's liability with clear guidelines • Whether speech outside the market can be regulated • How your governing structure might affect your decisions • How to access the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit resources
55 min
August 05, 2024 Ep 305: Farmers Market Week Update
We know you're busy this week. Us too! Catt's on the road speaking at conferences and visiting Midwest markets. Brijet's rocking National Farmers Market Week in San Diego. You're doing the same, right? So take just a minute and tune in while we chat with Erica Meadows of the Mt Washington Farmers Market in Kentucky. They gained the most votes in America Farmland Trust's 2024 America's Farmers Market Celebration and scored the big prize. We also hear from our friend Sagdrina on Farmers Market Week, National Black Business Month and the latest Farmers Market Coalition initiatives. Super Early Bird tickets for InTents, the Farmers Market Conference is live now with big savings: don't sleep on that. Use the link in our bio and save your seat.
32 min
July 29, 2024 Ep 304: Ask the Pros!
We have a mixed bag of topics in this month's Ask the Pros episode. With hot weather advisories, fires and floods becoming more common, we've been getting a lot of questions about when closing a market is justified. Weather or not, farmers need to move their produce so it's not a decision managers take lightly. We're chatting about that and a variety of other questions from our listeners and our online community today Listen in while we chat about these quandaries and more: • Balancing safety, comfort and farmers' and vendors' need to make a living • What to do when you're selling out mid-market • Managing vendor to vendor conflicts that go public • Listening closely to find the source of customer complaints Remember, Super Early Bird registration for InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference 2025 starts THIS Thursday. Watch this space and our email newsletter for all the details and save.
45 min
July 22, 2024 Ep 303: Report From Rome: World Farmers Market Coalition
Join us for a report from Catt's trip to the World Farmers Market Coalition's second General Assembly, in Rome, Italy this month. Delegates from some 70 countries and organizations gathered, representing hundreds of farmers markets and policy making bodies. They heard about the international coalition's current projects and contributed to its visions for the future. Maybe most importantly, they shared perspectives, broke bread, and formed and renewed bonds, market operators from a multitude of places sharing the community that is common to farmers market culture.
43 min
July 15, 2024 Ep 302: InTents Conference Request For Proposals Announcement
We're about to share so much news about 2025's InTents: the National Farmers Market Conference. Today, we're starting with the announcement that the Request for Proposals opens in just a few days. We're adding a special farmer and vendor track in 2025, so possibilities abound.

Are you ready to share your expertise about a topic with market managers or participants from throughout the US, Canada and beyond? Submit that proposal!

Do you have a need that you're hoping a speaker or panel will address? Pop us an email or a DM and we'll add it to our targets.

Listen in for some tips on how to create a successful proposal, then stick around as we look back on attendees at the 2022 Conference sharing what makes them keep doing this important work.
52 min
July 08, 2024Ep 301: Wendy Chen: Volunteering to Keep it Legal
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many farmers markets and we know that even market managers are sometimes labeled as volunteers. That labor of love is admirable. Is it legal? That depends, and it's complicated. Wendy Chen joined us at InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference earlier this year. Her work at the Center for Agricultural and Food Systems at Vermont Law School includes the newest section of the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit, specifically focused on the role of volunteers at farmers markets. Listen in as we discuss the answers to these questions and more:

What kind of organizations can host volunteers?

Do the market bucks you give volunteers put you at risk?

Who is responsible if a volunteer is injured at the market?

Can a full time manager be a volunteer?

What penalties come with misclassifying team members?

Find the new volunteer resource and more at farmersmarketlegaltoolkit.org
42 min

About Tent Talk

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Tent Talk is a podcast for farmers' market managers, farmers, food makers, and anyone who counts on farmers' markets as a source of income. Please join us as we interview farmers' market experts, talk about ways to improve local food communities, and provide you with tips on building a successful farmers' market business.