I have a friend in GA. He currently sells tomatoes plants for $3 each in cell trays or $4.50 in a 4 inch cup (about 8 inches tall in the cup). He keeps very good record and has electricity metered so he knows his costs very well. This year, he calculated his cost to produce a tomato seedling at $1.27 cents per plant in a cell tray holding 48 plants. He said seeds from some varieties and hybrids can be up to $1 per seed, so just the cost of soil mix, cell trays, and electricity for lights and heat mats, and fertlizer is included in the $1.27. This is compared to 2002 when he could produce tomato seedlings for about .09 cents each.We have farmers markets like you. This is geared toward bulk sales. Bushel, half bushels, etc. some locals with big gardens bring smaller amounts. Anyone can sell/buy. Many buyers here are supplying their own market stalls in surrounding housing communities, say 50 miles out. The melons are brought in in those huge cardboard containers like you see in stores, on a pallet. Corn in bulk bags, etc. There were squash & cukes aplenty.
On flip side, there will be some flats of smaller quantities -- limas, dozens of eggs, 3-6 cantaloupes, vice the tubs of 100. A single flat of okra or jalapenos. You never know.I've gotten some good stuff.
ETA...basically, no garden here this yr.Life happens
