{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"346. Running a Year-Round Farm Market with Emma de Long","description":"A Note from Michael: The Thriving Farmer Podcast is currently on pause as we navigate a busy season on the farm. While we\u2019re taking this break, we\u2019re excited to share Farm in Focus, a special series of short, focused conversations recorded earlier this year. These bite-sized episodes highlight practical insights from farmers and experts across the industry. We hope they\u2019re helpful and encouraging as you continue your farming journey. What does it really take to run a small, year-round local market? In this Farm in Focus episode, Michael sits down with Emma de Long of Kneehigh Farm to talk about the creation and day-to-day operation of Red Dog Market, a year-round local food market in Pennsylvania. Emma shares how Red Dog Market grew out of increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has evolved into a community-centered outlet for her farm and other local producers. From staffing and sourcing to signage, POS systems, and regulatory considerations, Emma offers a candid look at the realities behind keeping fresh food accessible all year long. Whether you\u2019re considering opening a farm store, expanding into retail, or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes work of local food markets, this episode offers practical, grounded insights from someone doing it every day.   In this episode, you\u2019ll hear about: The Origin of Red Dog Market \u2022 How COVID-19 accelerated demand for local food access [02:42] \u2022 Why Kneehigh Farm serves as the market\u2019s anchor vendor [02:42] Market Operations & Staffing \u2022 Running a year-round market with a small, focused team [08:32] \u2022 The role of a dedicated market manager and daily task division [08:32] \u2022 Why maintaining fresh produce is \u201ca puzzle every day\u201d [14:39] Sourcing & Vendor Relationships \u2022 How Emma vets vendors\u2014especially for meat and dairy products [12:25] \u2022 The importance of building strong relationships with local producers [05:34] \u2022 Balancing product variety with quality and consistency [12:25] Systems, Marketing & Logistics \u2022 The complexities of using POS systems for a small, hybrid market model [14:39] \u2022 Effective signage and in-person marketing strategies [16:51] \u2022 Leveraging existing farm share and CSA memberships to build traffic [16:51] Advice for Aspiring Market Owners \u2022 Why starting slow and understanding your costs is critical [16:51] \u2022 Regulatory considerations every market owner should be aware of \u2022 How community engagement shapes long-term success [20:40] Bio: Emma de Long is a farmer, educator, and fiber advocate based in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She founded Kneehigh Farm in 2013 and has since grown a diverse mix of vegetables, dye plants, and fiber crops. Since 2019, Emma has cultivated indigo for natural pigment extraction, and in 2020 she co-founded the Pennsylvania Flax Project, an initiative dedicated to rebuilding regional flax processing infrastructure. Kneehigh Farm operates as a 100% women-run operation, and in 2021 Emma opened Red Dog Market, a year-round outlet for farm goods and local products. Links: \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83c\udf3e Visit Kneehigh Farm\u2019s website: Kneehigh Farm \ud83d\udcf7 Instagram: @kneehighfarm \ud83d\udc4d Facebook: @kneehighfarmCSA\ud83c\udf3e Visit Red Dog Market\u2019s website: Red Dog Market\ud83d\udcf7 Red Dog Market Instagram: @reddogmarketpa\ud83d\udc4d Red Dog Market Facebook: @reddogmarketpa   This episode is sponsored by Farm on Central: For homesteads, flower farms, or berry operations, elderberries and willows are two excellent long-term crops to consider. Willows provide fast growth and beautiful stems, while elderberries deliver reliable, in-demand harvests year after year. Farm on Central\u2019s cuttings are naturally grown, hardy, and easy to root in most climates\u2014making them a great perennial investment for seasons to come. Cuttings ship soon and quantities are limited. Order at shop.farmoncentral.com.   ","author_name":"The Thriving Farmer Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/thrivingfarmerpodcast.com","html":"