Finding Price Information
Pricing varies depending on the specific locality in which you operate and therefore the ways to assess and set prices will vary. Here you can find some resources for determining wholesale and local market specifications that can be referenced when determining pricing in your area.
Price Information for Urban Farmers
When finding price information, it is especially important that urban farmers check local distribution outlets and with other area farmers, as crops produced and sold in urban centers often command different prices than those indicated by general price monitoring programs and resources, such as those provided below.
Wholesale Price Information
Some wholesale prices are reported and can be accessed to provide a guide for pricing farm products. Wholesale prices are extremely low compared to retail prices you might get locally and should be considered a floor or minimum price. To determine prices for your products consider your costs and the retail price of other competitors.
Produce Price Information
USDA AMS Price Monitoring– Price monitoring programs are conducted through the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (). AMS releases reports for organic products which are available for terminal markets and retail outlets. Retail price data comes from advertised prices and is averaged nationally and regionally. Links to reports containing wholesale market price information are available at the Farmer’s Market Online Market Watch. These reports are updated daily during the growing season.
Additional reports covering many other aspects of agricultural pricing are available by navigating to the “Market News and Transportation” section of the AMS website. If you click on Fruits, Vegetables and Specialty Crops, you will find the news portal with daily price information and a users’ guide.
Organic Produce Prices
NOFA-NY Organic Price Index: NOFA-NY manages an Organic Price Index which can be found here. Pricing data is collected from farmers across New York state.
Local Markets
It is important to check local outlets for price information. Ask other farmers about what they charge, ask buyers in your area what they would pay, visit retail outlets and note prices, shop at farmers’ markets and see what products are selling for. Pricing should be based on your costs, being competitive, and on what the particular market area customer will pay for high quality local products. Offer high quality and differentiate your products to capture a higher price.
