Farmers usually pay a fee for the space occupied to cover maintenance and advertising. Farmers markets often serve as business incubators for startup growers, giving young businesses a chance to get off the ground without the overhead expenses of a traditional business. Also, many large farm operators who sell most of their produce through conventional outlets use farmers markets to dispose of produce that does not meet the requirements of conventional outlets. Such products include undersized or oversized fruit, and fruit too ripe to withstand the rigors of the conventional marketing system. Produce is available in large quantities for canning, and consumers also find in farmers markets an opportunity to support local agriculture and meet the farmers who grow their food.
Farmers markets are also important social events.
People stop and talk, or exchange recipes. Money spent at farmers markets generally tends to stay in the community, benefiting farmers and townspeople alike. Farmers markets are being used to regenerate downtown areas. Advantages Sellers at farmers markets enjoy all the benefits common to direct marketing, such as cash payment, and the pride and fun in selling to the people who enjoy eating their produce. Farmers markets are the ideal place to experiment with new varieties, and get customer reaction before committing to planting on a bigger scale.