Farmers Markets And Farm Shops

[nicebloke1]

Why are they so so expensive when they've cut the middle man out?

[Old_Geezer]

Because that's what the market will bear for quality.

[nicebloke1]

But the idea OG was to cut the middle man out and be cheaper and better quality? But its gone the other way, over priced

[newmodarmy]

The quality of some of the meat we buy from our farm is far better than the stuff on the shelves at Aldi etc

[Buenchico]

Farm markets and farm shops are just like markets in general these days.  Market stallholders simply can't compete with the big supermarket chains when it come to selling basic things like fruit and veg, so they switch to selling 'top of the range' goods instead.  (e.g. market stallholders can't undercut the supermarkets which charge 75p for a loaf of bread, so they opt to sell 'artisan' bread, at £4 per loaf or more, instead).

Similarly, farm shops can't sell 'ordinary' potatoes or carrots fo less than the supermarkets do, so they opt to sell 'premium' varieties at a higher cost.

Our local (multi-award-winning) farm shop sells nothing which isn't of the very highest quality but, unsurprisingly, it comes at a cost!
https://www.aldercarrfarm.co.uk/

[pastafreak]

There's still overhead...shop/space rent,insurance, costs of travelling, salaries if necessary, production costs. Often, the smaller the producer, the higher the costs.

You're always commenting about things being overpriced. Unfortunately prices go up, rarely down. 

[ladybirder]

21.57 Chris that is some shop you have posted.  I could spend a lot of money there.

[New Judge]

They very often have not cut out the middle man.

There is a farm shop near me and the farm on which it is sited grows nothing but potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers and beans. Yet its farm shop sells almost as many varieties of produce as my local Tescos - including pineapples, bananas and avocados. I'm not even sure it sells any of its own produce.

[douglas9401]

I remember many years ago going into a bakery on Callander main street in search of a bacon roll and a cup of tea only to be confronted by a mind-boggling array of 'artisan bread' starting at three quid a loaf.

Needless to say I took my money along the street to a more normal establishment never again to trouble any place proclaiming their 'artisan' credentials.

I actually quite like Hovis.

[naomi24]

//Why are they so so expensive //

 

Because they're not Asda and they don't sell what Asda sells.

[Togo]

How much are their teacakes? 

[davebro3]

It's a lifestyle choice aimed at well off customers.

[Old_Geezer]

One can make their own "artisan" bread much cheaper if that keen on it.

[nicebloke1]

These outlets give the impression they produce the products they sell on site. Mrs Mcdonald bakes the cakes and bread, the farm eggs, farm sausage. farm chicken, farm beef, and the latter is like twice the price of Aldi. Aldi sell 21 day, 30 day and 36 day matured beef steaks at nearly always half the price of farm shops.

[theshedman]

Where we live you can taste the difference in the stuff that comes from the farm shop and the supermarkets, farm shop much better taste.  Can't afford it all the time but it does make a nice change now and then.

[nicebloke1]

Aldi now hitting all these over priced outlets including M&S.

[davebro3]

I'm not a gourmet but I have an Aldi rump steak most weekends & it tastes fine.

[nicebloke1]

Again Aldi giving these expensive shops a run for their money. Adli do a 240g of (dry cured) shortback bacon only £2.49. M&S, waitrose £4 per pack with less weight in pack. Farmshops & farmers markets even more expensive?

[newmodarmy]

We've established that enough people are happy to pay these prices for what they perceive as quality from farm shops. Others like you don't. There's no right or wrong answer. If you don't use them I'm not sure why it bothers you.

[davebro3]

I think bacon is one thing that's better from farm shops. Even dry cure from supermarkets is loaded with water.

[nicebloke1]

Not thr Aldi one, you should try it.