Farmers Market Booth Ideas: What To Sell & What You Need To Get Started

Want to sell at your local farmers market but don't know where to start? Check out our guide for the best booth ideas!

Kymberlin Bush
Merchant Maverick Contributor
Dec 15, 2022
UPDATED

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Are you looking to start selling at your local farmers market? In this article, we’ll tell you what to sell at a farmers market, what you need to get started, and how you can be prepared for farmers market season!

Despite the name, you don’t have to be a farmer to sell at farmers’ markets. There are almost infinite ways you can connect with your community while earning a profit.

Table of Contents

Why Start A Farmers Market Booth Business?
10 Ideas For Products You Can Sell At A Farmers Market
How Much Money Do You Need To Start A Farmers Market Booth?
What Do You Need For A Farmers Market Booth?
Tips & Ideas For Running A Successful Farmers Market Booth
Take Your Farmers Market Products Beyond The Booth
Is Starting A Farmers Market Booth A Good Idea?
FAQs: What To Sell At Farmers’ Markets

Why Start A Farmers Market Booth Business?

Not just a great place to be, your local farmer’s market is a great place to start or expand your small business! Offering low start-up costs, personalized interaction with your customers, creative freedom, and networking opportunities with other vendors and market organizers alike, farmers’ markets are a great opportunity for your side hustle or full-time small business.

10 Ideas For Products You Can Sell At A Farmers Market

Are you looking for ideas for products to sell at your local farmers market? Here are some of ours:

Produce

Sure, you don’t have to be a farmer to sell at a farmers market, but if you are, you can certainly bring your freshly grown produce to sell to your customers. Seasonal local fruits and vegetables really sell, but don’t forget about unique products you won’t find in most supermarkets (think colorful heirloom tomatoes, purple cauliflower, or other “imperfect” items). No matter what you bring, make sure that you only provide the freshest, highest-quality produce for your customers.

Don’t confine yourself to just fruits and vegetables, though! Mushrooms and fresh herbs that you’ve cultivated yourself are also big sellers at farmers’ markets, providing you with additional opportunities to earn some extra cash.

Milk, Meat, & Eggs

If you raise cattle and chickens, it’s a no-brainer to bring your milk, meat, and eggs to the market. These are popular items at markets not just because of the quality and freshness of the product, but also because many people prefer buying from small farms that treat their animals humanely, as opposed to large factories that may have questionable practices.

Baked Goods

Did you take advantage of the time at home in 2020 by watching the Great British Baking Show and testing new recipes out on your friends and family? Why not bring your baked goods to the masses? If you love to bake, there are endless possibilities and a lot of money-making potential at your local farmers’ market.

Bake your homemade cookies, cakes, pies, scones, and cinnamon rolls and sell them to customers during your free time. Again, you can think outside of the box to boost your profit potential by selling unique items such as dog treats or treats for customers with special dietary needs (i.e. vegan or gluten-free). Offering free samples of these products proves to be especially fruitful.

Flowers, Plants, & Seedlings

No matter the season, people like to spruce up their homes with colorful flowers, gardens, and house plants like succulents and ferns. From flower baskets that add a touch of color to your front porch to common and unique species of plants, many customers prefer to bypass big-box home improvement stores and instead purchase from local growers. You don’t even have to wait to have fully grown plants and flowers; some shoppers may prefer to buy seedlings that they can plant and grow themselves.

Herbs are popular options to consider. You can also harvest seeds and young plants from your garden that are finished for the season to sell at the farmers market when it’s time for you to replant. This way you have a constant cycle of new products for your customers and stay on top of your own planting and harvesting!

If you grow roses, tulips, lilies, or other seasonal flowers, you can create unique arrangements that shoppers may snap up for weddings, prom, Valentine’s Day, or even “just because.” If you find you have a talent for flower arrangement, you could even consider offering workshops or how-to guides to your customers.

Honey

If you’re a beekeeper, cash in on the benefits of both your and your bees’ hard work by selling your delicious honey. Customers can purchase high-quality honey for use as a natural sweetener, but there are additional benefits to eating local honey. Local raw honey is often used as a natural home remedy used to help with seasonal allergies, soothe sore throats, kill bacteria, or even help you get a good night’s sleep.

Want your honey to stand out from the rest? Switch up the way you process your honey to create creamed honey or consider adding natural flavors to make your own unique honey blend. Another strategy for making your honey special is to note the kind of pollen your bees are harvesting in each batch of honey. Is it clover from your yard? Local wildflowers? Each honey will have a flavor, even if it is subtle, and for those searching for an allergy remedy, this source of pollen can be important.

Also, don’t overlook the value (for your health and your wallet) of pollen granules. These tiny pellets contain a mixture of nectar, saliva, and pollen and are rising in popularity due to their perceived health benefits. Pollen granules are used for treating inflammation, strengthening the immune system, reducing stress, and other ailments.

Soap & Skincare Products

As we learn more about the chemicals in common household items, more consumers are looking for a natural option. If you’ve created the perfect recipe for natural, handmade soaps, lotions, or other skincare products, set up a booth at your local farmers market and share your goods with the community.

There are many different opportunities in the handmade natural care market, from creating your own (great smelling!) bug repellent to exfoliating sugar scrubs and aluminum-free deodorants. One important tip is to not limit yourself to just one kind of product. For example, if you’re a beekeeper, not only can you sell honey and pollen granules, but you can also sell natural beauty products made from pollen, honey, or beeswax.

Beverages

As a kid, did you ever set up your own lemonade stand and sell on a hot day? Take inspiration from your younger self! The great news is that you aren’t just limited to lemonade, although selling freshly squeezed lemonade to hot shoppers on a summer day is an easy way to make some extra cash.

If you make your own wine or mead from local crops, brew your own craft beers, or even make a mean cup of hot apple cider, selling beverages can be a lucrative business. Your booth can focus solely on your homemade brews, or you can sell beverages in addition to other products.

Many people who frequent farmers’ markets are looking for products that are unique and can’t be found in local grocery stores, so think outside the box. Lemonades made with freshly squeezed lemons and natural fruit flavorings, kombucha, and other tasty beverages can be sold by the glass, bottle, or jug.

Prepared Foods

A long afternoon at the farmers market surrounded by good smells and great company can leave shoppers starving. Why force hungry customers to leave the market and drive to restaurants when you can bring the food right to them?

If you already operate a food truck, consider adding a local farmers market or two to your regular operating schedule. A partnership with a local farmers market can fill your weekends with customers and the profits they bring with them. Many vendors are unable to support the equipment and materials required to serve full meals, so your truck could be the oasis in the desert for a hungry.

Artwork & Handmade Crafts

Whether you’re a professional artist or just starting out, locally-made artwork and crafts are big sellers at farmers’ markets. No matter what type of art you make, a farmers market is the perfect platform for selling your creations.

Paintings, drawings, embroidered items, crocheted blankets, hand-painted t-shirts, pottery, wood carvings, sculptures, and homemade greeting cards are just a few of the products you can make and sell at your local farmers’ market.

Vintage Or Secondhand Items

There’s money to be made from other people’s unwanted items. Vintage clothing, shoes, and jewelry tend to sell quickly and much of what may have been considered old-fashioned a year or two ago is coming back in style. Along with companies that make cleaning and beauty products, customers are becoming more aware of the impact clothing manufacturers have on the environment. This is leading more people to turn to thrifting and secondhand stores for their clothes. You can act as your customers’ personal curator and shopper while making some money and positively impacting the environment and community!

Vintage and secondhand furniture pieces are often made of sturdier, higher-quality materials than some mass-produced furniture being sold today. Even if it isn’t in style, with some TLC and elbow grease, a lot of outdated furniture can match more modern interior design. You can sell the furniture pieces as is, or if you have the skills, refurbish and restore pieces to sell for a higher price to interested customers.

Other Unique Goods

Don’t see anything on our list that appeals to you? Then tap into your own unique talents. The great thing about farmers’ markets is that there are relatively few limitations when it comes to what you sell. While you can’t sell anything illegal or dangerous, you can let your creative flag fly and bring something truly special to the table. What can you offer that is different and unique? Exotic spices, handmade clothing, homemade candles…the list goes on.

One way to be a successful seller is to think about what your customers want or need. For example, if you live in an area known for its tasty barbecue, consider selling your own dry rubs or barbecue sauce. Whatever you decide to sell, make sure that it’s unique to attract the most customers and allowed at your chosen market.

How Much Money Do You Need To Start A Farmers Market Booth?

While we wish we had an answer for you, the amount of money you’ll need to start a booth at your local farmers market varies significantly based on a couple of personal factors. Do you already have a profitable small business? Do you have a full-time job and this will just be a side hustle? Will you be making your products or does nature take care of that for you?

If you already have an online or brick-and-mortar storefront and are just looking to expand into a new market (no pun intended) and reach a new range of customers, you can set aside some of the cash you might use for marketing or extra expenses and make yourself a farmers market fund. If you do have a small business established in a physical space, there’s a good chance you already have a lot of the items you need for a booth, so your costs to begin will be lower than someone who has only ever sold products online. You’ll want to make sure you’re keeping an eye on your cashflow as your expenses could increase with the added materials you need to run a successful booth.

If your foray into farmers’ markets is your first step as a small business, you have options outside of using money directly from your own pocket to fund this venture. You can apply for start-up business loans from companies and lending platforms like Lendio, Fora Financial, National Business Capital, or OnDeck.

Each of these loan providers has its pros and cons, so make sure to do your research to figure out which one would be best for you and your fledgling business. Get started today by reading our article on start-up business loans.

A tried-and-true way to raise some funds for your new farmers’ market booth is crowdfunding. This can be as informal as asking customers to donate and devoting all of your tips to opening the booth or as formal as a campaign launched on a designated site like Kickstarter, Patreon, or Indiegogo.

What Do You Need For A Farmers Market Booth?

Now it’s time to talk about some fun things. What’s your booth going to look like? The world is your oyster (especially if you choose to sell locally-sourced shellfish) so get creative but make sure you have the following necessities!

Some of these things could be provided by your future farmers market, so check with them before making any big purchases.

A table or two to serve as a base for the rest of your supplies.
A pop-up tent or another kind of canopy to protect both your customers and your products from rain or the summer heat.
A chair (or two, if you’ll have an extra set of hands helping!).
Weather-appropriate clothes for yourself. Farmers’ markets typically open rain or shine, you wouldn’t want to miss out on customers because you literally got cold feet!
Eye-catching containers or displays for your products.
Signage (like a banner for the front of your table or a sandwich board) displaying the name of your business.
Smaller, easy-to-read signs with product names, descriptions, and prices.
A cash box, register, or mobile POS system for collecting money.
Small bills and coins to make change for customers if you plan on accepting cash.
Bags or containers for customers’ purchases. (Might we recommend using something that can be re-used around the farmers market or the next time they visit your booth? Think: Marketing.)
A scale for weighing products, if needed.
A place for people to sign-up to learn more about your business or join your newsletter/email marketing list!

Tips & Ideas For Running A Successful Farmers Market Booth

A successful farmers market booth requires one major thing: a great product. Natural beauty products that really work, baked goods that make your mouth water, produce as fresh as if your customer had picked it from their own garden. While there are a lot of tips & ideas that will help you run a successful (and profitable) booth, a superior product will keep customers coming back time and time again.

That being said, if they don’t know who you are or can’t remember the name of your business, don’t know what markets you frequent, can never get the product they want because it sells out too fast, or experience other minor frustrations when attempting to purchase from you, customers are less likely to put in the extra work just to get your product.

Things like branding, marketing, customer service, eye-catching displays, and clever solutions can help make the buying experience at your farmers market booth as smooth as possible!

Branding

Branding is important no matter how small of a business you are! How many times have you stopped off the highway in an unfamiliar town and had an incredible meal, but you can never remember the name of the restaurant to go back to or recommend it to others?

Even if you don’t want to do anything too fancy, it’s worth choosing a name and making a basic logo to include on any materials you create. An easy way to begin branding once you have your name and logo is to make a social media page or two for your booth. Instagram works well for posting photos of your fantastic displays but Facebook could be better suited for connecting with the market and other vendors you’re looking to join. Visit our guide to social media marketing and start your journey with confidence!

If you want to take it to the next level, consider building a standalone website for your small business! Make it a one-stop shop for customers to find your booth, leave reviews, contact you, place pre-orders, look at what’s going to be on display at your next weekend at the market, and learn more about you and your amazing products.

Not sure where to start? We can help! Read our guide on how to create a website for your business.

Marketing

Branding and marketing go hand in hand. Once you have established your brand, you will be able to begin marketing it.

There are two general types of marketing: passive and active.

Passive marketing means your customer is coming to you. There is no special event or interaction that brings them to your small business. It is otherwise defined as a form of marketing that doesn’t inconvenience your customer.

Examples of passive marketing include creating social media accounts, building a website, writing blog posts about your product and experience at the market, hanging a banner on your booth, setting out business cards for customers to take, or purchasing ad space on a website or local newspaper. Use your new social media and promote your first appearance at your local farmers’ market, host giveaways to gain followers and create excitement, advertise your schedule, and share, share, share with your audience! The more of a personal relationship that your customers feel like they have with you and your products, the more invested they’re going to be in your success.

Active marketing means that you are going to your customer. It is the exact opposite of passive marketing and often asks for customers to be involved. The main goal for active marketing is often to give the customer with an experience with your brand that results in a positive brand association.

Examples of active marketing include cold calling and pitching potential clients (like talking to passersby at the farmers market), networking with your customers and fellow vendors, and interacting with your target audience and current followers on social media through likes and comments.

One popular form of marketing for small businesses is email marketing. It’s one of the cheapest and most effective ways to keep in contact with your customers. You don’t have to commit to a monthly newsletter or regular emails at all if you don’t like, but consider establishing an email marketing strategy so whatever you decide, you stay consistent and on track with your plan.

Customer Service

For a lot of us, this may be an obvious tip, but it never hurts to get a quick refresher.

Farmers’ markets are known for their quaint and welcoming environments. Get in the spirit and remember that everyone you’re talking to is a member of your community and a potential connection. While a good product will keep customers coming back for more, a friendly face, enriching conversation, and a kind word will encourage them to go above and beyond to support your business. People are much more likely to sign-up for your email newsletter, pick up a business card, and refer their friends and neighbors to you if they feel like they will be taken care of any time they stop by your booth.

You don’t need to become best friends with everyone you meet, but it’s much easier for customers to enter a warm, welcoming environment and spend their money. Another idea is making sure your booth is weather-proof. Make a literal shelter from the storm by purchasing sides to add to your canopy or pop-up tent to block the wind or rain. Invest in a small space heater and several fans to keep your booth at a comfortable temperature for customers and your product alike. Offering a cool drink of water on a hot day can entice potential customers to step inside your booth even for a minute or two. This combined with your excellent branding and stellar product display will leave a lasting impression and bring a smile to their face the next time they see you at the market!

Dress-up Your Display

If you already have a brick-and-mortar store or a farm/garden, you could take some of your smaller displays, shelves, and containers with you to hold your products. If you’re starting completely from scratch, you can save a couple of bucks by visiting a department store and purchasing particle board or plastic displays. If you have the time and love a good find then look no further than your local secondhand or thrift store. An old magazine rack, a sewing table, a cabinet with a broken door, all of these unique items could be used to display your equally unique products and catch the eye of passersby! Other easy embellishments you can add to your booth include tablecloths, decorations to hang from your canopy, bright on-brand clothing for yourself and any of your helpers, handmade (neat) signs, and decorative vases or other small trinkets.

Take Your Farmers Market Products Beyond The Booth

This section applies particularly to those of you who have yet to start your small business and will be using farmers’ markets as your launching point. Once you have established yourself at your local farmers’ markets you could take your products and success beyond the booth!

If you dream of turning this side hustle into your full-time job or just want to continue selling even when the markets have closed for the season, we have the resources to help you reach your goals.

Social Media Selling

Now that you have your branded social media accounts, it’s time to use them for more than just passive marketing. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, are just some of the social media platforms that have integrated the ability for their users to sell their products. Many of these platforms will also allow you to make a business account or page with tons of behind-the-scenes functional features and aesthetically pleasing systems for your customers to use.

Square

With no long-term contracts required, transparent pricing, no monthly fees, and built-in fraud detection, Square is one of the best choices for a new small business owner looking to take the plunge into eCommerce.

Square’s fees for online processing are 2.9% + $0.30, fees and include:

Square payment links
Square Online Checkout (payment buttons, links, social posts, and QR codes)
Customer pays on your website
Invoices (payment details entered)

The fees are different for cards already saved on file.

Other benefits of Square for farmers’ market vendors looking to venture into online selling:

Build a free Square store online, no pre-existing website needed
Square Checkout (comes free with all accounts) allows you to add payment buttons to just about anything, emails, text, social posts, etc.
Online Checkout allows you to create subscription services with recurring payments for your customers
Square Invoices ensure you get paid on time

Shopify

Like Square, Shopify is a cloud-based software that allows small businesses to sell both in-person and online. The main difference between the two is that Shopify does require you to subscribe to a monthly plan.

Here are the plans Shopify offers for users:

Basic Shopify, for $29/month
Shopify, for $79/month
Advanced Shopify, for $299/month.

There’s also Shopify Starter, for $5/month, if you want to be able to sell through social posts, email, SMS or anywhere with a payment link. Shopify Starter even comes with a simple storefront. Very large eCommerce operations may want to choose another plan, Shopify Plus, which starts at $2,000/month. This tiered payment system does ensure that you will never pay for more than you need. With almost unlimited add-ons, the ability to sell through your social media accounts, sleek templates, and a 14-day free trial period, Shopify is a great option for farmers’ market vendors looking to sell outside of the booth.

Read our full review of Shopify for more information.

Brick-and-mortar

The idea of opening a physical storefront might seem daunting, but once you start to establish yourself at your local farmers’ markets, it’ll be easier to imagine taking your small business outside the booth. If you’re ready to take the plunge, we have tons of resources for first-time small business owners.

One of the most important things to consider is how you’re going to fund this venture. We can help if you need to learn how to start a small business without any money.

Niche Websites

At the end of the day, there really is a place on the internet for everything! Here are some articles about our favorite places to sell your unique products:

Handmade products: Find The Best Place To Sell Handmade Items
CBD products: How To Sell CBD Online & Find The Best Platform For Success
Art: 10 Best Websites For Selling Art Online
Jewelry: Find The Best Place To Sell Your Jewelry & Grow Your Business

Is Starting A Farmers Market Booth A Good Idea?

As supporters of farmers’ markets and small businesses alike, we’ll never say no to starting your own booth. However, there is a lot of work that goes into having a booth at your local farmers market and it can take a long time to make back any funds you put into it. With the right research, planning, and execution, though, your booth can go far! The answer to this question is really up to you.

Put some time into networking with vendors at the farmers market in your community and find others who sell the same kind of products as you. Learn what they do well, hear where they could improve, listen to their experiences, and ask for advice!

If you want more information about the logistical side of starting a farmers’ market booth, check out our article How To Get A Booth At The Farmers’ Market: Research, Registration, Permits, Payment, Making Sales & More.

FAQs: What To Sell At Farmers’ Markets

How do you successfully sell at a farmers market?

The best way to market yourself at a farmers market is to use consistent and interesting branding, market yourself and your product, use your great customer service skills, and make your booth as unique as the products you’re selling!

What's the most profitable thing to sell at a farmers market?

The most profitable thing to sell at a farmers market is food! Whether that food is fresh produce, baked goods, pre-packaged cherished family recipes, or your own food truck, food has some of the highest profit margins at farmers’ markets.

How do you find farmers' markets to sell at?

The best way to find local farmers’ markets in your area is to do some research online, check out local message boards at your library, and pay attention to the sides on the side of the road as the weather starts to get better. Learn more about how to get a booth at your local farmers market.

How do you make an appealing farmers market booth?

There are many ways to make your market booth as appealing as possible. We suggest: Maintaining a comfortable and dry booth no matter the weather, using eye-catching decorations and displays, making easy-to-read (and branded) signage, and being friendly to passersby.

Bio
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Kymberlin Bush

Merchant Maverick Contributor

Kymberlin is a Pacific University graduate with a BA in Creative Writing. She has worked as a communications coordinator for a Portland-based nonprofit, a freelance writer, a copywriter, and a social media marketer. When she isn’t working on her fiction, you can find her spending time with her 22-pound black cat, Karou.

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Did you retain your employees during the COVID pandemic? You may be eligible for up to $26,000 per employee in tax credits. Find Out if You Qualify.

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