ok...this is not a new idea...but i would like some advice on how to start.
We have just six hens laying an egg a day. This gives us all our needs and some left over - like a couple of dozen a week. We have tried to sell from a sign out the front of the farm...but no success. Family will buy some...but not a huge number.
We would love to try and market our eggs - all free-range organic eggs - to the local small 'farmers market' type place....but only having 2 doz a week is probably too small a number for them. However, as we drive around our town we notice three or four other people all trying to sell eggs from their small farms. Maybe we should all pool our surplus eggs and sell them as a group to the small stores?
So....here is the questions
1. Should I approach the store first and see if they are interested?
2. Should I approach the other farms and see if they would be interested in pooling eggs?
Its the old 'what comes first...chicken or egg' problem?
Personally, I would talk to the individuals first.
That way, you would find out aprox how many you would be dealing with.
Without that number, the merchant would probably not be interested in any conversation.
Also, you would have an idea if the others are even willing to sell @ what the market might pay.
As far as "What came first... chicken or egg?", that's easy. The ROOSTER!
(Didn't God take one of his ribs to make the hen?)
Some local stores here buy eggs from small farms all the time. Good local eggs come and go with the seasons and lots of people around here only want those, not junk factory farm eggs so they command a decent price. If you can find similar stores in your area you could take turns driving around to the different farms and gathering them to bring to the store.
It sounds like a nice idea to pool the eggs and sell them together but it might be complicated. If the people are all relaxed and super nice it could work.
Some restaurants want local eggs here to but they tend to want consistent supply and low prices
Since you asked for advice .... you should check on any egg selling rules in your state. Your state department of agriculture should have information on their website. Generally, selling directly from farmer to consumer is not a problem but once you start selling to stores for resale, now you're a dealer, not a farmer. Yes the government has some pretty stupid rules sometimes, but sometimes the rules are simple and if you follow them you will avoid a lot of problems.
For us, word of mouth is the best. Talk to people you know and the ones you meet. Eggs pretty much sell themselves if people know that you have them available and why yours are better.
Either downgrade on your chickens, toss the eggs to the dogs, or preserve them in mineral oil for personal use over the winter.
Forget about selling to stores. Once you get into resale, there are dozens of FDA requirements to go by, that are a huge hassle. Examples would candling, grading, sizing, custom labeling, cartons, nest boxes, feed requirements, coop space laws, washing needs, and a lot more.
Don't forget to save up a good stash for when your hens moult. It would be good to have 3 months worth depending on how quick your hens moult and start laying again.
Yeah, there are all sorts of laws on the books. You can still get real eggs at local stores and restaurants. Plus by the side of the road all over the place. Our health department is really vigilant on restaurants and other places that serve food but nobody bothers about eggs much. It's not like grade and size is a safety concern.
I like that idea of storing eggs for the moult. We eat all of ours quick as the two laying hens lay 'em but there are 12 young ladies from this spring so we're hoping for surpluses in the future. Wish us luck, my family loves eggs!
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