Fair price for ramps?

Hi all,

Last year I found a really good spot to collect wild leeks/ramps, and we made really good soup with them, but there were thousands of patches and we didn't need that much.

This year I want to (responsibly of course) collect a bunch for restaurants. Does anyone have a fair price per pound (I am in Ontario if that helps)? I want to call around next month and see who wants them for late march/early april  and want to quote them a price so they know and I know what we are getting into.

Any suggestions?

ps. pretty sure the species around here is Allium tricoccum, one of the most coveted, not ursinum, also coveted but not as much

Several years ago my wife and I bought a small bunch of ramps at a specialty grocery store, and I'll hazard an educated guess that it weighed one pound, and they were pricey. It's been so long, but I think we paid something in the neighborhood of $6-$8 dollars for it. This was in Nashville, Tennessee, and I remember they came from western North Carolina from someone who harvested them in the mountains. The price I'm noting from my poor memory was retail and from a specialty store, and I've never seen them available at any grocery store in Nashville, not even whole foods. Considering they are a seasonal delicacy, I personally wouldn't be shy about coming in with a steep price, which could then be negotiated if the chef/restaurant manager balks at it. Hope this gives you an idea to start with!

i was thinking in the range of 10-15 per pound canadian responsibly hand picked same day delivery from deep woods

Unless a restaurant specifies, I'd sell them by the bunch as opposed to by the pound.  I think $10 a pound would be very fair, as that is a lot of ramps.  Ramps are so seasonal though and so hard to find outside of specific regions (like my backyard.... woohoo!)…..  I'd make bunches of maybe 1/3rd pound (max) and sell for $5 each

You should make sure you have permission from property owners.  Around these parts, there are hoards of ginseng robbers who trespass and damage and are stealing.

Ruth Meyers wrote:You should make sure you have permission from property owners.  Around these parts, there are hoards of ginseng robbers who trespass and damage and are stealing.

in ontario foraging on crown land is legal