Junior's ex-father-in-law has been missing in action recently. Junior worked really hard to get his old tiller running, so I bet he's been out in his field. He hasn't been selling, but I think he has planted all his veggies, and is now waiting for them to produce. Once his crops start coming in, I have a feeling he will be running the stand six days a week. (he doesn't work on Sundays) He still has a bunch of flowers that he wants to sell, and I think I heard him talking to Junior about finding some palm trees for sale. I believe his plan is to open a produce stand/mini nursery.
Junior and I have talked about this, and we think he could make some really good money, if he would just be consistent. He had me look up wholesale nursery phone numbers online so he could see about starting up an inventory. He had a list of flowers and bushes that he needed prices for, and I did the best I could finding out what he needed to know. But, because I am no expert on wholesale palm trees and flowers, I got a few things mixed up.
Maybe this is why he hasn't asked me to help him sell produce this year.
Showing posts with label produce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label produce. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Signs
Every year, Junior's ex-father-in-law Del tries to start a business. He wants to be able to open a produce stand in his yard.
There are a couple of things that prevent this from being successful every year. First, he lives right next door to a big, successful produce stand. Second, he likes to give away his produce for free.
A few years ago, I ran the stand. Every day during the Spring/Summer, I sat in his yard, under a big tent, selling produce. Now, this wouldn't have been too bad if a few things were different. For one thing, I was there from about 8 in the morning until 7 or 8 at night. That's a long day. I also had all the kids with me, because Junior was either working or sleeping. Now, for my littles to be out in the heat, with nothing to do, for that length of time, well, it was difficult. Add to this the fact that there was no bathroom, so if me or the kids had to go, we had to leave the stand and walk to the closest store. It was not fun.
But, these people are like family, so I did it. From May to July. I would be lying if I said I was disappointed when he decided to close down because he wasn't making any money. He was investing too much in the produce, buying it at a local farmer's market, and not making enough selling it. There was a point in time where people were coming to the stand, and asking if Del was there. most of the time he wasn't, and people would leave saying they'd be back when he was there, because he gave them free stuff and I didn't. That did not help with the making of money, I can tell you that.
Last year, he decided that he was going to grow his own produce. You would think this was a great idea, except that his produce always tasted funny. Junior said it was because of the soil (he planted his garden in an old goat fields...and when I say old, I mean he got rid of the goats and then planted his produce) and the sprays he used on the plants. Needless to say, he didn't make it work last year, either.
Apparently, he has decided that the time has come to try again. He called me last night and asked me to make him some signs to hang in his yard, advertising what he's selling. I did, and now I am waiting for him to ask me to sell for him.
Is it wrong that I don't want to?
There are a couple of things that prevent this from being successful every year. First, he lives right next door to a big, successful produce stand. Second, he likes to give away his produce for free.
A few years ago, I ran the stand. Every day during the Spring/Summer, I sat in his yard, under a big tent, selling produce. Now, this wouldn't have been too bad if a few things were different. For one thing, I was there from about 8 in the morning until 7 or 8 at night. That's a long day. I also had all the kids with me, because Junior was either working or sleeping. Now, for my littles to be out in the heat, with nothing to do, for that length of time, well, it was difficult. Add to this the fact that there was no bathroom, so if me or the kids had to go, we had to leave the stand and walk to the closest store. It was not fun.
But, these people are like family, so I did it. From May to July. I would be lying if I said I was disappointed when he decided to close down because he wasn't making any money. He was investing too much in the produce, buying it at a local farmer's market, and not making enough selling it. There was a point in time where people were coming to the stand, and asking if Del was there. most of the time he wasn't, and people would leave saying they'd be back when he was there, because he gave them free stuff and I didn't. That did not help with the making of money, I can tell you that.
Last year, he decided that he was going to grow his own produce. You would think this was a great idea, except that his produce always tasted funny. Junior said it was because of the soil (he planted his garden in an old goat fields...and when I say old, I mean he got rid of the goats and then planted his produce) and the sprays he used on the plants. Needless to say, he didn't make it work last year, either.
Apparently, he has decided that the time has come to try again. He called me last night and asked me to make him some signs to hang in his yard, advertising what he's selling. I did, and now I am waiting for him to ask me to sell for him.
Is it wrong that I don't want to?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Working The Fields
Junior has been busy working for Del, his ex-father-in-law. This is the same man who is trying to open up a produce stand/flower store. In the past, he has gone to the farmers market and bought produce to sell. This year, he decided to grow his own produce. He has hundreds of tomato, okra, cantaloupe, and watermelon plants in the ground in a field behind his mother-in-laws house. He asked Junior a few weeks ago to help him set up an irrigation system, but he didn't want to buy one. He wanted Junior to figure out how to make one from scratch. Luckily Junior is good at that kind of thing. Well, he is good at a lot of things. He could work for San Francisco general contractors. He has a knack for figuring out how something should be done, and then he can do it. Just like that. He doesn't have to write out a plan. He amazes me sometimes doing that.
Anyway, once the produce starts coming in, Junior will be in charge of running the produce stand. Del tried to get me to do it, but I said no. I have too many other things going on right now.
Like sitting in the sun, enjoying a good book, or watching the kids swim and have fun in the pool. T
Anyway, once the produce starts coming in, Junior will be in charge of running the produce stand. Del tried to get me to do it, but I said no. I have too many other things going on right now.
Like sitting in the sun, enjoying a good book, or watching the kids swim and have fun in the pool. T
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