What To Sell At A Farmers Market: 15 Highly Profitable Ideas

By Zach Buchenau

June 25, 2021

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we will get a commission (at no cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase. Please read our affiliate disclosure for more information.

Are you wondering what to sell at a farmers market? Look no further.

Selling your own products at a farmers market is a fantastic way to earn some extra money. In fact, some people even make their full-time living this way. So, to put it simply, it’s more than possible for you to start a lucrative side hustle or thriving business by selling items at a farmers market.

All you need to do is to choose the right product to sell.

Fortunately, in this article, we’ll cover some of the best ideas for things to sell at a farmers market, so you can start earning some serious cash.

Let’s get selling!

what to sell at a farmers market: 15 best items | Be The Budget

1. Produce

Do you love gardening?

Is your garden overflowing with more produce than you and your family can eat?

If so, selling produce at farmers markets may be right for you.

While the farmers market isn’t just for farmers, you can certainly turn a profit selling fruits and vegetables if you are one.

Many people flock to the farmers market on weekends to buy freshly grown produce instead of buying it at the grocery store.

You could sell seasonal fruits and vegetables, and you could sell some unique produce items that people won’t typically find in the supermarket.

One way to set yourself apart from other produce sellers is to offer unique items like fresh herbs or dried fruits.

Think outside the box about what you can grow!

You Might Also Like:

2. Baked Goods

If you love baking, selling baked goods at a farmers market is a no-brainer.

There are limitless possibilities for what you can make, from breads to cookies to homemade pies and cakes.

And seriously, you have the potential to earn a lot by selling these types of items at the farmers market.

You may choose to go the more classic or traditional route and offer a wide variety of baked goods, similar to most bakeries. Or, you could niche down and create just one specific type of baked good.

If you show up enough, you may begin to gain a reputation for that one baked good you make better than anyone else.

Another way to differentiate yourself is to sell baked goods for special dietary needs, like gluten-free, sugar-free, or vegan items.

3. Flowers And Plants

Flower bouquets are iconic at farmers markets. They bring people joy and provide them with something to spruce up their homes.

And the best part is, you’re not just limited to only selling cut flowers.

You can sell potted houseplants, outdoor plants, or even seeds for people to grow their own plants.

Get creative about the flower varieties and types of plants you grow.

Also, it’s important to remember that certain types of flowers sell well for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, prom, and Independence Day. You could even sell floral arrangements specifically for these occasions if you grow the right types of flowers.

Selling plants at a farmers market is a phenomenal way to share your love of gardening with others and to earn some money while you’re at it.

4. Eggs, Milk, Cheese, And Meat

If you raise your own chickens or cattle, you could share the products from your farm with your community at a farmers market.

These items tend to be extremely profitable because it can be difficult for people in many places to find local animal products. Plus, tons of people are eager to support smaller, local farmers instead of large factory farms.

If you don’t have your own livestock, you could make and sell homemade cheeses.

You could even ditch the animal products altogether and sell a variety of different dairy-free cheeses.

It would require some creativity in the kitchen, but you’ll be sure to appeal to the vegans and those who are lactose-intolerant!

5. Bath And Beauty Products

More and more people are looking for all-natural bath and beauty products as we learn more about the toxins and chemicals in many of the products we use every day.

For this reason, natural bath and beauty products are some of the best things to sell at a farmers market.

There are lots of different types of items you could sell in this category.

For example, you could sell homemade soaps, deodorant, skincare products, bug repellant, body scrubs, bubble bath, and more.

The farmers market is the perfect place for you to sell your natural concoctions.

To make your products stand out, you could create them all using the same base ingredient, like beeswax or essential oils.

You could earn even more money by selling product sets or bundles to encourage people to buy your products as gifts.

6. Honey

If you’re a beekeeper, or if you have a beekeeper friend who could benefit from your help, sell your bees’ delicious honey at farmers markets.

Honey is an excellent natural sweetener, and it also provides many health benefits, especially when it’s local.

Local raw honey can help combat seasonal allergies, kill bacteria, and soothe sore throats.

You could add additional flavors to your honey and allow people to sample the different varieties at your farmers market stand.

Also, you don’t have to only sell honey in its pure form – you could sell other honey-related products like bee pollen or beeswax.

7. Beverages

If you’re not sure what to sell at a farmers market, why not start selling beverages to thirsty shoppers?

Think back to your lemonade stand days – people were always willing to stop for a cup of fresh squeezed lemonade on a hot summer’s day.

There are plenty of different beverages you could sell at a farmers market.

You could make your own craft beer or wine for people to purchase. Or, you could serve up homemade hot chocolate, coffee, or apple cider on cold mornings.

Think about what you can do to make the beverages you sell unique.

Most farmers market shoppers come for the experience, so entice them with something they can’t pick up at the average grocery store.

8. Handmade Crafts

Handmade arts and crafts are another great idea for items to sell at a farmers market. So, put your art skills to good use and start earning money with them!

The world of handmade items is vast, and you can sell pretty much anything you’re good at making.

In fact, here are a few examples of homemade craft items you could sell:

  • Knitted or crocheted items like blankets, sweaters, socks, hats, and scarves
  • Stained glass art
  • Small sculptures or wood carvings
  • Small handmade kitchen tools and appliances
  • Hand-painted greeting cards or stationery

You don’t have to be a professional artist to sell the items you make.

As long as you can create items that are beautiful and unique, you’ll have a good shot at selling them!

9. Homemade Canned Goods

Shelf-stable canned goods like jams, jellies, and preserves tend to sell particularly well at farmers markets. They make great gifts, and many people prefer to buy natural, homemade products as opposed to those that have been sitting on grocery store shelves for months.

If you can’t grow your own berries or produce to use for your canned goods, you may be able to partner with another farmers market seller.

You could turn some of their local fruits and vegetables into new, shelf-stable creations.

As with the other ideas on this list, think about ways you could make your products unique by infusing new flavors or unexpected ingredients.

This will help you stand out from the crowd.

10. Candles And Soaps

Some of the best handmade items to sell at a farmers market are candles and soaps.

You don’t have to have a lot of talent or skill to create them, and there are plenty of ways to make your products unique.

For example, you could make candles out of soy and market them as cruelty-free and vegan.

Or, you could create unexpected scent combinations for your soap and candle products.

You could even name your products after local sights or nearby towns to appeal to tourists looking for souvenirs.

All you have to do is create some cute packaging for your products, and you’ll be good to go!

11. Pet-Related Items

Don’t forget about the farmers market shoppers’ furry companions!

Most sellers at farmers markets are focused on providing products for people, so you could go against the grain and create products for their dogs or cats.

You might consider creating special dog treats that are both healthy and delicious.

Or, if you’re less inclined to sell food items, you could make and sell pet accessories like leashes, collars, and toys.

The dog owners at the farmers market won’t be able to resist!

12. Nuts And Seeds

Nuts, seeds, and trail mixes are the perfect things to sell at a farmers market.

Why?

Because these types of snacks are great for people looking to satisfy their grumbling stomach while they peruse all the local vendors.

You may choose to go the all-natural route and offer nothing but raw nuts and seeds. Or, you might jazz them up a bit with your own blends of herbs and spices.

Get creative, and pay attention to which items sell the best.

13. T-Shirts And Clothing

Another way to make money selling items at a farmers market is to create and sell custom clothing.

If you have good fashion sense and are able to design and make your own clothing, you can make a profit from your efforts by selling at a farmers market.

Or, you could use an online service to print custom designs on T-shirts and other clothing items.

Farmers markets often appeal to tourists, so you could create a few clothing items that represent your city or state.

Do your best to create items that reflect your unique style, and offer a wide selection to shoppers.

14. Specialty Foods

Still not sure what to sell at a farmers market?

Try to think of novelty food items that make good gifts or occasional treats. Or, come up with a way to transform a standard kitchen staple into something special.

For example, most people have extra-virgin olive oil in their kitchens. But not everyone has chili garlic olive oil or fruit-infused olive oil.

There are all sorts of clever ways you can make ordinary food items unique.

Whether you create your own hummus flavors or stuffed olives or mustard, creating a specialty food item will allow you to charge more than if you were to sell something more traditional.

Put your own creative twist on a food of your choice, and you’ll have the perfect product to sell at a farmers market!

15. Made-to-Order Food

After a long day of shopping, people at farmers markets get hungry!

Therefore, if you’re a good cook, you could set up a food stand and sell made-to-order food.

You’ll likely need to sell just a few specialty dishes to keep your inventory needs low and to appeal to more customers. Also, you should try to stick to foods that are easy for shoppers to carry around with them and eat on the go.

You could sell food items like sandwiches, burritos, kettle corn, corn dogs, corn on the cob, pizza slices, empanadas, or ice cream.

Selling prepared food at a farmers market will require you to have certain equipment, and you may need some extra hands to help serve all your hungry customers.

Despite the overhead and up-front costs, you can make quite a lot of money by selling made-to-order food at farmers markets!

Final Thoughts

If you want to make some great side cash on the weekends, selling items at a farmers market is a great way to go!

Not only can it be lucrative, but few things are more fun than selling your products out in the beautiful sunshine.

The question is, what are you going to sell at a farmers market? Be sure to leave your answer in the comments below.

Zach Buchenau

About The Author:

Zach Buchenau is a self-proclaimed personal finance nerd. When he isn't writing about budgeting, getting out of debt, making extra money, and living a frugal life, you can find him building furniture, fly fishing, or developing websites. He is the co-founder of BeTheBudget, and Chipotle's most loyal customer.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Direct Your Visitors to a Clear Action at the Bottom of the Page