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CAP_TURTLE
Adventurer


Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 1,135
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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mushrooms for the market
#19303556 - 12/20/13 03:43 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'm just curious for those of you who sell at farmers markets, do you keep your mushrooms somehow refrigerated? If so how?
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SkysTheLimit
A curious mind


Registered: 07/28/13
Posts: 168
Loc:
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: CAP_TURTLE]
#19303930 - 12/20/13 05:07 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I went to a farmers market a few days ago, and this guy was selling portabellos, he had a pretty big refrigerated eski where he kept his mushrooms, im not sure if it was refrigerated with ice or a cooler.
There's eskis that can be hooked up to car batteries or recharged at home.
good luck selling
-------------------- Hmm...
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Sweedill
fungophile



Registered: 12/12/13
Posts: 30
Loc: North Carolina piedmont
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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I've used a small cooler with ice packs and a big tote with ice packs, or a frozen gallon milk jug wrapped in a towel. I'll set a few out on the table, or all of them depending on the weather. I have my mushrooms boxed up in clear plastic pints with a sticker. I don't necessarily like selling them that way though and am interested to know how other people market their mushrooms.
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Amanita virosa
botanist by day


Registered: 12/04/11
Posts: 2,458
Loc: north kakalacky
Last seen: 6 months, 17 days
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: Sweedill]
#19304718 - 12/20/13 07:30 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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We keep them refrigerated in a fridge until market. No need to refrigerate while ur there but a mist bottle helps on the hotte.st days. We used to pack them in clam shells but found our customers much preferred them in baskets. Our sales doubled when they could pick what they wanted.
Edited by Amanita virosa (12/20/13 07:33 PM)
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pseudotsuga


Registered: 06/29/11
Posts: 947
Loc: usa
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Around here you'll find them either in clamshells or paper trays, but the growers will put out most if not all of their mushrooms on the able as table full of mushrooms catches more eyes than just a couple on display.
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
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Quote:
Amanita virosa said: We keep them refrigerated in a fridge until market. No need to refrigerate while ur there but a mist bottle helps on the hotte.st days. We used to pack them in clam shells but found our customers much preferred them in baskets. Our sales doubled when they could pick what they wanted. 
After they pick them out of the basket do you put them in clamshells or something else? We use clamshells, 100g in the small and 200g in the large. We make many mixed large boxes with 3-5+ varieties in them; these are our best sellers. We have a 3 teir display for the clamshell container, and we leave the lids open so people can see the mushrooms, and pick out the box that looks best to them. We usually have about 10lbs in clamshells on the table, and the rest is stored in coolers with ice pack. When some boxes get sold ill take some out to the coolers and weigh more clamshells out. This way the mushrooms are only un-refridgerated for a few hours. I cant find a picture now, but I'll look for one of our display.
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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Amanita virosa
botanist by day


Registered: 12/04/11
Posts: 2,458
Loc: north kakalacky
Last seen: 6 months, 17 days
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: Aleon]
#19308155 - 12/21/13 01:53 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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They just load them into perforated bread bags. We do pack clam shells for a few wholesale accounts but our tailgate customers like the mix and match option. Also saves money and time. Bags are way cheaper and prepackaging all that mush takes time. The tropical oysters can get beat up as u know by rough customers but overall folks have been pretty kind and gentle. I was reluctant to switch from the clambshells but am glad I did.
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FoxFire
Energized Matter



Registered: 07/17/05
Posts: 1,281
Loc: PNW
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I like the way clamshells look, but the plastic puts me off.
I did big baskets full of mushrooms on the table with my scale right there next to them. Weighed and bagged per order into small white paper bags that I stapled with my business card.
I have a stand up fridge that I can stack boxes in after harvest, but at the market, no refrigeration. I imagine I'll need a large cooler in the dead of summer though.
-FF
-------------------- Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.
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CAP_TURTLE
Adventurer


Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 1,135
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: FoxFire]
#19315264 - 12/23/13 08:50 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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What I ended up doing was small plastic tote containers with one inside of another with ice on the bottom. I filled them up as they emptied and did the weighing myself and placed them into paper bags. I kept the stock behind the counter inside of a plastic blow up pool with ice in it then capped it with another pool as well which seemed to work rather well. The dead of summer is what I somewhat worry about plus the cost of ice. Everything went exceptionally well for my first market though and I cannot wait for the next one!
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: CAP_TURTLE]
#19315285 - 12/23/13 08:54 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
CAP_TURTLE said: What I ended up doing was small plastic tote containers with one inside of another with ice on the bottom. I filled them up as they emptied and did the weighing myself and placed them into paper bags. I kept the stock behind the counter inside of a plastic blow up pool with ice in it then capped it with another pool as well which seemed to work rather well. The dead of summer is what I somewhat worry about plus the cost of ice. Everything went exceptionally well for my first market though and I cannot wait for the next one!
Don't use ice, use ice packs. Buy once, reuse tons of times. Glad your market went well; hopefully your not turning people off with your rigged kidie pools lol
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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Sweedill
fungophile



Registered: 12/12/13
Posts: 30
Loc: North Carolina piedmont
Last seen: 9 years, 2 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: Aleon]
#19315772 - 12/23/13 11:26 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Or just fill empty plastic milk or jugs with water and store them in the freezer until you need it. Free and they work awesome if you have the freezer space.
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CAP_TURTLE
Adventurer


Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 1,135
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: Sweedill]
#19330194 - 12/26/13 07:22 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Oh man my last post didn't take for some reason. I think I painted a poor mental picture for you. From what I seen the cheapest I could get the little ice packs for were a dollar a piece and I figured i'd need nearly 50 of them and thats with teh amoutn I have now. I don't know where i'd find affordable coolers able to fit all the mushrooms I took. But anyways the ice is only the cost of ziplocks to hold it in and this conforms to any given shape since I have different sized containers for various mushrooms. I can keep the ice in a cooler til needed and add fresh at any time. The pools I used were inflatable so they saved room while transporting as well as were square so I could fit them under the table to where no one even seen them or me getting new loads out. Also the two fit together perfectly with 2 layers of totes which I can rotate if needed. I'll have to take a picture next time. I actually got a lot of compliments on my set up while there. Especially for being a first timer they said I had more than alot of them have after years of collecting things. I was prepared to say the least. The pioppinos were a hit if I hadn't already said that. I wanted to have more kings ready by the next one as well as several other ones but having family over all week put me off schedule so I will be stuck with the same variety again but can't wait to offer more. I thank many of you for helping me get to the point I am at though and look forward to growing even more right along side you guys
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MObeek
Novice



Registered: 03/24/13
Posts: 163
Loc: Northwest MO, USA
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: CAP_TURTLE]
#19331713 - 12/27/13 04:20 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Congratulations on your first successful farmer's market sales! Looking forward to seeing the set-up pictures.
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mrtumnas
Oyster-licious



Registered: 05/15/10
Posts: 186
Last seen: 9 years, 4 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: MObeek]
#19331927 - 12/27/13 06:52 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've been selling at markets for 6 years or so. Various things, not just mushrooms. My advice is to never keep things in a cooler out of sight if you can avoid it. You always sell more if you have ALL your product piled on the table. It creates a feeding frenzy or something lol. I must the mushrooms, they dry out a little by the end, but not much, if I keep them misted
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CAP_TURTLE
Adventurer


Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 1,135
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: mrtumnas]
#19332019 - 12/27/13 07:42 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I was worried people would see misting as trying to keep weight up or something to that effect. I kept a few pounds of each on the table at a time and I kind of thought the people would look at that as I'm taking care of the product and keeping it as fresh as I could. But I still have a lot to learn. The summer months will be where the learning curve hits since right now I'm indoors.
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: CAP_TURTLE]
#19332354 - 12/27/13 09:57 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Nope people want to see the stock. I have mine laid out in lovely baskets at the front of the stall and the rest of the stock in my large bail trays to the rear or side fpr packing "grab bags"- but they are like a magnet for people to look in just to see what is being hidden, as if there might be something I don't have on display!
I take pics of my stall at every market and the difference between my first and 80th in terms of layout, appearance, product etc is amazing - not to mention turnover!
I just take a mister for the summer.
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
Edited by solarity (12/27/13 09:58 AM)
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: solarity]
#19332393 - 12/27/13 10:10 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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In fact just for a laugh this is roughly 2 years apart:
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
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CAP_TURTLE
Adventurer


Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 1,135
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: solarity]
#19332700 - 12/27/13 11:47 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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That is truly inpirational Solarity! Thanks for sharing. I see alot of people let customers pick their mushrooms. There is no problem with this? Also, when selling by weight and letting people pick them, do you charge by calculating the price or require them to hit a set amount? I was selling by 4oz and packing them myself and of course would go over. This led to alot of people saying "oh thats alright" after asking for a 4oz package when it'd weight closer to 8 oz lol Of course there has to be a limit to this since you want people to pay more if they want more. I'd like to let people pick their own but this requires more change, more damages, etc. Interested to hear more details on everyones setups and pics
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: CAP_TURTLE]
#19333719 - 12/27/13 05:18 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have the produce on show in baskets but 95% of what I sell is mixes in either in a £3($4.50) clamshell/punnet that I make up the night before or a £5 ($7.50) brown bag that I build on the stand (I always have a few £6,£7,£8 bags too) I almost always serve if the customer wants something from one of the baskets - often they will point to the exact bouquet they want.
The punnets/bags are faster, and because they are evenly priced making change is quick. Assembling the bags means that I am always busy so when there is a rush no one is waiting. It also means I get to double check the produce, trim any really thick stems and balance the bag contents so I don't run out of one variety!
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
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Re: mushrooms for the market [Re: solarity]
#19334299 - 12/27/13 08:05 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
solarity said: In fact just for a laugh this is roughly 2 years apart:

Nice, im digging your setup
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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