While farm stay lodging can be an added source of
revenue, most farms focus on growing for their living. Many
sell wholesale, but, more and more, local farmer's markets are
offering a direct farm to table revenue outlet that allows
small-scale production farm to cover costs and even make a
profit.
Farmer's markets, once seen as the hippie alternative, have gone
main stream in the past 10 years, tripling in numbers between 2000
and 2009. It is estimated there were 5300 farmer's markets across
the U.S. by fall 2009 (Farmer's Market Coalition).
As of summer 2010, the Chicago Tribune reports there are 6132, a
16% increase from a year ago!
Many of the farms on this site sell at their local farmer's
markets. We are highlighting just a few, but an Advanced
Search for Activities/Farmer's Markets will let you know many who
sell this way.
At Bee Green Farm, in Three Rivers CA, all
produce is grown and certified organic. Seasonal fruits includes
apples, apricots, oranges, persimmons, plums, and mulberries.
Culinary herbs are also available. Bettina sells at the
Culver City and Echo Park farmer's markets on Fridays and
Saturdays.
Dog Mountain Farm, in Carnation WA,
serves the Snoqualmie Valley community and Seattle area by
providing farm-fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs, herbs, flowers, and
poultry meat. The farm uses sustainable, organic growing practices
and their poultry ranges free all day. They can be found on
different days at four Seattle farmer's markets: Queen Anne,
Phinney, Magnolia, Broadway.
Serenbe Farms, in Palmetto GA, is a
certified organic farm in the rural Chattahoochee Hill
country. The farm produces over 350 varieties of vegetables,
flowers, herbs, mushrooms, and eggs on about five of the 25 acres.
The Serenbe Farmers and Artists Market is an eclectic market
comprised of small local and sustainable growers, artisans, and
craftsmen and is open from May to November
Whitefish Bay, in Sturgeon Bay WI,
produces Corriedale sheep and thus participates in a different sort
of market, the Door County Shepherds' Market every spring. The
Market is held to promote products from sheep, goats and camelids,
and to educate the public about the animals, the fibers they
produce, and the traditional handcrafts that use these fibers.
As a creative extension of the farmer's market, Nina DeBar, of
Ambrosia Farm in Bridgewater NY, was
awarded a USDA grant to launch a company called Farmers Frozen
Foods that freezes the day's left over produce from farmers markets
and packages it for home freezers, thus extending the life of the
harvest bounty.
No farm sells all its produce at a farmer's market so usually
there is some remaining for farm stay guests! Whether you are
allowed to graze the gardens or are charged for what you pick,
you'll be eating about as fresh as it comes.
Want to know more about farmer's markets? There is a great site
on Face Book with over 47,000 members, all sharing regional
information. It's called, I Support
Farmer's Markets. Join in and become part of the
conversation!