Tomatoes takes too long to grow for people who want it now. Maybe there are other growers in your area who would sell you their tomatoes at wholesale price.

I didn't mention that I'm in "Grower only" markets so buying to resell is not an option. Much of the reason for my good sales is due to that aspect and being a local grower is a plus. Other growers in my region stand to benefit if I cannot supply customers with enough. That is my delema. I don't particularly want to lose good customers.

As a local grower, I can sell my fruits for dirt cheap. That eliminates the competition.

I had a competitor on the same street corner, but he bought from the growers to resell. He couldn't beat my price, so he had to find another street corner to sell from the day I am there. That corner is the best spot to sell fruits.

I sell fruits in an old pick up truck, to make it look like I am a struggling local grower. I don't use my new truck. The police doesn't bother people selling fruits on the corner who are struggling to make money.

Just tell your customers the time you arrive there. If they want tomatoes that day, then they have to arrive early.

In the spring try growing and selling them in 4 packs. Folks wanted to put their name on a list. Tomato and basil plants are big sellers.

I hold for my regulars. And several specifically want yellow pear or whatever so I keep a pint separate. They always come to me first.

I thought about holding some but what if the customer doesn't come? Some of the people I know well have asked for special favors (like wanting green tomatoes with a slight blush) and then not come. If it were just a matter of yellow pear or any cherry or grape tomato I have far more of those than larger individually sold heirloom tomatoes. I sell any boxed tomatoes in half pint pulp boxes (piled high) and mixed boxes are best sellers although a few people want a specific variety.

Cathy, are you referring to fruit or plant 4-packs? I've done that with lettuce (mixed variety) and basil plants but not with tomato plants. For fruits a signup sheet would really complicate issues. I prefer to only do that for large quantity orders and as it stands now heirloom tomato quantity orders are not going to happen either for same reason. Guess I'll just let early buyers have choice and keep advising others to come early. I've had regular customers tell unfamiliar line hoppers to get to the back of the line.

We hold tomatoes until a certain time. If the customer is not there by that time, back on the table they go.

With anything else I'm leaning towards asking for a deposit on all orders but my heirloom tomatoes don't fit the production schedule that I could guarantee a special order for any given future time. I'm only selling those in small quantities presently and that probably will continue because if my original post dilemma. To clarify, most of my heirloom tomatoes are sold individually but any customer can purchase any number of tomatoes. Just no quantity discounts or larger container sales.