Was?
What am I talking about? Was? It's only August and we are closing the stand down for the summer session in a week or two?
The great news is this: everyone loved our selection of unique produce that we grew on our 8 acre farm. Eleven types of melons.... three peppers.....various squashes....and then the figs and peaches...pluots too! Everyone loved our selection of unique produce so much...we sold out!
The good news is that we will re-open late October with our Blood Oranges....late tomatoes..and much more.
The idea of offering a "self serve - self pay" stand came with with lots of skeptical friends and family that thought sure..... that it was not an good idea. As I remember as a child....this type of idea was very common at many fruit stands.....back then in the 50's. Turns out that the faith I have in our community that there are lots of honest citizens...was right. We experienced just one issue in the last two years. Whoa!
This year the stand was vastly more successful than last year. We stocked with more of a variety....this helped sales intensely. We placed a scale out there too.....which we did not have last year. Advertisement was intense...using strictly five Face Book community sites. We offered that clients write us a IOU note if they were short on the money (BIG success). A- frame signage on the street for passing traffic. I was out there a lot too....talking to clients...explaining what certain produce was (we have melons that looked alien)....and that created a solid "return customer" base. We also started a Farm to Home delivery service.....which is a huge success.
Next year we are lined up to do two local Farmer's Markets.....sales to other fruit stands...and a few "Mom and Pop" stores......and the Farm to Home delivery service. That's right...I know exactly what you the reader.... is thinking bout now........if we sold out everything this year...how can we keep up with next year's demands?
We are expanding....creatively :-)
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