This week on Tent Talk we're joined by Corrina Smith, Executive Director of the Columbia Farmers Market and President of the Missouri Farmers Market Association. In our interview, Corrina reflects on what her market has been through in the last year and shares what it's like implementing COVID-19 safety protocols in her part of the country. We also discuss what we're looking forward to at this year's InTents: The Farmers Market Conference! Join us March 15th-18th - register today at farmersmarketpros.com/conference.

Bad days happen - even at the farmers market. Sometimes market managers and staff have to face disgruntled shoppers and tense situations. After almost a year of stay at home orders and COVID-19 restrictions, it seems like everyone's feeling a little on edge. On this week's episode of Tent Talk, we share some helpful tips and resources on how to de-escalate conflict at the farmers market. We also discuss the importance of relaxation and self-care in between market days. For more info on COVID-19 and ADA compliance, visit https://farmersmarketlegaltoolkit.org/resources/

This week we're joined by members of the Chicago Farmers Market Collective: Sheree Moratto of the Glenwood Sunday Market and Stephanie Jokich of the South Loop Farmers Market. Their organization brings more than 20 unrelated Chicago area markets together to share best practices and address challenges. In our interview, Sheree and Stephanie tell us how their collective was formed and the magic that happens when you get a bunch of farmers market managers in the same room!

For this week's episode of Tent Talk we bring you another presentation recored live at InTents: The Farmers Market Conference 2019. In this talk Brent Preston, organic farmer and author of The New Farm: Our Ten Years on the Front Lines of the Good Food Revolution, shines light on the complexity of our food system. Though he doesn't claim to have a quick-fix solution to these large issues, Brent offers an interesting paradigm shift for the way we approach food production. Register for the 2021 InTents, the Farmers Market Conference, MARCH 15-18th, 2021 and purchase the LEARN AND GROW ticket to receive access to a full year of exclusive content and extended Tent Talk interviews. Take advantage of super early bird pricing and register today at farmersmarketpros.com. Enter TALK21 at checkout for a discount on your registration.

2021 is almost here! It's still unclear how this year will pan out, but we're cautiously optimistic. This week on Tent Talk, we reflect on the past year and share our personal and farmers market resolutions for 2021. We also have a big update about the fifth annual InTents: The Farmers Market Conference. Tune in for our final episode of 2020!

This week on Tent Talk, our guest is Alison Einerson, executive director of Urban Food Connections, who oversees the Downtown Salt Lake City farmers markets. In addition to the trials and tribulations that all of us have faced in 2020, Alison and her organization have survived 2 natural disasters and had to relocate their indoor winter market just a few weeks before opening day! In our conversation, Alison shares how her markets have had to pivot in this unprecedented year and her clever approach to finding a new market location.

With the end-of-year holidays underway, market managers must decide how to adjust market schedules to accommodate their vendors and shoppers. Do you close your market if it lands on a major holiday? Or do you shift the hours or size of the market footprint? Or do you operate business as usual? It all depends on your vendors and shoppers! Today on Tent Talk we discuss what goes into making the call on whether to stay open, or take a day off.

It's rare for us to focus an episode of Tent Talk on anything other than farms or food, but 'tis the season to be crafty! This week we chat about the benefits of bringing non-food artisans into your farmers market mix, especially during the holiday season. Listen along for tips on how to curate your crafters, adjust market booth fees for non-food vendors, and how to integrate them into your farmers market marketing plans.

Now that it feels like midnight when it's actually only 4:30 pm, outdoor farmers markets have to adjust to the cold and dark that winter brings. This week on Tent Talk, co-hosts Catt, Brijet and Justine share some tips on how to keep your winter outdoor market bright and cozy for shoppers and vendors. We also discuss shifting holiday marketing strategies due to COVID and how to get shoppers out to your market despite inclement weather.

This week on Tent Talk we’re sharing a presentation by Sarah Marshall of Marshall’s Haute Sauce, recorded live at InTents, the Farmers Market Conference in 2019. Sarah shares helpful techniques to care for yourself, your team and fellow market participants while you nurture your business. In this unusual holiday season in an unusually stressful year, these thoughts are more important than ever. Register for the 2021 InTents, the Farmers Market Conference, February 15-18th, 2021 and purchase the LEARN AND GROW ticket to receive access to a full year of exclusive content and extended Tent Talk interviews. Take advantage of super early bird pricing and register today at farmersmarketpros.com. Enter TALK21 at checkout for a discount on your registration.

We love when our friend Maya Madsen, Vendor-101 grad and founder of Maya's Cookies, drops in to talk with us! Earlier this year, Maya had to pivot (like the rest of us) to stay afloat when COVID put a damper on farmers market operations. Then, in early June after her online store was included in a viral post highlighting Black-owned businesses, she had to hustle to fill thousands of unexpected orders. Now, not only is Maya the #1 Black-owned vegan cookie company in the US, she just opened a retail cookie shop! Despite what 2020 threw at her, Maya put on her big girl pants and made it work. Listen along to this week's episode to hear how Maya has juggled her farmers market operations, online sales and the opening of her new storefront.

Our guest this week is Cara Mae Wooledge of the Napa Farmers Market. Before taking on her current role as farmers market manager, Cara Mae had a career in public health with a specialty in infections disease, so the events of this year have given her the opportunity to apply many of her skill sets! In this episode we talk about how her market has adjusted to COVID-19 and what farmers market managers can do to promote shopping safe and shopping local this holiday season. To watch the CalFresh Market Match video the Napa Farmers Market team produced, visit napafarmersmarket.org/community/calfresh/.

This week on Tent Talk, we talk a little about where farmers markets are now, and what’s next. We don't dare make any predictions about what 2021 may bring, but we can make tentative plans and prepare for the best and worst. We also share some exciting news about our annual event. Registration for InTents: The Farmers Market Conference 2021 is live! Reserve your ticket today at farmersmarketpros.com/conference and use code TALK21 at checkout for a Tent Talk discount!

As the weather begins to cool, many farmers markets across the country are transitioning into their winter season. However, COVID-19 is still a present danger and poses numerous challenges to planning indoor markets and events. This week on Tent Talk we speak with Shawn Menard of Seacoast Eat Local in New Hampshire about overcoming some of these challenges. Shawn provides helpful advice on how to keep indoor markets open and safe for vendors and shoppers this winter.

This week our guest is Tent Talk co-host Justine's business and life partner Dave Mead! We talk with Dave about how his life as a musician led him to launch his farmers market business Baby Clydesdale Small Batch Hot Sauce. Dave also shares helpful insight into successful branding, attractive packaging, and honing his sales skills.

On this episode of Tent Talk we reveal some preliminary details of the fifth annual InTents: The Farmers Market Conference! Save the date for our live, online event February 15-18, 2021! We also answer some questions from our Farmers Market Pros Community about touchless shopping, vendors who've tested positive for COVID, and holding on to applications and market documents. Join us for an info-packed episode!

This week on Tent Talk we're joined by Lihlani Nelson, Associate Director and Research Fellow at the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School. In cooperation with the Farmers Market Coalition, the Vermont Law School developed the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit, which provides free legal resources, best practice recommendations and case studies. In this episode we discuss free speech issues at the farmers market and what market managers can do to reduce common legal risks. To access more free information, visit https://farmersmarketlegaltoolkit.org!

This week on Tent Talk, co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine discuss what happens when the management of an established farmers market changes. In this year full of changes that may be happening even more than in the past, for a variety of reasons. Whether you're a longtime market manager considering your exit strategy, a new manager who's inheriting a market, or a farmers market vendor curious about all that goes into a changing of the guard, you'll find this episode helpful! Listen along for tips on how to make that management transition as smooth as possible. 

Way back in February we had the privilege of meeting Tamara Cameron, market manager for the Boise Farmers Market, at InTents: The Farmers Market Conference. Much has changed since we last spoke, so this week, Tamara joined us on Tent Talk to share how she's forging ahead with her market season, despite the trials of COVID-19. By implementing new software programs, harnessing an impressive volunteer force and producing a creative socially-distanced fundraising event, Tamara has turned her seasonal market into a year-round drive-through farmers market to feed her community in Boise!

This week on Tent Talk our guest is Darian Washington, creator and operator of Oatmeal & Company, based in Austin, Texas. After her corporate job took an unexpected turn, Darian and her young son turned their side hustle into a thriving business at local farmers markets. Listen along to hear the inspiring story behind Darian's leap into farmers market success! 

This week Brijet, Catt and Justine answer some tough questions from Tent Talk listeners and members of the Farmers Market Pros Community. Listen along for tips on how to handle CPR certification and first aid at the market, managing gift certificates, and longtime vendors returning to markets after a COVID hiatus. Do you have a question you'd like us to answer on Tent Talk? Drop us a line at [email protected] or dm us on Instagram @farmersmarketpros.

Since farmers market managers across the country are dealing with fires, floods and pandemics, we decided to revisit our conversation with Sara Matlin of Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market from last summer. On this Best of Tent Talk episode, we discuss how to manage a market in an region with extreme temperature variances and enlisting the help of volunteers and interns to keep your market functioning. Want more Tent Talk content and access to extended interviews? Become a Farmers Market Pro member! Visit farmersmarketpros.com/support for details on how to sign up.

This week we welcome back Chris Quinlan, our trusty farmers market conference friend and creator of market management software MarketWurks. In Episode 4 of Tent Talk, Chris shared his experience during his 8-year tenure managing the Whistler Farmers Market in British Columbia. These days, Chris devotes himself full time to running Marketwurks, and consulting with farmers market managers to make their operations more efficient. On this episode, we catch up with Chris about how he's assisting market managers through the current challenges they're facing and what he thinks the future of farmers market-centric conferences will look like. To hear our full un-cut conversation with Chris, become a Farmers Market Pro member! Visit farmersmarketpros.com/support for details on how to sign up.

The Farmers Market Pros are thrilled to release the 100th episode of Tent Talk, the farmers market podcast. Over the last 2+ years co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine have had some incredibly enlightening conversations with farmers, food makers, market managers, policy experts and each other. In this episode we celebrate by sharing our favorite episodes and also make a few exciting announcements about new Farmers Market Pros projects that we've got brewing. We hope you'll join us this week, and the next week, and the next as we keep this podcast party going!

This week on Tent Talk, our guest is Greg Plotkin, Digital Communication Manager for American Farmland Trust, an organization focusing protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. Greg shares how farmers markets can participate in AFT’s 2020 Farmers Market Celebration, now underway. We also chat about the connection between farmers markets and agricultural conservation and how American Farmland Trust is supporting farmers through COVID-19.  Find out more about the 2020 Farmers Market Celebration at https://farmland.org!

The USDA recognizes more than 3,500 farmers markets and direct farm marketing organizations as eligible to accept SNAP-EBT, though many markets don't. With record numbers of people out of work or underemployed during COVID-19, these programs are even more important than ever. On this episode of Tent Talk, co-hosts Catt, Brijet and Justine talk about how accepting SNAP-EBT at farmers markets not only increases food security, but can also bolster vendor sales. Also, happy National Farmers Market Week!! Visit www.farmersmarketcoalition.org for free resources and information on how to celebrate this year. Remember: farmers markets are essential!!

This week on Tent Talk, we’re checking in with Maya Madsen of Maya’s Cookies to hear all about surviving and thriving after an unexpected large boost in her Black owned farmers market business! Maya updates us on all that her business has been through these past few months. Listen along to hear about Maya's hurdles, wins, losses, celebrity shout outs, missed calls from Netflix execs, supply chain issues, awesome customers, coming back to the farmers markets and on and on! 

In preparation for National Farmers Market Week, which is coming up August 2-8, our guest this week is Stephanie Fenty, Manager of Operations and Strategic Engagement at the Farmers Market Coalition. We talk about all the different ways markets can participate (while still adhering to COVID-19 safety regulations) and the amazing promotional resources the Farmers Market Coalition provides. You can download the free National Farmers Market Week Resources and Templates toolkit at farmersmarketcoalition.org!

In various parts of the country, farmers markets are still open, just opening, operating differently with drive throughs or curbside pickups or not opening at all. This week on Tent Talk, we’re talking with Ashlie Pesic, the farmers’ daughter at Da Le Ranch, about staffing to sell at multiple farmers markets and pivoting during COVID-19. Da Le Ranch is a Southern California meat and poultry farming operation that operates in several counties and cities, so they continue to deal with a variety of changing conditions and are well-versed in adapting to different farmers market health and safety requirements. 

This week on Tent Talk, co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine talk about the importance of vendor education. When new vendors take courses such as Vendor-101, or have a general knowledge of what it takes to sell at the farmers' market, it lays a strong foundation for a successful farmers market business future! Listen along for tips on where to start if you have no experience as a vendor, or if you're a market manager, how to launch a vendor education course of your own. 

Farmers’ market managers and vendors are dealing with even more than the usual regulations, physical labor and day to day jobs right now. In these trying times, when we can't gather in person, online communities provide some much needed support. For this week's episode of Tent Talk, we chat with some of the members of our Farmers’ Market Pros Facebook community about how your tribe of market industry people can provide support online and off.

This week on Tent Talk, co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine catch up on what's been going on in farmers' market communities across the country. From face masks and contingency plans to the nuances of social media messaging for your farmers' market, this episode covers a lot of ground! Listen along for tips and tricks from your farmers' market pros. 

Listen along to this week's episode of Tent Talk for an in-depth conversation between co-host Catt and Erin Tormey, farmer and director of Coastside Farmers Markets, recorded at the California Small Farms Conference back in February. They chat about creative ways to pull in farmers' market sponsorships and the reciprocal benefits of community-supported markets.

On this week's episode, Tent Talk co-hosts have an important conversation about the civil unrest taking place in many parts of the country and what that means for farmers markets. "Farmers market people are people who do things. Let’s band together. Let’s work for change." - Catt Fields White, founder of Farmers Market Pros Black Lives Matter. 

This week on Tent Talk, we’re replaying our inspirational 2019 interview with Eric Dobbs of Seven Seas Roasting Company. Eric’s passion for coffee led him from the military and law school to Vendor-101 and the farmers market where he launched his coffee roasting business. A few years later, Seven Seas is still in farmers markets even now that they have 2 successful brick and mortar coffee shops.

As areas begin to reopen and loosen restrictions surrounding COVID-19, many farmers' markets are reopening for the summer season. This week on Tent Talk, co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine discuss how reopening cities, businesses and public spaces may impact farmers' market operations. 

This week on Tent Talk, co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine look on the bright side and discuss the silver linings they've discovered in spite of the many changes farmers markets have faced in the last few months. Listen along for a sliver of optimism!

On this week's episode of Tent Talk, we hear from Daniel and Kasi Haire of the Nolensville Farmers’ Market in Nolensville, Tennessee about how they implemented a drive-through format to adjust to new farmers market health and safety guidelines.

On this week's episode of Tent Talk, co-hosts Brijet, Catt and Justine catch up with with Maya Madsen of Maya’s Cookies. They discuss how farmers market food makers are coping with stay-at-home orders, farmers market restrictions, and pivoting to online sales. Listen along for tips from Maya on how her business is surviving and thriving amid the COVID-19 lockdown. 

We’re still talking about the current public health emergency since, like everyone else, farmers, food makers, and farmers market managers are still operating under conditions that change daily. On this week's episode, we chat with Christine Farren, Executive Director of CUESA, about how to cover operations costs when your farmers market has been modified to operate under current public safety guidelines. Listen along for creative ideas on new revenue streams, fundraising, and utilizing volunteers. 

Stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders are still impacting the lives of farmers market managers, small farmers, food makers, and…everybody in the whole world. On this week's episode Catt, Brijet and Justine discuss some of the nuts and bolts of dealing with reformatted farmers markets as we enter the frayed nerves stage of COVID-19. 

While many states, cities and counties have different rules about keeping farmers markets open during COVID-19, on this week's episode of Tent Talk, we chat about the important role farmers markets play and why they should be considered one of the "essential" businesses allowed to remain open.

In this week's episode, Catt, Brijet and Justine discuss the impact of COVID-19 on farmers markets and how market managers, farmers and food producers are pivoting their businesses to adapt. 

As concerns surrounding COVID-19 increase, the roles farmers markets play in local food systems become more and more important. This week on Tent Talk, Catt, Brijet and Justine discuss the importance of keeping markets open, while also implementing heightened safety measures. Listen along for logistical tips for managing markets, while also keeping staff, vendors and the public safe. 

On this week's episode of Tent Talk, Catt and Brijet discuss the current challenges faced by farmers, food producers, and market managers in midst of growing public health concerns. Listen along to hear how markets around the country are coping with COVID-19.  Follow us! @FarmersMarketPros Sign up for our email newsletter at: www.FarmersMarketPros.com 

This week on Tent Talk, Catt and Brijet will teach you the four A's that will help you manage your time and avoid burnout. Avoid! There's another A!  Keep up on all things Farmers' Market related with our weekly email newsletter! Sign up on our website: www.FarmersMarketPros.com

On this week's episode of Tent Talk, Catt and Brijet answer a listener question about the challenges of using social media for your markets when your event is owned by the city. Tune in for tips for navigating this tricky subject. 

This week Catt is at the Washington State Farmers Market Association Conference in Tacoma, so she caught up with fellow conference speaker, Katie Green of Wild Hare Organic Farm. Katie shares what makes a great farmers market from a farmer's point of view and how she juggles markets, farming, a successful CSA program, and family life.