2006 Farmers Market Association Survey Questions

NEW HAMPSHIRE FARMERS’ MARKET ASSOCIATION

42 Highland Avenue, Milford, NH 03055

603-673-5792 nhfma.org

In partnership with NHMade.com

Sponsored in part by grants from: The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food and Stonyfield Farm, www.stonyfield.com

2008 Farmers Market Association Survey

Vendor Questions:

The enclosed survey is being conducted by the NH Farmers’ Market Association, nhfma.org.

We are not asking for you to identify yourself and the surveys have not been coded.

Please compete the survey and return it to your market manager BEFORE September 26, 2008.

You do not have to answer all the questions.

Why are we conducting this survey?

When looking for the economic impact of farmers markets for both farmers and local communities—the NHFMA doesn’t don’t have a good, concise answer, nor one that is consistent. Unfortunately, the ones asking these questions are often government officials and legislators on local, state and national levels and therefore, consistency is paramount.

The NHFMA estimates that NH farmers’ markets grossed over $1.5 million in 2004. Where did we get those numbers? Jointly, the NHFMA and the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food (NHDMAF) conducted surveys of the NH farmers' markets following the 2003 and 2002 market seasons. The results of these surveys are available on the NHFMA web site, http://nhfma.org/#survey. These surveys were sent to the market managers and asked approximately 60 questions, such as the number of vendors, the types of products sold, market operations, and projected revenues by the vendors.

All responses to this survey will be used by the NHFMA for data collection purposes to respond to inquiries such as those noted above.

If you wish to contact the NHFMA, you may reach them by:

Email: info@nhmfa.org

Phone: 603-673-5792

Mail: NHFMA, 42 Highland Avenue, Milford, NH 03055

Thanks you for your assistance in this survey and for participating in a NH farmers’ market.

Sincerely,

Kris Mossey

President, NHFMA

2008 Farmers Market Association Survey

Vendor Questions:

Please answer the survey questions by: either circling YES or NO or by circling the numbers choices given and/or by filling in the blanks. Please provide written comments to any question in the remarks section at the end of the survey. You do not have to answer all the questions.

How many markets do you sell at? Please circle one entry: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more

What items do you sell? Please circle YES or NO on the following items that you sell. You may circle more than one.

Baked goods YES NO Maple syrup & maple products YES NO

Crafts YES NO Meat products YES NO

Dairy products YES NO Potted plants YES NO

Eggs YES NO Poultry YES NO

Fiber goods & crafts, e.g., baskets, Processed foods, e.g., jams, jellies,

sweaters, and wool YES NO pickles YES NO

Fresh flowers YES NO Seafood & fish YES NO

Fruits & berries YES NO Seeds YES NO

Herbs YES NO Soap YES NO

Honey YES NO Vegetables YES NO

Wood crafts & products YES NO

How many years have you been selling at farmers’ markets? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more

Does your market have enough vendors? YES NO

What other product vendors would you like to have at your market? You may circle more than one.

Baked goods YES NO Maple syrup & maple products YES NO

Crafts YES NO Meat products YES NO

Dairy products YES NO Potted plants YES NO

Eggs YES NO Poultry YES NO

Fiber goods & crafts, e.g., baskets, Processed foods, e.g., jams, jellies,

sweaters, and wool YES NO pickles YES NO

Fresh flowers YES NO Seafood & fish YES NO

Fruits & berries YES NO Seeds YES NO

Herbs YES NO Soap YES NO

Honey YES NO Vegetables YES NO

Wood crafts & products YES NO

What factors would encourage new vendor participation?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ Continue in the remarks section.

What is the fee structure for selling at your market?

Daily fee? YES NO. What is the fee? ____________________________________________

Seasonal fee? YES NO. What is the fee? __________________________________________

Percentage of sales fee? YES NO. What is the percentage fee? ________________________

How many customers buy from you on daily basis? 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more

Does this market have a manager? YES NO. Is the manager also a vendor? YES NO.

Does this market have an annual meeting? YES NO.

Does this market have bylaws? YES NO. Do you have a copy? YES NO.

Does this market have membership criteria? YES NO.

Does this market have product guidelines? YES NO. Do you have a copy? YES NO.

Does this market require you to carry product liability insurance? YES NO. General Liability? YES NO. Both forms of insurance? YES NO.

Is this community supportive of this market? YES NO.

Do local and state regulations support your market and agriculture? YES NO.

What changes would you like to see to state and local regulations affecting farmers’ markets?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ Continue in the remarks section.

Does this farmers’ market contribute to economy of this community? YES NO.

Does the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program contribute to this market? YES NO.

Are there any changes you would like to see in the WIC FMNP? YES NO.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ Continue in the remarks section.

Would this market be willing to redeem food stamps? YES NO.

Would you as an individual vendor be willing to redeem food stamps? YES NO.

For further information on accepting food stamps, please contact Robert Hughes, USDA Field Office OIC, Concord, NH 03301, Phone: 603-225-5253

Would you attend a “redeeming food stamps workshop?” YES NO.

What do you consider to be the barriers to redeeming food stamp benefits? Licensing? YES NO Communications infrastructure? YES NO Recipient demand? YES NO Other?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ Continue in the remarks section.

Have you ever attended an NHFMA annual meeting at the NH Farm & Forest Exposition? YES NO.

What are some beneficial educational topics you are interested in?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ Continue in the remarks section.

Would you participate in a “certified or recognized” vendor program? YES NO.

Would you find a “How to Sell at a Farmers” Market” book helpful, if the book also contained references to NH state regulations? YES NO.

What are some of the topics a “How to Sell at a Farmers” Market” book should cover?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________ Continue in the remarks section.

Have you visited the NHFMA web site, nhfma.org? YES NO.

Have you visited the NH Made web site, nhnade.com? YES NO.

Are you aware of the partnership between NH Made and the NHFMA? YES NO.

Did you know that NH Made was established to promote small businesses (including farmers’ market vendors) and their local NH products? YES NO.

For further information on NH Made, please contact Laurie Ferguson or Ann Vennard at New Hampshire Made, Inc, PO Box 150, Andover, NH 03216, Phone: 603-766-4560 or 1-888-647-8674.

Have you visited the NH Farm to Restaurant Connection web site, nhfarmtorestaurant.com? YES NO.

Did you know that NH Farm to Restaurant Connection was established to connect small growers and food businesses (including farmers’ market vendors) with local restaurants? YES NO.

Did you know you can sell your products online at nhfarms.com? YES NO There is no fee for this!

For further information on NH Farm to Restaurant Connection, please contact Charlie Burke at 603-286-4282 or Gail McWilliam Jellie at 603-271-3788 or by email at info@nhfarmtorestaurant.com

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

Would you be willing to serve on the NHFMA board of directors? YES NO.

Do you have a farm stand or a retail establishment? YES NO

What are your estimated annual sales per market? (circle one of the following ranges):

$1,000-$3,000; $3,000-$5,000; $5,000-$7,000; $7,000-$9,000; $9,000 or more

Remarks Section

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