If you’re selling at a farmer’s market, you already know how competitive it can be. Between the gorgeous produce displays, the homemade jams, and the artisan breads, how do you make YOUR booth stand out?
Here’s the secret: You don’t have to wait for customers to wander by. With the right social media strategy, you can bring hungry, eager buyers straight to your booth before the market even opens.
I’ve helped dozens of small food businesses grow using social media, and today I’m sharing everything that actually works. No fluff—just practical tips you can use this weekend to sell more.
Why Social Media is Your Secret Weapon
Before we dive into tactics, let’s talk about why this matters:
- Pre-sell your products – Post about what you’re bringing so customers come looking for you
- Build hype – Create anticipation for special items or limited quantities
- Show your personality – People buy from people they like
- Get repeat customers – Stay top of mind between market days
- Stand out – Most vendors aren’t doing this well (or at all)
Now let’s break down exactly how to use each platform.
Instagram: Your Visual Storefront
Instagram is perfect for farmer’s market vendors because it’s all about mouthwatering visuals.
What to Post:
- Behind-the-scenes prep (washing veggies, baking bread) with captions like “Just pulled these carrot cakes out of the oven for Saturday’s market!”
- Flat lays of your products arranged beautifully
- Videos of you making products (kneading dough, arranging bouquets)
- Customer testimonials (film happy customers at your booth)
- “Sneak peek” Stories the day before market
Pro Tip: Use location tags for your market AND your business.
Hashtags to Use:
#FarmersMarketLife #EatLocal #SupportSmallBusiness #FarmFresh #(YourCity)FarmersMarket #ArtisanFood #SmallBatch
Facebook: Reach Local Buyers
While Instagram is great for visuals, Facebook is where you’ll reach an older demographic and post longer updates.
Facebook Strategies That Work:
- Create a Business Page (not just a personal profile)
- Join local foodie groups and share your market schedule
- Run a simple Facebook ad ($5/day) targeting people within 10 miles who like cooking or gardening
- Go live at the market (people love seeing the energy)
Post Idea: “We’re bringing 20 jars of our new lavender honey to the Downtown Market tomorrow! First come first served – comment ‘save me one’ and we’ll hold it until noon.”
Pinterest: The Underrated Traffic Machine
Most vendors ignore Pinterest, but it’s perfect for:
- Recipe ideas using your products
- DIY projects (like how to use your herbs)
- Seasonal eating guides
Create Pins with:
- Vertical images (ideal size is 1000×1500 pixels)
- Text overlay like “3 Ways to Use Fresh Basil From Your Farmer’s Market”
- Links back to your website or Instagram
TikTok: Viral Potential
Don’t be intimidated! Simple, authentic videos perform best:
- Time-lapse of setting up your booth
- “A day in the life” clips
- Funny farmer’s market moments
- Quick recipe demos using your products
Putting It All Together: Your Weekly Social Media Plan
Monday: Behind-the-scenes prep photo (Instagram)
Tuesday: Recipe idea (Pinterest + Facebook)
Wednesday: Customer testimonial (Instagram Story)
Thursday: “What we’re bringing” post (All platforms)
Friday: Countdown to market (Instagram Stories)
Saturday: Live video from market (Facebook/Instagram)
Sunday: “Sold out” post thanking customers
Advanced Tip: Create a Hashtag Just for Your Booth
Like #SmithFamilyJams or #GardenFreshWithJen. Encourage customers to use it when they post about your products.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t just post products with prices (boring!)
- Don’t ignore comments and messages
- Don’t use the same content across all platforms
- Don’t give up if you don’t see results immediately
Final Thought
Social media isn’t about selling—it’s about storytelling. Show the love you put into your products, and the customers will come.
Start with just one platform this week. Take before-and-after photos of your booth traffic. I promise you’ll see the difference!
Need more help? Download my free “Farmer’s Market Social Media Calendar” at [yourwebsite.com].
