Growing vegetables commercially takes space and planning.
If you are good at growing vegetables and always have plenty left over during the season, you might try selling your vegetables commercially. Growing vegetables for profit is different from growing vegetables for personal use, because the product has to be clean, bug-free and presented in large enough quantities to impress retail shoppers or wholesalers. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prepare a business plan that accurately describes expectations, marketing ideas, costs of fertilizer and seed, pest and weed control, yield expectations per square foot and equipment costs. Also, find a low-cost vending area in relation to its location. High traffic areas are necessary if you don't have access to a local farmer's market. If you live in town, you might sell directly off your farm.
2. Map out the garden area you'll be using for production by designating what vegetables will be planted and at what times of the year. Remember that crops have to be rotated on 2- to 3-year cycles. You cannot plant the same vegetable the same place every year due to pests and nutrient depletion. Defining yield per square foot for each vegetable is important so you can see if each product is profitable, so keep good records.
3. Build or furnish a processing area with access to clean running water for washing leaf vegetables and preparing vegetables for market. A processing area that is sheltered from cold and rain will make this part of the job much easier.
4. Pick vegetables over several days and store in cooler if necessary, as there is not enough time on market days to pick and process everything, because some markets open early.
5. Make your display area at market as attractive as possible. Clearly label prices and offer free samples of some produce such as tomatoes or melons. Have plenty of change available for customers. Dress clean and neat on market days and make sure your hands and fingernails are clean as you'll be showing and handling a food product.
Tags: Growing vegetables, growing vegetables, market days, processing area, square foot