Cookaholics Bulletin Board

My local farmer's market has switched days again...this year it's going to be on Friday, making it feasible for me to participate. That, coupled with the fact that Colorado recently passed cottage food laws which make it possible for me to sell certain items (baked goods, preserves, etc.) that are made in my home kitchen. This is attractive, as my overhead would be low (no need for a commercial kitchen rental). On Fridays where I have other catering commitments, I've got people who could handle running a booth.

So...what baked goods would make you buy at a farmer's market?

Amy

Cinnamon rolls, bread, muffins, scones. In other words, breakfast items. They sell like hotcakes at our local market.

Pies also do very well as nobody likes to make them any more.

Frosted things don't seem to do so well. Maybe they don't travel or maybe it's the heat but they don't fly out the door like the other items mentioned.

Best of luck

fitzie

What Fitzie said. I'm also partial to anything that can constitute a light lunch, like a meat pie/jamaican patty. I rarely go to our local farmer's market, but when travelling like to go and it's great to be able to get a meal there or items that will last on our trip/campsite.
The only thing I go to our market for is a superb smoked trout that the vendor keeps vac sealed in a cooler.

I would buy something that can make a light meal as well - maybe a tomato tart, or foccacia with grilled vegies on it. And I agree with the pies, esp. those with seasonal fruit. Nobody likes to make pies.

Unique breads sell well at our markets...and mini breads sell well ( at least I will buy a small olive bread, since I might only want to serve it for one dinner, but don't want bread hanging around the house). I see lots of scones and cookies at our Denver markets, too.

A great "value added" product would be Marilyn's Toffee. I intend to make and sell some to support our churchs Community Garden. I intend to rebrand it as "Community Toffee" I like the play on words...

I'd totally buy focaccia.

I wish I had a great farmer's market near me! If I did, I'd be interested in coffee cakes, muffins, cookies, breads, croissants, tarts, mini pound cakes, flatbread pizzas...

What is your "break even" volume per hour? With something as perishable as baked goods and the fact that some of them will remain unsold at the end of the market, it may be helpful to back into products to sell by analyzing how many must be sold and how much the selling price needs to be.

Will the audience allow you to get $4.00 for a muffin or $8.00 for a loaf of specialty bread? Is there any established competition in your product niche? Is making a profit important or is visibility to sell other other products your prime motivation?

Oh Jim, there you go with that thinky stuff.

I agree with many of the above comments, but I'd also consider mini-pies because you can set a lower price point and not everyone wants a whole pie (too much commitment).