crop cultivation
(edible or otherwise) with veg- success, they’ll be back for more
etables and herbs in some of your next year.
beds. Show your customers what Specifi cally for growers, the
can be done in their own land- bo om i n vege t able s i s ope n i ng do or s
scapes and homes. to new customers as other types of
This will likely require face- retailers look for sales opportu-
to-face information from retail nities and logical crossover with
staff. Train your employees to ask existing product lines. Why doesn’t
questions to fi nd out whether the every grocery store offer vegetable
customer buying vegetables and plants during peak season? How
herbs is an experienced gardener about farmers markets and health-
or novice. Compliment them on food stores? The current trend in
their decision to begin a garden cooking and DIY gourmet speaks
project and help select items with directly to the benefi ts of the prod-
which they will be successful. Sug- ucts we sell. Take some time to
gest annuals and perennials that study the retail outlets in your area
enhance vegetable gardens and and look for potential customers.
Mix different herbs in a display garden to show customers how they could use them at home.
encourage them to stick with it You’ll likely need to customize
because gardening can become a your product offering a little bit. A
lifelong passion. A new customer complete vegetable and herb pro- mind with consumers. The cur- the upward spiral. Don’t think
may start with just a couple of toma- gram delivered to a new customer rent economy is keeping people at of it as only increasing your veg-
toes and peppers, but t iiff y yoou u isis w weelll wl woorrtth the ie innvveessttmmeent. home, working in the garden, and etable and herb sales. Instead, con-
help them achieve thinking about saving money by sider how to leverage the amazing
LLoookiinng Agg Ahhead growing their own produce. Recent retailer and consumer interest in
SSoo, w, whhaatt ca n we food safety scares continue to make “gardening” to position your busi-
expecctt in n 22010 and “locally-grown” and “homegrown” ness for the future.
GPN
beyyoonndd? M? ore powerful buzzwords. Finally,
vegegetatabblleses and Michelle Obama is probably not Dianna Turner is a retail business
heherbs irbs inn more going to plant sod over the White manager with Ball Horticultural
gardens.s. All the House garden. Thanks to our cur- Company. She can be reached at
ininffoormrmatioion sup- rent administration, veggies are sure
dturner@ballhort.com.
pportrts cons co tinued to be in the media again, at least for
ggrowowth in the the upcoming spring and summer.
veveggeettaabblle ae nd The growth in the veggie
hheherberrb category. sector continues to open doors
LearnMore
For more information related
HeHeaalltthhy ly iving for growers and retailers, and it’s to this article, go to
reremmaaiinns ts top of vitally important to capitalize on
www.gpnmag.com/lm.cfm/gp021003
Write in 130 Write in 146
38 GPN February 2010
www.gpnmag.com
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