Tent Talk, the farmers market podcast
Whether you’re a farmers market manager, a farmer or food maker selling at farmers markets, a policy maker or market supplier, Tent Talk is the podcast for you!
How to listen to Tent Talk
Stream our most recent episodes below or find Tent Talk wherever you regularly get your podcasts. With a new episode every Monday, Tent Talk brings you new farmers market knowledge on a weekly basis. There is so much that goes into farmers markets, and so many interesting people involved, we will never run out of material!
Search by keyword, topic or guest to find the episode you’re looking for!
Ep 347: Everybody Eats | Build A Bigger Tent: Better Together
This month we’re going to be talking about Building a Bigger Tent and keeping our commitment to making farmers markets a welcoming and opportunity filled place for everyone. We're also getting ready to launch some new ways to share information to make your farmers market more profitable and less stressful for farmers, producers and managers. Don't miss those upcoming announcements. Meanwhile, expect some shorter episodes this summer leading up to our next full season, and the occasional longer one. Dip into the archives anytime: there are currently almost 350 episodes there.
Ep 346: Are Farmers Present? | Defining Farmers Markets: Keeping Our Word
Wrapping up our series on defining farmers markets, we're chatting in this episode about what a farmers market is, and what it isn't. Whether inadvertently or intentionally, a lot of places and platforms and events are identified as farmers markets that don't meet the definition. Tents alone do not a farmers market make and the same goes for fresh produce. Are there farmers present? Does it happen regularly? We're intent on keeping our word. Speaking up for farmers markets means reminding people what a farmers market really is, and why that matters.
Ep 345: Shop Outside the Box | Defining Farmers Markets: Delivering Net Growth
In this episode of our series on defining farmers markets we consider online ordering and delivery services by looking back to a June, 2021 conversation with Christine Farren, Executive Director of San Francisco's Foodwise. Back then, the organization formerly known as Cuesa was redesigning the curated boxes developed on the fly during peak Covid into a delivery service managed with a logistics partner. Tune in as we discuss how online ordering and home delivery fits into the definition of farmers markets as a place where farmers and eaters form relationships.
Ep 344: Recognizing Best Practices | Defining Farmers Markets: Certified Success
Continuing our series on defining farmers markets we like to wonder: what if everyone in a region or in the country agreed on one set of best practices and one set of rules for farmers markets? In this episode we're talking with Dr. Kim Hutchison and Meredith Ledlie Johnson about how the Virginia Farmers Market Association has done just that. Bringing in multiple stakeholders helped create consistent standards. Education and certification of managers and farmers markets provides validation and a sense of pride. Leveraging that recognition to negotiate managers' compensation and public policy are additional benefits.
Ep 343: Farmer Jake Johannes | Defining Farmers Markets: Producers Take The Lead
Defining farmers markets starts with one common thread: the presence of farmers, selling to shoppers. From there all bets are off and protocols and structure can vary widely. This week we're looking back to a conversation with farmer Jake Johannes from the Sacred Sun Cooperative. He shares how the Brookside Farmers Market in Kansas City, Missouri is organized as an almost all-volunteer market. Farmers and vendors serve on the board, actively assisting a paid manager to maintain standards centered on local food and "radically sustainable practices".
Episode 301: Wendy Chen: Volunteering to Keep it Legal
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many farmers markets and we know that even market managers are sometimes labeled as volunteers. That labor of love is admirable. Is it legal? That depends, and it's complicated. Wendy Chen stopped in to discuss the answers to these questions and more.
Episode 300: Celebrating 300 Episodes of Tent Talk
It's hard to believe that we've produced 300 episodes of Tent Talk, the farmers market podcast, since we started almost five years ago. You'd think we might run out of things to talk about, but nope! There are so many ideas to explore, questions to ponder, and issues to delve into.
Episode 296: Vendor Story: Not Your Nonna's Sauce Co.
We love a good vendor story almost as much as we love Not Your Nonna's nut-free pesto, full of locally grown basil. Adrianna Zizzo operates her pasta sauce business in six farmers markets a week. Her fledgling business weathered pandemic protocols shortly after she launched. This summer her business is celebrating its five year anniversary. Devoted to using locally grown ingredients and no preservatives, Adrianna has built a devoted customer base and an extended market family.
Episode 295: David Thayer: America's Farmers Market Celebration 2024
It's a celebration, it's a contest, it's two exciting things at once and it kicks off this coming weekend. American Farmland Trust has operated America's Farmers Market Celebration for 16 years now. It offers a great chance to make your market more visible and engage your shoppers. The cash prizes are an added bonus. This year's contest is shorter and maybe a little sweeter than last year's, with some new rules in place.
Episode 287: Welcome to the Info Booth
Your Info or Welcome Booth is your market home away from home. It's often the place that shoppers and farmers and vendors find your team, where you sell fun merchandise, and where you process SNAP EBT transactions. All the things that apply to making farmers' and vendors' booths effective apply here too.
Episode 286: Taking Funding for Granted with Melissa Siwiec
What project could you complete if you had funding? The deadline for submitting Farmers Market Promotion Program grants is just 51 days away. This week, we chat with Melissa Siwiec, executive director of Pennsylvania's historic Lancaster Central Market, about the process of applying for and then implementing an FMPP funded project.
Episode 278: Hatching New Vendor Businesses
How can talented food makers learn to be successful farmers market vendors? In this week's episode of Tent Talk we're chatting about vendor education. Being passionate about your product is important; being fully prepared will increase sales and reduce stress. That makes small businesses enduring.
Episode 277: Chef Saeed is on Fire
Hot sauce is a fast growing category at our farmers markets nowadays, and Chef Saeed is on fire with his fermented sauces featuring unique flavor combinations. It's not just the taste that makes a food business successful though.