As a distinctive food packaging design agency in Florida, we’ve seen a lot of businesses launch from the ground up, including many new juice and homemade cookie businesses. If you’re launching a similar business, you might be wondering where the best place to sell them is!
You’ve decided to dive in and start selling grandma’s cookie recipe with your twist on it or the mango-chutney salsa your friends always request you bring to their parties. Maybe everyone around you has been encouraging you to sell your desserts. If only the people at Whole Foods would try your product, you would be in every Whole Foods across the country!
Even the biggest companies have to start somewhere! But when you’re just starting, it can be hard to figure out where to sell your products.
Read on to find out where to sell your juice and homemade cookies in Miami, how working with a savvy food packaging design agency can help, and how to get started!
Why is a Miami farmer’s market a good place to sell your juice or homemade cookies?
If you create juices or baked goods, then a farmer’s market may just be the perfect avenue to your targeted audience. A large majority of Americans– two-thirds, in fact–live close to a farmer’s market.
Farmers’ markets give you an opportunity to test your products out with your audience and build a following, giving your company a track record, before you approach major retailers like Whole Foods or Publix.
Local brands such as Tio Gazpacho and Expressed Juice first got their start at farmer’s markets in Miami before expanding into major retailers and restaurants.
Finding farmer’s markets online can be tricky, since each farmer’s market operates independently. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a list of farmer’s markets that have chosen to register.
The Marketing Group, is another great resource to locate Miami farmer’s markets. Groups like this promote the markets, allowing you to focus on your products.
You can also keep your eyes peeled for local markets when you are spending time around town. Locating them might take some work, but there are plenty out there!
Choosing a farmer’s market to sell your juice or homemade cookies in Miami
Before you choose which farmers’ market you would like to sell your homemade treats or cold-pressed juices, you should visit the farmers’ market to see if it is a good fit for you and your products.
Just like when working with major retailers later on, it’s important to make sure that you’re selling your products in the right space.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Are the buyers at this farmer’s market my customer?
- Are there similar types of products to mine at this market?
- Who is my competition? How am I different from them?
- How do my prices compare to the products being sold?
Next, you need to call up the marketing group that handles the market. If you’re unsure, you can find a point person on the market’s website or contact a representative through social media avenues such as Twitter or Facebook. Make an appointment and bring samples of what you will be selling.
Giving away samples
Samples are a great way for potential customers to try your food or beverage! Keep in mind that many people suffer from allergies to gluten, nuts, and eggs. If you can, try to address these pain points with allergy-friendly options, or at least a gluten-free product or two.
Cater your samples to the area that you’re selling. For example, organics may be more prized on Lincoln Road than in the Redlands.
Using your own kitchen
Each venue will have a set of guidelines addressing cottage food laws. According to foodsafety.gov, “cottage food laws are basically laws that allow small-time producers to use appliances in their homes to bake, cook, can, pickle, dry or candy certain low-risk foods for sale. By contrast, state laws require all other food producers to process foods in licensed kitchens.”
In short, cookies, breads, candies, pies and lovely jellies and jams can be made in an unlicensed kitchen, whether home or industrial, if sales are below $15,000 per year. Products, as a caveat, must be sold directly to the consumer. That means that farmers’ markets are an ideal venue to take advantage of those cottage laws!
Contacting food packaging design companies in Florida
You might think that when you sell at a Farmer’s Market you don’t need to worry about packaging. But the truth is that investing in quality packaging will help set you apart from the other options and quickly build a loyal customer base.
As you design your packaging, think about what makes your product unique. Is there an image or a symbol that represents you? It’s never too early to start thinking of yourself as a business and a brand.
A professional packaging design agency or designer can help you create eye-catching packaging that attracts customers.
For more resources, check out our guide to food packaging design!
Selling at the market
Preparation is key to make your time at the farmer’s market successful. Most farmers’ markets require vendors to bring their own tents and tables. The market sponsors are not required to supply anything other than space.
You might have trouble figuring out how much product to bring at first. Sales can fluctuate quite a bit, especially when you’re just starting out. One week might bring hardly any sales, while the next you sell out in less than an hour. The high season for farmers markets in South Florida is mid-December to May. Plan accordingly and try not to get discouraged with your first few times!
Making connections and spreading your brand awareness
Farmer’s markets give you the opportunity not just to expand your brand awareness, but also to hear valuable feedback from your customers.
As you sell, listen to what people say about your products. Pay attention to whether they are bringing their friends and family to come try your product. Take any constructive criticism in stride and consider applying it in the future!
Make sure to engage with your customers, sharing your story with them. Talk about why you are selling your product and what got you started. Make connections and build relationships with them.
Once you have advocates of your product, it will be much easier to grow your customer base and get your product on shelf in Whole Foods or Fresh Market.
List of Miami farmers’ markets
Here is a list of great Miami farmers’ markets to sell your products when you are just starting out:
MIAMI-DADE
The Arsht
Mondays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami FL 33132
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org
Aventura Mall Market
19501 Biscayne Blvd,
Aventura, FL 33180
aventuramall.com/aventura-market/
Civic Center Station
Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1601 Northwest 12th Ave
Miami, FL 33136 (located near Jackson Hospital)
305-531-0038.
Coconut Grove Organic Market
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday
3300 Grand Ave.
Coconut Grove
305-238-7747 or glaserorganicfarms.com
Collins Park Marketplace
Closed in the Summer and Fall
2100 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
In Front of Bass Museum
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org.
Farmers Market at Government Center
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday
101 NW First St. (Metrorail Station)
Miami, FL
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org
Farmers Market at University of Miami
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday (August-April)
1300 Miller Dr.
Coral Gables
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org.
Legion Park Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
6601 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33138
urbanoasisproject.org/
Lincoln Road Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Lincoln Road between Washington and Meridian avenues
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org.
South Miami Farmers’ Market
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
6000 Sunset Dr
Miami, FL 33155; (786) 600-1200 or urbanoasisproject.org
South of 5th Market
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Triangle lot bounded by Alton Road
1st Street and Jefferson Ave on South Beach
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org
Vizcaya Village Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
3250 S Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33129
(786) 600-0120 or urbanoasisproject.org
Wynwood Farmers Market
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
2178 nw 2nd Ave
Miami, FL
786 210 0143 / 305 479 7263
BROWARD
Las Olas Sunday Market
4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
333 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale
305-531-0038 or themarketcompany.org
Yellow Green Farmers Market
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
1940 N. 30th Rd.
Hollywood, FL
954-513-3990 or ygfarmersmarket.com
Growing Beyond the Farmer’s Market
Just because you’re starting small doesn’t mean you can’t dream big. Some of the most successful startups were once right where you are!
Commit to making steady improvements and spreading your brand awareness. Before long, you might just have that space at Whole Foods that you’re dreaming about! Be sure to read our spotlight post on Juicera, a cold-pressed juice brand that started right out of a home here in Miami, and ended up expanding to over 150 vendors!
Working with food packaging design companies
An imaginative food packaging design company can help you determine your brand image, create professional packaging within your budget, and set yourself up as a credible company.
At Crème de Mint, we have helped many small juice and cookie businesses launch with the perfect packaging for their brand and budget!
If you’re ready to start selling your juice or homemade cookies, we’d love to help you with your food packaging design. Together, we can create the brand image that will set you apart from your competitors, attract the attention of customers, and set you on track to success. Before you know it, you’ll be able to go from farmer’s markets to a professional business! Our award-winning branding agency would love to help you get started. Contact us today!