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I think I like this forum because I've always been a wannabe market grower. I just checked out the first page and several ideas ocurred to me. They may be old news but here goes.
When I lived in Italy in the early 70s, all the markets had bunches of fresh basil with the tomatoes. It's a tradition and free for the customers to grab a few sprigs. The bright green also spruces up the display. It's one of the easiest things in the world to grow and a few plants would do all season. Also, theres a variety called Magical Michael that forms beautiful pot plant, a perfect globe that should sell once you had them trained to like fresh basil. The Italian markets also offered free parsley sprigs. This idea could be adjusted to fit any ethnic clientel.
My area has a great produce place that's a regular store on Main Street. A lot of extra traffic stops just to buy their boiled peanuts which are cheap at $1 a pound. Of course when they get in there they see other stuff they just have to buy.
They grow most of their produce in season but some things they buy from friends and neighbors for resale. I have an extra early variety of plum that they always buy. Maybe you know someone who would plant a staggered crop of a certain thing for a negotiated price. Something you don't have time or the room to bother with.
They always a few pots of some kind of eyecatching or uncommon flower or foilage plant. They never have many but they seem to have a different kind every time I go in there. I think they are selling them mostly as an impulse item.
They also offer local honey, dog treats and a few specialty jellies, probably on consignment.
They use the clear storage bags with a twist tie to sack up overripe tomatoes. They label them as soup tomatoes for $1. You could try that before the compost pile.
Just a few thoughts. I love farmers markets and I hope all you guys prosper. It would be so depressing without people like you. You are our relief from the chain stores all offering produce varieties grown only for good looks and shelf life rather than taste.
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