Happy Holidays! The year is almost over, but it’s not too late to post a last minute appeal for funds while your farmers market shoppers and fans have a few days left to earn 2021 tax deductions for their donations! Enjoy this Best of Tent Talk episode from last May, and find out how Kathy Newsom of The Corner Farmers Market in Greensboro, North Carolina gains financial support from community members, vendors, and local businesses.

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Best of Tent Talk: Kathy Newsom of The Corner Farmers Market

And just like that, 2021 is coming to a close! This week on Tent Talk we look back on all we accomplished this year and chat about our favorite episodes from the last 12 months. We also reflect on how well we did with our New Years Resolutions we made last December and set new goals for 2022. This week's episode is made possible by support from Vendor-101 and our incredible Tent Talk listeners (like you!). Happy Holidays!

Farmers Market New Years Resolutions

Our guest this week is Charlie Blonkenfeld, founder and owner of Bagelfeld's Bagels in Phoenix, Arizona. Charlie launched his bagel business in 2020 and he’s found a devoted following at farmers markets across the Phoenix area. His bagel operation quickly outgrew his rented commercial kitchen, so he launched a Kickstarter to cover the costs of expanding production and a brick and mortar location. Listen in to hear us talk about the trials and tribulations of launching a new business venture, the deep emotional bonds people create with bread, and how to pull off a successful crowdfunding campaign. This week's episode is made possible by support from The Kitchen Door.

Charlie Blonkenfeld on crowdfunding his new kitchen

We're so glad to welcome back our farmers market friend and unofficial 4th host of Tent Talk, Maya Madsen, owner & founder of Maya's Cookies! Maya just celebrated the 6th anniversary of launching Maya's Cookies and 1 full year since she opened her first brick and mortar location. In this episode we check in with Maya to see how she's holding up during her busiest time of year and we talk about the benefits of non-farmers market foodie events like vegan festivals and holiday pop-ups. As always, Maya has tons of great advice for farmers market foodmakers and small business owners! This week's episode is made possible by support from Loco Canopies.

Maya Madsen on vegan festivals and holiday pop-up events

Creating an end of year report for your farmers market is a great way to reflect on all that you've accomplished in the last year and can also be a helpful tool to communicate the impact your market makes in your community. This week on Tent Talk we discuss how to develop an annual report, what an annual report looks like, and who to share it with. We also chat about how to collect farmers market data and what to include in your end of year report if you don't have any hard numbers. This week's episode is made possible by support from MarketWurks.

Annual reporting for farmers market operators

This week our guest is Stefanie Stauffer, farmers market manager at the year-round Ann Arbor, Michigan Farmers Market, where farmers and vendors have been bringing fresh produce, farm products, prepared foods and artisan items to their community for 102 years! In our conversation, Stefanie tells us about the history behind this long-lived local institution and what it's like operating a market that's run by the Parks Department. We also chat food access and longterm DEI initiatives in farmers market communities. This week's episode is made possible by support from Market Link.

Stefanie Stauffer on managing a century old farmers market

This week on Tent Talk we're joined by Beth Satterwhite, farmer at Even Pull Farm a small, first-generation farm offering responsibly-grown produce and cut flowers in Yamhill Valley, Oregon. Beth and her partner Erik have been farming since 2014 and are a mainstay at the McMinnville Farmers Market. A few seasons ago they transitioned away from a traditional CSA and now offer a unique market share program. Their pre-pay system makes it easy for their regulars and helps cover the farm's operation costs in the off-season. Talk about a win-win! This week's episode is made possible by support from California Palms.

Beth Satterwhite on the perks of a market share program

There's no better time than the end of the calendar year to update your farmers market budget! This week on Tent Talk, we chat about the need for a realistic and accurate budget and how it can help you grow your business. We'll also give you some tips for staying within that budget and how to make those tough decisions if you find yourself overspending. Making a budget for your business doesn't have to be scary! This week's episode is made possible by support from Gusto.

Make a budget for your farmers market business and stick to it

It's November 1st and the end of year holiday countdown has begun! This week on Tent Talk we discuss how to make the most of the holidays at your farmers markets. We cover how to address tricky scheduling challenges, promotion and marketing opportunities for your market, and some vital holiday event logistics. Make those lists and check them twice! This week's episode is made possible by support from Food Business Success.

Preparing your farmers market for the holidays

For farmers market vendors operating on tight budgets, purchasing the tools or inventory necessary to get their business running at a higher capacity can be an on-going challenge. If only they had a couple thousand dollars, they could really push things to the next level! This week our guest is Jenny Heck, market manager at Mill City Farmers Market in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jenny oversees the Next Stage Grant Program, which was launched in 2013 to provide funding to local farmers market vendors who are growing toward the “next stage” of their local food businesses. In the years since, this program has granted over $240,000 to local farmers and food makers and improved the quality of farmers markets across the state! This week's episode is made possible by support from WhatsGood.

Jenny Heck on the impact grant funding can make for farmers market vendors

It’s that time of year again! Kids are going back to school, tourists are starting to head home, and there’s a slight chill in the air. Since many farmers markets across the country are wrapping up their 2021 seasons soon, this week we're sharing tips for closing out your market season on a high note and what to do during the “off season” to make next year even more successful. This week's episode is made possible by support from Vendor-101.

Wrapping up your 2021 farmers market season

Our guest this week is Vendor-101 grad, Libby Lefanowicz, the owner, founder and Chief Maker of plant-based desserts at Kula Ice Cream. In 2019, Libby founded San Diego’s first and only completely gluten-free and vegan ice cream company with a catch… her dairy-free frozen dessert actually tastes like real ice cream! In this episode Libby explains how she juggles increasing production and developing new flavors while also selling at multiple farmers markets a week, the importance of a well-trained staff, and future plans for her newly-opened commercial kitchen and scoop shop. This week's episode is made possible by support from Local Food Marketplace.

Libby Lefanowicz on building her plant-based brand at the farmers market

This week on Tent Talk our guest is Ashley Drakeford of The Capital Market in Capitol Heights, Maryland. As a 6th generation resident of Prince Georges County, she is deeply committed to seeing her community thrive and spearheading equitable change through access to fresh and healthy food. In this episode Ashley shares the story behind The Capital Market and the role it plays in bringing food justice and equity to her community. We also chat about the importance of vendor training and The Capital Market's produce buyback program. This week's episode is made possible by support from Nutrition Incentive Hub.

Ashley Drakeford on re-envisioning your local food system

It's been 18 months since the first round of COVID-19 shutdowns and some farmers markets that closed in response to the pandemic are just now starting to reactivate, or are planning to do so in 2022. But reopening a farmers market isn't as simple as flipping a switch! There's a lot that goes into jumpstarting a market that has been dormant. This week Catt, Brijet and Justine talk about what it takes to reopen an inactive market, from recruiting vendors to community outreach. This week's episode is made possible by support from InTents: the Farmers Market Conference.

Reactivating a farmers market that has been dormant

Our guests this week are Jonathan Przybyl and Amanda Abou-Eid, owners and bakers at Proof Bread in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Jon and Amanda took over an existing farmers market and wholesale bakery business in 2017 when their favorite bread vendor decided to retire. After four years of baking in their garage, Proof Bread has expanded into a commercial bakery space and is now sold at 5 weekly markets across Arizona. Tune in this week to hear Jon and Amanda's incredible story of how they've expanded their business while staying true to their farmers market roots. This week's episode is made possible by support from The Food Corridor.

Jon and Amanda on expanding their business while staying true to their farmers market roots

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. Tent Talk is produced by Farmers Market Pros.

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