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Tent Talk

InTents Business

Tent Talk is a podcast for farmers' market managers, farmers, food makers, and anyone who counts on farmers’ markets as a source of income. Please join us as we interview farmers’ market experts, talk about ways to improve local food communities, and provide you with tips on building a successful farmers’ market business.

  • 3 minutes 32 seconds
    Ep 325: Happy Holidays

    Whether you’re observing  a holiday this week or not, remember that you are a gift to your communities every week of the year. We hope you find time to rest and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Wishing happy holidays to all who celebrate and peace to one and all.

    23 December 2024, 9:32 am
  • 32 minutes 11 seconds
    Ep 324: Holiday Gifting
    The season for holiday gifting is here! Whether you're a market manager, farmer or vendor, we have great tips for remembering all the people who have supported you this year. It really is the thought that counts so if gifts aren't in the budget we suggest other ways to acknowledge the people you appreciate. Grab your list, check it twice and listen in to this spotlight episode from 2023 as we discuss:   • Who's on our holiday list • Useful gifts for your team • Shopping local, of course! • Big impact on a low budget
    16 December 2024, 9:32 am
  • 20 minutes 58 seconds
    Ep 323: Give and Let Give
    For some folks making year-end donations is a tax strategy. Others just feel generous this time of year. It's a perfect time to bolster your farmers market's fundraising efforts and finish the year with a balanced budget. Even though your core market business is hopefully self sustaining, many market organizations also provide educational programs and supplement nutrition incentive programs. Those are efforts your community can help support. Listen in as we talk about how to make that ask effective: 
    • Be specific about why you need support
    • Explore the best ways to reach your fans
    • Give your followers the opportunity to give
    • Report back on results and say thank you
    9 December 2024, 9:44 am
  • 40 minutes 4 seconds
    Ep 322: The Fourth P: Be a Farmers Market Pro
    We've been talking about the 4 Ps for market success since we started our Vendor-101 class almost 15 years ago. Product, packaging or presentation, personality and today's focus: Professionalism. Farmers markets are a shopping environment where one vendor's actions and attitudes can affect a lot of people's businesses. Be a most valuable farmer or vendor by remembering some of the things we're chatting about today:
    • Being timely during the application process
    • Ways to build trust with shoppers
    • Communicating the "why" helps 
    • Remembering kindness counts

     

    2 December 2024, 9:32 am
  • 44 minutes 12 seconds
    Ep 321: James Grevious: Rebel Courses
    This week we caught up with James Grevious of Rebel Marketplace in Aurora, Colorado. Since he last joined us on Tent Talk, he’s been addressing  challenges around establishing a consistent location and a sustainable business model. Staying rebellious, he  continues to create neighborhood food security with a hyper local farmers market. Along with today's update, it's a pleasure to share our talk with James that was originally broadcast in August 2023. 

    Listen in For James' views and tips on:

    • Intentionally developing and incubating urban farmers 
    • Increasing community capacity from the inside 
    • Balancing market growth and operator capacity 
    • Weighing community needs and financial security
    25 November 2024, 9:44 am
  • 29 minutes 4 seconds
    Ep 320: Youth in the Booth
    Inviting young people to vend at your farmers market can foster a new generation of market entrepreneurs and delight your community. Sure, there are challenges. It can be a trick to be sure that kids meet permit requirements. Their grown up is probably going to have to sign for insurance. Figure it all out and watch as family and friends come out to support the youngsters and maybe get hooked on farmers market shopping for the long term. Listen in as we consider:  
    • Exploring local regulations for under age vendors 
    • Deciding whether friendship bracelets fit your farmers market 
    • Providing sales tips and training to kids
    • Making sure your consistent vendors benefit too
    18 November 2024, 9:00 am
  • 30 minutes 23 seconds
    Ep 319: Staff Evaluations

    Whether you're a farmer, maker or market manager, if you have a team, providing them with feedback will make their work life and yours better. It doesn't have to be awkward or uncomfortable to discuss workplace performance. (OK, sometimes it can be.) If you've provided employees with expectations and the tools to meet them, this is just a checkup. We're talking today about how we make these chats productive for everyone involved, including: 

    • Giving people a chance for self evaluation
    • Hire in a hurry? It's never too late to share job descriptions. 
    • We're all motivated by know the why behind processes 
    • Bosses can benefit from feedback too: listen!
    11 November 2024, 9:44 am
  • 34 minutes 45 seconds
    Ep 318: Kasi Haire: Making Fundraising Delicious
    What could be a more fitting fundraiser for a market organization than a dinner featuring local chefs and farm fresh ingredients? Organizing a farm to table dinner or a cultural food festival is a little different than coordinating a farmers market. Kasi Haire of Nolensville Farmers Market in Tennessee assures us that much of the skill set is the same: planning, staffing, renting equipment and marketing. Listen in to hear how and why her market keeps finding new ways to help people do good by eating well, including:  
    • The pros and cons of serving dinner on a farm
    • What to consider when budgeting for your event
    • Why fundraising is just one of the goals
    • How to use special events to incubate new vendors
    4 November 2024, 9:00 am
  • 55 minutes 17 seconds
    Ep 317: Fee Here Now: Collecting Market Rent
    Bookkeeping is yet another of the many hats that farmers market managers wear. There are so many formulas for setting space rent at markets and, especially post-Covid, a whole variety of ways to manage calculating and actually collecting those fees. Do you use a market management program with built in invoicing? Are you adding up percentages of sales and handling cash at the market? Either way, there's plenty to consider and to communicate to make sure things run smoothly. Let's talk about:
    • Pros and cons of flat fees and percentage of sales rates
    • Calculating processing fees vs labor costs
    • Reimbursing for nutrition incentives 
    • Understanding penalties for missing markets or late payments 
    • Building trust with clear communication 
     
    28 October 2024, 8:00 am
  • 47 minutes 7 seconds
    Ep 316: Jessica Mullen: Learn, Teach, and Grow

    How do you learn and grow in your farmers market career? We met Jessica Mullen of South Carolina's Travelers Rest Farmers Market when she traveled to San Diego for InTents, the national Farmers Market conference. In this episode of Tent Talk, Jessica shares what she finds valuable about InTents and other conferences and networking with other market professionals. She's all about learning, and also about offering educational opportunities at her market.

    Listen in for Jessica's tips on:

    • Interactive programming for kids
    • Simple cooking classes at the market
    • Using data to educate your community
    • Funding education for farmers and vendors  
    21 October 2024, 8:00 am
  • 25 minutes 32 seconds
    Ep 315: Conference Look Ahead
    What's new and exciting, and what's comforting and familiar about InTents, the multinational Farmers Market Conference? Join us for a quick look ahead to what's in store in March 2025.   What's NEW: 
    • 2025 Theme: Speak Up for Farmers Markets!
    • Brand new venue with rooms and meeting spaces under one roof
    • Central location with shops and restaurants and the beach nearby
    • Break out tracks for new and experienced market managers
    • Special sessions for market farmers and vendors
    What's FAMILIAR:
    • Speed-friending session lead by Cara Mae Wooledge
    • Making your market or business financially sustainable
    • Tons of networking time with people who get you
    • Local food, inspiring talks, (mostly) sunny San Diego
    14 October 2024, 8:44 am
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