Flea Market Sales?

[Stepheninky]

We only have two farmers markets and they are small and set up in parking lots, maybe ten booths in each one on a peak day.

We do have a flea market though that is pretty large with good traffic. I could probably count the number of varieties of seedlings sold at all three venues on one hand.

Mainly this post is related to flea markets but also wanted to ask if one were to carry only 5 - 10 varieties what would you sell.

So far my ideals of what to sell would be:

Brandywine Sudduth
Kellogg's Breakfast
Amish Paste
Mortgage Lifter
Tiffin Mennonite
Cherokee Purple
Bonny Best
Hillbilly
Sungold
Black Cherry
Anything else you would add to the list as far as tomatoes.

Also I have never seen peppers offered so a few sweet peppers and a few hot pepper suggestions would help as I think they would be great sellers.

Latter in the season I thought about buying sweet corn, green beans, etc whole sale from a community of Mennonites that I know to add to the produce selection. I can buy it from them cheaper than I could grow it. Anyone else do this as well?

Still deciding on if I should try my hand selling the seedlings but have thought about selling the produce for a few years.

[huntoften]

Definitely need to add a cherry tomato or two to the list. Sungold, Black Cherry, Pink Ping Pong, or something along those lines I'd say.

[RinTinTin]

Location is important: Offer only what will grow well there, and if the locals only eat store-bought, avoid exotic types which they will probably not want to try.

I would also offer a couple cherry tomatoes, especially some that grow well in containers. Many people can't grow in a yard, or just prefer something that can sit on the porch or deck. (They are more likely to succeed if it is right there where they see it every day, rather than buried on the far side of the garage.) Once a new gardener gets to taste a sun ripened cherry, he will be a repeat customer for years.

[Stepheninky]

Really not sure on the exotic side as far as if they would sell, pretty much the only source of tomato plants is grow from seed or buy from the box store or one of the High schools selling plants.
avg prices here are $3 for a six pack or $2.50 - $3.00 for the single plants that come in the 16oz cups and about $5 for a 1 gal plant. Was thinking of selling in either the cups or 4in sq pots and selling the plants for $2 - 2.50 each though did find an affordable choice of 4in azalea pots that come with the holder trays.

If i do it was thinking of trying to play it safe and limit the varieties to 10 at most and then as I talk to people the first year I can get a feel for what local people are looking for.

[Stepheninky]

edited due to double post

[whistler]

Make sure you have some kind of info sheet with your list of seedling varieties, specs (fruit size, shape, color, season [early/mid/late]), and especially photos. The photos will really help you sell... Nothing like a picture of that nice ripe tomato their plant will grow for them to convince a customer to buy your seedlings.

[Bama mater]

Whistler has some good ideas there, and I think you have it right I'd stick to about 10 varietys your first year, and your list looks just about right for variety you have 2 good cherrys thats probably enough, I would just add Black Krim. Don't know your location in Ky, depending on your population maybe 100-150 each?

[fortyonenorth]

Originally Posted by whistler

Nothing like a picture of that nice ripe tomato their plant will grow for them to convince a customer to buy your seedlings.

Pictures and juicy descriptions, too! I don't know if I would worry about being too "exotic"--in essence, that's what has propelled the heirloom tomato movement. If people are accustomed to store-bought tomatoes, I assume it's simply because that's what's available.

There are a few vendors at our local farmer's market who sell seedlings in the spring. They're generally pretty spindly. This may seem obvious, but once you select your best varieties, grow the best looking seedling you can - make sure they're well-tended, disease free and stocky - I'd think they'd sell themselves.

[matereater]

Looks like a decent list, I'd buy at least 4-5 of those listed.

[whistler]

When talking with your customers, don't be surprised when many of them say "I just want a nice big red tomato to put on a sandwich"...

I sold about 100 types of heirloom tomato seedlings this year (from my house... too many to lug around in the SUV), and I learned that variety is fine, but make sure you have plenty of red beefsteak-type plants too.

[Stepheninky]

Brandywine Sudduth - Pink
Mortgage Lifter - Pink
Tiffin Mennonite - Pink

So of these three pinks which two are keepers and what would your suggestion for a red be.

Brandywine Sudduth - I think will sell well

Mortgage Lifter - Familiar name and good story behind it
Tiffin Mennonite - area where I am selling has Mennonite and Amish populations that surround it, also we have the Shaker Museum as well so anything with those catch words probably will sell well. Some parts around here you can drive and see horse drawn wagons on the rural highways.

Some possible reds:
Neves Azorean Red
Aker's West Virginia
Believe It Or Not
Coustralee
Delicious
Magnum
Aussie
Red brandywine

Are some ideals for reds that pop to mind though happy for any suggestions