Farmer's Market?

[greyfields]

Quote:
We can sell frozen meat from coolers in our County, but cannot on the adjoining County, but can on the County the other side of that. The biggest issue is all the handling of the meat unloading it from freezers, into coolers, off to the market, then back again. Our set-up we have freezers in a permanent barn and store all our meat there during the summer. It's beautifully simple, which is nice since we still have day jobs and are always scrambling to get to the market set up by 2pm on a Friday.

I would not be selling at many farmer's markets if we didn't have the setup we did. We have the only on-farm Farmer's Market in our State, which is a luxury since it's on private property.

 

[ole-crone]

Our city has a ordinance that states no animals are allowed in areas where people gather - i.e. parks. etc. I asked if the market moved to the street if that would make a difference and the answer was no - once the market moved to the street, that equaled people gathering. It is a $150 fine to bring a dog to market.

I don't like dogs at market - maybe it's because of the one that pee'd on my tablecloth but mostly because I know how uncomfortable they make my husband. It was also scarey to watch the two dogs fight that day with the little kid in the middle.

We all love our dogs and have a tendency to assume others feel the same way. I just wish people would realize that others don't.

 

[jaku]

Greyfields- you mentioned to me your non-grass-eating theory awhile back, and I have to say, I totally agree. I'm going into my third batch of Cornish X's, and I've NEVER found a single bit of grass when processing. You'd think these eating machines would mow the grass down to bare earth in the 24 hours prior to butchering when they aren't fed, but they don't. That being said, my layers will eat every blade of grass that comes near their coop.

As for local laws, good luck getting a straight answer on small scale poultry production. On Greyfields advice, (thanks again!) I contacted my extension office. They had no information, and sent me to the USDA office. They also had no information, and offered the number back to my extension office. When I told them that the extension referred me to THEIR office, they gave me the number to the MDA (Michigan Department of Agriculture.) I was transfered through three people there to find someone who knew anything, and was finally given some rules about processing, and how to get a license, but even then, they couldn't direct me to a lawbook or anything official.

This spring, I'm going to try it similar to the Salatin way. I'm taking orders ahead of time, and buying birds to fill those orders, plus some for myself. My order form will say that customers are hiring me to raise their birds for them at a set price per bird- not per pound of meat. Also, it will explain that I'm not a licensed meat processor, so I do not charge for processing. They can either pick up their live bird when it's grown, or for no additional charge, I will process it for them. The birds will be delivered or picked up fresh, not frozen. I won't sell any birds that weren't claimed while they were alive.

Greyfields- what is a reasonable amount to expect to make on a bird? I figure it's averaging me about $6.50/bird to raise it, including ONLY feed, chick purchase, and accounting for about 10% loss due to early deaths. I was thinking of charging $10/bird.

 

[greyfields]

I sell at $3.75/lb and they don't linger long. I find that 3-4 lb birds sell first. People view chicken as cheap meat for two people for one meal. It's gotta be under $20 in most people's mind.

I'm really suprised your state isn't more organized. We've had legislative rule clarifications here. What we are told basically is that you can do a cow share, you can sell 'live chickens', you can word-smith anything you do.... but, you must be licensed and permitted to slaughter the birds or be a dairy, even if you are giving the stuff away for free. Trying to circumvent the rules by clever 'naming' is considered conspiracy now. :|

 

[jaku]

Quote:
I was surprised as well- one thing I found on the extension's website was that for poultry, Michigan has no specific additional laws beyond the USDA, which says no inspections for under... 10,000 birds/yr I believe??

 

[ole-crone]

Jaku - here, anything that doesn't fall under USDA or Utah State dept of AG is covered by the local health department. That can vary from county to county. I suggest you talk to them - that is much easier than having them hand you a ticket at Market.

 

[brandywine]

Why the panties bunched about dogs at an open-air market?

I know, it's so unsanitary, having an animal near stuff that grew in dirt and manure, or around an egg that came out of a chicken's ... need I finish?

Open air market. Public place. Sparrows on the tabletops. Mice and rats and cockroaches come out at night. Pigeons overhead. Get over the dogs already!

It's weird Levitican obsessions like this that help create the irrational regulations for "health" that serve to hobble the small farmers and support the agri-industrial complex that sells us, say toxic melamine in milk. Stuff that will actually kill ya.

I once walked away from a fast-food counter where a customer had just placed, first, her standing toddler and his filthy shoes, and then the same toddler's ripely-diapered butt. Is this reason to ban toddlers from the food court? Know what? I know you love your offspring, but I don't.

Dog schnozzes, grubby snotty toddler fingers, nose-picking adults, should not be handling the merchandise. The correct response to this is for the vendor, or any nearby person, to smack the offending appendage.

(Home in bed -- surrounded by four perfectly healthy and non-pathogenic dogs -- with the creeping munge, caught from my young nieces, who bring such things home from school to share.)

 

[Bossroo]

My 3 human offspring know how to behave in human society and they know the meaning of the word NO as it has been instilled into their psyche. Some people think that their four leged companion of another species as their own offspring and can do no wrong. I do not accept such a concept. What I take exception to and make an objection of is anyone that brings such a creature to a public gathering for the purpose of exchanging of naturally, wholesomely and organically produced food products for human consumption for money and have to endure a sight of said animal first plant their hindquarters on the ground, lick their posterior region for elimination of digested material and contaminated by pathogens with it's tongue, then jump up and place their dirt troden and pathogen laden paws on the counter and sniff at food samples provided by the vendor. Then proceed to a bushel of ear corn , lift up a posterior appendage and proceed to excrete a yellow liquid from it's exposed organ of elimination of waste liquid onto said food stuff meant for my purchase and consumption. I do not believe that anyone , including myself, would be inclined to purchase such a product, much less consume it after observing such an event.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

My 3 dogs all know better than to behave like that any time they are on leash. Licking and such is for free time. All my dogs know better than to put paws on a table at any time and would sure be in heck if they helped themselves to anything or peed on anything without a release/bathroom command, or being here at home.

Don't blame the dogs, blame the people on the other end of the leash for all of this. Simple training, not even advanced training will take care of all your concerns.

 

[babalubird]

I have to support those who are offended by the presence of dogs in a food market.

I too am an avid animal lover, but I think out of respect for others who find the presence of a dog around food goods offensive, we should leave the dogs at home.

It goes beyond just offending the customers with that mindset. You are affecting the sales of the vendors there who have paid good money, gas, time and effort there and in growing those crops because those customers, whether many or few offended, are not going to buy then. So the result is those vendors have lost money they didn't deserve to lose or have any control over it.

It seems little to ask, to leave Pluto at home, when you either go as a vendor or customer, for the consideration of others.

Connie