Barter to increase profits at farmers market

Jimy Connon

Ok here is my concept , figures are hypotheotical. I grow potatoes ,go to my local farmers market and sell say ten bags at 5 euros an apple producer goes to his local market and sell s his apples for 2 Euro a bag. I agree to value my potatoes at 3 euro a bag and the apple producer his apples 1.50 a bag .I barter 10 bags of potatoes for 20 bags of apples we agree to sell to the public at the new barter price and thus I get paid for my potatoes through the sale of the apples which I keep, I come to a similar arrangement with a veg grower. I have reduced my prices but increased my sales and by cutting out the middle man an able to sell produce at wholesale prices to the public competing with the multi nationals. I am also selling my produce by proxy at two new markets without the inconvience and cost of attending . Is this scheme barking Mad or should I consider it further. Thank you for reading

spideog7

Your explanation doesn't make any sense, are you selling the apples or keeping the apples? Why do you want so many apples if you're keeping them and what makes you think you can sell apples easier than potatoes if you're selling them?

You didn't make it clear if ye are all at different markets or the same market. If different markets then it's simply a distribution chain (ie you're becoming a greengrocer), if the same market then it sounds like you've successfully setup a cartel.

Jimy Connon

Hi, maybe I was not clear. Yes, it is a distribution chain I want to setup. I can grow 1000's of bags of organic potatoes. I want to sell to the public in large volumes, but it is not viable for me to have a stall at many farmers markets. Imagine there is an apple producer in a similar situation. We agree to barter our produce at the wholesale markup price and sell to the public at very competitive prices. So I barter a tonne of potatoes for a tonne of apples. I sell these apples along with my other produce at the markets I attend, realising the value of the potatoes when I sell the apples at the barter price. Yes in a way we have become green grocers as well as growers. I was wondering have other growers ever experienced a system like this?

spideog7

Jimy Connon wrote: »

Hi, maybe I was not clear. Yes, it is a distribution chain I want to setup. I can grow 1000's of bags of organic potatoes. I want to sell to the public in large volumes, but it is not viable for me to have a stall at many farmers markets. Imagine there is an apple producer in a similar situation. We agree to barter our produce at the wholesale markup price and sell to the public at very competitive prices. So I barter a tonne of potatoes for a tonne of apples. I sell these apples along with my other produce at the markets I attend, realising the value of the potatoes when I sell the apples at the barter price. Yes in a way we have become green grocers as well as growers. I was wondering have other growers ever experienced a system like this?

Much clearer. System makes sense to me, you could probably try asking in a different forum also, maybe over in the farming section you'll find someone with more direct experience.

andrew

moved to the farming and forestry forum

keep going

Correct me if im wrong but are just getting less for your produce since nobody is going to buy your potatoes at your stand for 5 euro if they are for sale at another market for 3 or does the apple fella sell at 5 euro as well.if so thats fine but I thought these farmers market was all about the touchy feely producer buyer connect but maybe im wrong