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!
Episode 270: Holiday Gifting
Tis the season for holiday gifting! Farmer, vendor or market manager, it's time to remember your employees, volunteers and maybe some of your great customers or loyal CSA members. If material gifts aren't in your plan this year, we’ve got tips for other ways to acknowledge people who have supported you this year. It really is the thought that counts, and a special thank you can go a long way.
Episode 269: Rules of Engagement
Social media is a perfect example of a blessing and a curse. Engaging with your online community can strengthen existing connections, while inspiring and educating potential new shoppers. Navigating the comments? That requires a whole different skill set and sometimes a tough skin. There's nothing more fun than conversational volleys with your followers. But as we all know, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows in the comments section.
Episode 268: Winning Websites
Whether or not you have a robust social media presence, your website is your markets' home. Whether you're a market manager, a farmer, or a vendor, use your website to tell people the who, where, what and maybe why of your farmers market business. This is a great time of year to take a look at what's there, what should be, and what might be streamlined.
Episode 267: Sounding Off On Surveys
Many of us are winding up our seasons, so why not take some time to listen, gather some data, and look at our markets from a different perspective? Opening a channel for honest feedback can help you improve, understand, and grow your market. No matter what you’re asking, surveys are one more way to communicate with your farmers, vendors, and shoppers.
Episode 266: Best of: Kathy Zeman on Effectively Advocating for Small Farmers
Ever wonder why farmers markets and small farmers don't have a bigger say in public policy? Us too! This week on Tent Talk, we brought in an expert to help shed light on the big issues that small farmers are facing. We learned a lot and it confirmed that the old addage is true: the squeaky wheen gets the cheese!
Episode 265: Best Of: The Best Time for Sponsor Outreach
In this episode we discuss the importance of budgeting for your market and why you should be connecting with potential sponsors now, rather than waiting for "charitable giving" season. We also give you some helpful tips on the most effective ways to reach out to sponsors.
Episode 264: Inspect for Success
Unpopular opinion: inspections can actually be great! Of course, as market managers, farmers, and self-employed business owners, we definitely like to make our own rules, but it’s important to remember that inspections provide value in maintaining a market’s integrity and keeping things safe.
Episode 263: Sina Pleggenkuhle: Trading Places
Say it together, folks: OUR JOB IS WEIRD! Minnesota Farmers Market Association Director of Engagement and Inclusion Sina Pleggenkuhle chats with us about how widely varied experience qualifies us for all kinds of positions in the farmers market world and adjacent.
Episode 262: The Beginning of the End
It’s the beginning of the end…. end of year planning, that is! Heading into the fourth quarter means the holidays are upon us, folks. Get planning for Halloween costume contests, thanksgiving recipes, special holiday markets and events, and if you’re lucky, latke cook-offs. It also means tackling some less exciting clerical stuff and reports.
Episode 261: Chris Cirkus: Competition or Coalition: Working with Produce Distributors
We all advocate for farmers keeping the full retail price of their products by selling at farmers markets. So are produce distributors competing with markets for chefs' dollars and sometimes home shoppers? Or are they providing one more valuable income stream for farmers?
Episode 260: 5 Years of Tent Talk!
This week we celebrate 5 WHOLE YEARS OF TENT TALK! 🎉🎉🎉 It has been an absolute delight creating this podcast week after week, and it wouldn’t be possible without you, our listeners!
Episode 259: Cara Mae Wooledge: Fundraising The Bar
Cara Mae Wooledge invites us into the world of fundraising for Farmers Markets! It can feel uncomfortable asking your community to contribute financially to your market beyond simply shopping there. However, it helps to remember that it’s not just a money ask, it’s an invitation to be part of what we do, and an opportunity grow community connection around local food.
Episode 258: 108 Degree Burnout
We know being a grower, vendor, or market manager is not a job for the faint of heart. The danger of burnout is REAL, Y’ALL! Don’t forget to make time for yourself and take a deep breath once in a while.
Episode 257: Farmers Markets: Long Term or Springboard?
Are farmers markets a space for long term business success, or a springboard for your product to make it into wholesale?
Episode 256: Catt Fields White: What’s Next for the InTents Conference
Inside the evolution of InTents: The National (actually, multi-national) Farmers Market Conference.
Episode 253: Best Of with B. Griffin on Dealing with Stressful Circumstances
B. Griffin on pivoting in stressful situations.
Episode 252: Application Excavation
Hot tips on how we process applications for our markets and approaches used by some of our fellow market managers.
Episode 251: Learn, Teach, & Grow with Jessica Mullen
Jessica Mullen on how she continues to learn and grow in her career as a farmer’s market manager.