Farmers Market Report

11 years ago

We did it! We had a little booth for the first time at one of the farmers markets here. We didn't have a lot but we did sell most of what we had. It certainly was an experience.

I'll add pictures that I took, right after we got set up and before it was opened. Not all the people with booths were there yet either.

I would have had more baked goods but I ran out of time, I'll do better next week.

I only had two kinds of jam, strawberry and black raspberry because I only wanted to take jams made from fresh (2012) local fruit. I'll pick red raspberries and make jam on Monday. The booth next to us had about 50 varieties of jam and jelly, most from fruits that haven't come into season here yet. She even had cherry coke jelly, not something that interests me. :)

I had Asiago Bread, Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Cherry Hand Pies, Cinnamon rolls, and Sun Dried Tomato Pinwheels.

Looking down the row...

The back of the booths that were in front of us, along the sidewalk.

My friend David, he's doing the produce and his garden is just getting started. He'll have much more ready next week too.

The view behind us. Hard to see because of the landscaping, but there is a large harbor master's building (restrooms!) and a water park area for kids that has the big water jets that shoot water up into the air.

The Great Lakes cruise ship in! Charlevoix is now one of their weekly stops. Both the people on the cruise ship and those from the private yachts seem to really like the farmers market. I sold to several..

I won't bore you with weekly pictures but I thought you might be interest in seeing a very unique farmers market.

Nancy

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Comments (28)

Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
11 years ago
That's the prettiest farmer's market I have ever seen. Ours are, well, not so nice. And they certainly don't have wonderful foods like you made!
I hope your future experiences are good and I do like seeing pictures and reports. I may not comment all the time but I usually read and enjoy.
Sun dried tomato pinwheels sound interesting!
annie1992
11 years ago
I think it's great the cruise ships are working the Michigan coastline again, it's about time. We have some beautiful and unique ports that are large enough to dock the bigger ships.

So, how did you do? In a couple of weeks David will have a plethora of goodies from the garden so he'll be well stocked. What sold well and what did not?

Annie
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Waving at you wizardnm! Everything looks delicious and first rate! If a customer wants half a dozen pretzel rolls, do you put them in paper or plastic bags? I like the idea of the deli trays - I've saved tons of them here at the office. What a pretty setting for a bustling farmers' market. Thanks for sharing with us. Teresa
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A little late, but how about this recipe: Apple Cookies 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ground cloves 1/2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg 2 c. flour 1/2 c. butter 1 1/3 c. brown sugar 1 egg 1 c. chopped nuts 1 c. chopped apples 1/4 c. milk or apple juice Glaze: 1 1/2 c. confectioners sugar, 1 T. soft butter, 2 1/2 T. cream or milk, 1/4 tsp. vanilla In large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and egg. Mix flour, spices salt and soda and add alternately with juice or milk to creamed mixture. Fold in nuts and chopped apple. Drop by teaspoonful on greased baking sheet. Bake 400 degrees 11 min. or at 375 14 min. Cool and apply glaze. It was posted by dottieq on a cookie thread some time ago. I'm thinking about making some for my church's Applefest and making the glaze a maple or caramel glaze.
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The blueberry dessert is Blueberry Betty. Linda guessed right! I'm always happy to share recipes, it's a good thing to do! I have many from this site that have become favorites over the years. The rolls are really tasty, try them, they are easy. Here's a couple of things I've learned. Be sure you grease your baking sheet, they will stick to parchment paper. I like a nice deep color and find this is one thing to bake using a convection setting, if you have that option. Watch that 30 min rise that is just before the boiling water step. I had some get over proofed and they turned out flat. Boil no longer than 15 seconds per side. Set your timer! Morton course Kosher salt is probably the best to use if you can't get pretzel salt. I ordered my pretzel salt online. KA hasn't had it recently so I had to look elsewhere. I'll leave a linky. Here are the recipes: This is the original recipe LindaC linked to. Bretzel Rolls (Bavarian Pretzel Sandwich Rolls) By NcMysteryShopper on May 25, 2006 Prep Time: 35 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 54 mins Serves: 12, Yield: 1 dozen bretzel rolls Ingredients Dough 1 1/3 cups warm water------- my tweak--- 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons warm milk 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast 1/3 cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter, melted 4 cups all-purpose flour--- I use 3 cups unbleaced AP flour and 1 cup unbleached bread flour kosher salt or pretzel salt Parboiling Liquid 2 quarts cold water baking soda ( 1/2 cup)---add the soda gradually so it up and over the side of your pan Directions In a small bowl if using a bread machine, or in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix a 1/3 cup of the warm water (105-115 degrees) with the yeast and let stand until foamy. Add the remaining cup of warm water along with milk, sugar & melted butter and swirl to dissolve the sugar. (If using a bread machine add mixture to bread machine at this point and continue). Add flour and mix on dough cycle or med-low speed. Remove dough from bread machine once it forms a nice a firm, pliable dough ball. Add more flour if necessary. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured table and knead for 2 minutes. Roll into a 2 foot long log and cut into 12 even pieces. Cover dough with plastic and a damp cloth and let sit for 10 minutes. Pat dough into rolls or form knots and arrange on a lightly floured surface about an inch apart and cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Let the pretzels rest for an additional 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly oil 2 baking sheets. In a large stockpot, bring the cold water to a rolling boil and add baking soda. Drop two rolls into the boiling water and boil for no more then 30 seconds, turning once. Carefully remove with tongs or slotted spoon and hold above pot and let drain. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat with the remaining rolls. Arrange rolls on the oiled baking sheets and bake on the upper and middle racks of the oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until browned all over; shift pans from top to bottom and back to front halfway through, for even baking. Let rolls cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. BLUEBERRY BETTY 4 C bread cubes (1/2") 3/4 C melted butter 1/4 C sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 C fresh or frozen blueberries 2 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 C brown sugar Toss bread cubes with butter, sugar and cinnamon Sprinkle berries with lemon juice and brown sugar. Alternate layers of bread cubes with fruit mixture, spreading evenly in a 7" X 12" baking dish. Bake in at 350F 20 to 30 min. until bubbly. Makes 6 servings. Nancy
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I can't fix the canopy without a whole new side piece so I am going this week without it. There is no FM next week because the park will be setting up for Applefest which runs through the weekend. I'll go to Applefest and try to take some pic's. It's pretty neat. Then there are only two more outside markets until we move inside. Eileen, I do have canopy stakes but they didn't hold. Other canopies blew that had weights..it's hard to be in the open area but there is only so much room up on the side walk and produce gets those spots usually. Plus there are those who have done the FM for years and I'm new. I have a friend who is in the tent rental business, if I do the FM next year, when it's outside, I'll get advice and a new canopy. Annie, jam has been selling, but slowly. I'll see what happens over the winter. There is more booths with jam than there are with the type of baked goods I do. Nancy
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mustangs81
11 years ago
Nancy, that location is fantastic. I am really tickled to see pictures of your Farmers Market; thanks for sharing. And yes, the pinwheels sound gooood.
triciae
11 years ago
Nancy, your farmer's market is fantastic. What a beautiful setting & having the benefit of the cruise passengers is a great bonus.

Your homemade goodies sound wonderful. I'm envious of Michigan's law allowing you to sell w/o a commercial kitchen. We have a "homemade trade" weekend once/month but to stay within the law no money can exchange hands. But, I can make baked goods & exchange for something we need such as corn, apples, & squash. It's basically organized barter & is located at Terra Firma Farm, the place I keep yapping on about here in Mystic.

I too will be awaiting your next market post.

/tricia
beachlily z9a
11 years ago
Oh, Nancy, that's a beautiful location for a farmers' market! Mine looks far different. With the weather as hot as it is, the produce available down here in FL has suffered. Hope tomorrow's market is better than last week's.
Chi
11 years ago
That's so pretty. California is in the middle of (hopefully) passing the Cottage Food law this summer so my goal is to do something similar someday!
jessyf
11 years ago
Nice job! Great photos. I wouldn't mind seeing more!
tami_ohio
11 years ago
Nice! Hope you did great! I'll look forward to next weeks report. Seems like I remember that view!
ann_t
11 years ago
Nancy, thank you for sharing your Farmer's Market pictures.
I agree with everyone that it is a very pretty location for a farmers market.

Please keep sharing photos each week. I certainly won't be bored.

~Ann
coconut_nj
11 years ago
I agree with Ann. We won't get bored with any pics from there. I realllly want one of those cherry hand pies. I love your friends produce. If I'd seen all those gorgeous tiny yellow squash I'd have snapped them up in a heart beat. I love that you want to only do the local and in season jams. Keep up your great standards.
westsider40
11 years ago
Oh, Nancy, your stuff looks luscious. I have read about how beautiful Charlevoix is.

And your post taught me something. Because a booth has 50 kinds of jam is a pretty good indicator that it is not very local. My dh buys a croissant, one, at our fm in Michigan City, Indiana, way down south. We are empty nesters and just use very little produce.
nancylouise5me
11 years ago
What a beautiful setting for a farmer's market. Love the pictures, nope I wouldn't get bored looking at more! We love our local farmers and shop them as often as we can. It seems more and more people are finding out about them, co-ops, and farm shares. My daughter is even thinking about joining one next year selling our breads and baked goods. Congrats,Nancy! NancyLouise
sally2_gw
11 years ago
What do you mean, bore us? I loved your pictures, and wouldn't mind more of them.

I'm so happy to hear about your farmer's market experience. I'm not a jelly or jam eater, but I believe I'd like your jam. And no, Cherry Coke jam would not interest me in the least! Eeww.

Sally
Tracey_OH
11 years ago
What a beautiful market! Thanks for sharing.

Tracey
compumom
11 years ago
So beautiful, somewhere I'd like to visit! Please continue to post photos and good luck with your venture going forward. It's nice to travel from my desk!
bcskye
11 years ago
Please keep posting reports and pictures of your market days. I really do enjoy reading them and seeing the pictures. Its nice to see someone doing something they like so much and its something others benefit from. Continued success to you!
chase_gw
11 years ago
Nancy, I admire your energy, I could never get up enough to do what you are doing! Love the pictures and hope to see more.
lbpod
11 years ago
Let me just say this, about that. If I was at that
glorious farmer's market, and your booth opened at
9:00AM, you would have been sold out at 9:01AM.
What a gorgeous setting. Here, the farmer's market
is in an inner city blacktop parking lot, and I don't
think anyone, except for the very rich, could afford
their wares. As an example: last year I drove by
a roadside stand that was selling sweet corn for
$2.00/doz. That same farm was selling at the
farmer's market for $4.00/doz. A more recent example:
last week, one of the vendors was selling beet greens
for $1.00 per 'bunch', and the 'bunch' was VERY small,
and they were so wilted that I don't think they would
even have made good compost. I sometimes think that
going to the farmer's market when they first open is
the best idea. So that there is a good selection.
But then I thought that maybe later they would mark
the prices down, so as not to have to load it all back
into the truck. Not so. It seems to me they would
rather trash it than accept less than a PREMIUM price.
JMHPO, (Just My Humble Polish Opinion).
loagiehoagie
11 years ago
Nancy, so glad you are doing this. Michigan finally got SOMETHING right with the cottage food law although I see areas I would like changed but it's a good start. And your pictures will never bore. I for one love the visual aids and keep 'em coming!

Duane
wizardnm
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for all the encouragement. It is a lot of work but it is also fun work, at least for me.

I'll take pictures each week that I'm there.

Nancy
lindac
11 years ago
More more!!....what fun!!.....and I would love some choke cherry jam!...
Making me hungry....
Anxiously awaiting next week's pictures!
lakemayor
11 years ago
Nancy, your area looks as if you have had some rain. It's lush and green unlike southern lower Michigan. We are dry as a bone. Your pictures and the discription of your product makes me want to drive right up there next weekend. I think it would only take about 5 hours.

Karen
jessicavanderhoff
11 years ago
Congratulations on your first week! Add me to the list of people who marveled at the setting. Ours is under an overpass right off the interstate- they kick the bums out for the morning, and it smells like pee :-D. The offerings sound delicious. There are always people at a farmer's market who don't bother to check whether the food is local, but stands like yours usually develop a following- people who will buy whatever you have that week because they trust the quality. I look forward to hearing about how the next one goes!
ruthanna_gw
11 years ago
What a lovely setting for selling your luscious-looking wares, Nancy. I hope you and the other vendors have a successful season.
arabellamiller
11 years ago
Gorgeous pictures! I admire your hard work beautiful wares. That looks like a picture perfect setting and an ideal backdrop for your lovely food.

More pictures, please!!

AM
pat_t
11 years ago
Nancy - bored? NEVER! Keep 'em coming! You're an inspiration!

Florida passed a cottage food law last year. How do you label your goods? Florida has stringent laws on how everything must be labeled to sell baked or canned goods from your home.
wizardnm
Original Author
11 years ago
Pat, I used the Avery Label site and have even stored my labels there. For now I just used a stock design but it will allow you to import custom also.

Michigan is also very specific on information that has to be on the labels.
pat_t
11 years ago
Excellent - when it (and IF) it ever cools off here, we now have a waterfront market that is geared toward local farmers and bakers. Maybe I'll draw some inspiration from your posts and get out there and just do it! One of my fellow culinary school graduates owns a large farm and gives me a discount, so I could buy in bulk and make lots of homemade jellies/jams!

Farmers Market Report

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Bumblebeez SC Zone 7

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