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Wi-sunflower · November 23, 2008

For packaging check out Monte. They are in Western Mich. and have a web site. If you grow just red tomatoes, you will have to have absolutely PERFECT tomatoes to sell them for any kind of decent price. Any cracks or blemishes and you will be about giving them away. People that have been exposed to heirlooms tho will be at least a bit more tolerant of some imperfections, especially if you name the tomatoes on your exhibit.

All of our tomatoes sold better when we had enough to keep them sorted and named. IF you are able to sell at an established farmers market be very careful to follow any rules established by the authority running the market. Many of the markets around me are run or at least overseen by the local "health dept". Because of that we need a scale that can be certified "legal for trade". Hanging scales or "baby" scales need not apply. Check out what your state requires as far as HOW different products can/have to be sold.

In Wisconsin, cherry tomatoes can be sold by the pint basket. Many sellers also sell the large types in quart containers, but to be legal you have to post an "average" or "minimum" weight. When selling "bulk" such as "seconds" or canners, you need to post the weight or min. also.

While giving samples is a good idea to get sales, be careful there too. Cherry tomatoes are OK as you can just let customers take a tomato. But if you need to cut anything for a sample size taste, any "health dept" MAY say you can do the cutting only if you have a "licensed kitchen" (the type of place where you might make jams or muffins). My biggest market is a PITB about NO samples that need to be cut. Really kills melon sales. But Hubby's market doesn't care, so he does better with that stuff.

Be sure to grow several kinds of cherries / grape tomatoes. That way even if your weather screws up your big tomatoes and makes them hard to sell, usually the small stuff is still OK. Also if you have a greenhouse / cold frame / high tunnel or whatever where you can get a jump on the season, do something with it. Even if you don't start tomatoes REALLY early so they are ready in May, any jump on the normal "field" season for your area will get the customers to you for "vine-ripe" flavor. And you will get a better price for that short time before all the field tomatoes come in.

November 23, 2008	#4
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	For packaging check out Monte. They are in Western Mich. and have a web site. If you grow just red tomatoes, you will have to have absolutely PERFECT tomatoes to sell them for any kind of decent price. Any cracks or blemishes and you will be about giving them away. People that have been exposed to heirlooms tho will be at least a bit more tolerant of some imperfections, especially if you name the tomatoes on your exhibit. All of our tomatoes sold better when we had enough to keep them sorted and named. IF you are able to sell at an established farmers market be very careful to follow any rules established by the authority running the market. Many of the markets around me are run or at least overseen by the local "health dept". Because of that we need a scale that can be certified "legal for trade". Hanging scales or "baby" scales need not apply. Check out what your state requires as far as HOW different products can/have to be sold. In Wisconsin, cherry tomatoes can be sold by the pint basket. Many sellers also sell the large types in quart containers, but to be legal you have to post an "average" or "minimum" weight. When selling "bulk" such as "seconds" or canners, you need to post the weight or min. also. While giving samples is a good idea to get sales, be careful there too. Cherry tomatoes are OK as you can just let customers take a tomato. But if you need to cut anything for a sample size taste, any "health dept" MAY say you can do the cutting only if you have a "licensed kitchen" (the type of place where you might make jams or muffins). My biggest market is a PITB about NO samples that need to be cut. Really kills melon sales. But Hubby's market doesn't care, so he does better with that stuff. Be sure to grow several kinds of cherries / grape tomatoes. That way even if your weather screws up your big tomatoes and makes them hard to sell, usually the small stuff is still OK. Also if you have a greenhouse / cold frame / high tunnel or whatever where you can get a jump on the season, do something with it. Even if you don't start tomatoes REALLY early so they are ready in May, any jump on the normal "field" season for your area will get the customers to you for "vine-ripe" flavor. And you will get a better price for that short time before all the field tomatoes come in.