5d ago

How Farmers to Florists Became a Minnesota Cup Startup Semifinalist

Takeaways Farmers to Florists was selected as a semifinalist in the Minnesota Cup Startup CompetitionThe biggest challenge in local flowers is not growing flowers but solving supply chain inefficienciesBuilding in public creates stronger businesses, stronger products, and better customer alignmentIn this behind the scenes episode, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen shares the exciting news that Farmers to Florists has been selected as a semifinalist in the Minnesota Cup Startup Competition. She explains how this experience is changing the way she talks about the business and why Farmers to Florists is much more than a floral platform. This episode dives into the real supply chain challenges facing flower farmers and florists, why coordination problems cost businesses money, and how better planning systems can transform local sourcing. Dr. Liz also shares lessons from pitching, startup growth, and building a business in public. Key Topics Covered: Minnesota Cup startup competition experienceThe local flower supply chain problemWhy Farmers to Florists is infrastructure, not just softwareStartup lessons from pitching and networkingBuilding businesses through user feedbackThinking bigger than your nichehttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

8 min

May 26

Crop Planning for Flower Farmers: Stop Guessing and Start Growing with Purpose

Takeaways Why crop planning is the turning point from hobby flower growing to building a scalable floral businessHow documenting planting dates and harvest timing creates better business decisions year after yearThe four ways crop planning helps flower farmers predict, scale, and align production with real demandIn this episode of Farmers to Florists, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen breaks down the mindset shift that transformed her flower farm from growing beautiful blooms to growing intentionally for profit and reliability. If you are selling subscriptions or farm stand bouquets, flexibility works. But once weddings, event design, and wholesale floral relationships enter the picture, crop planning becomes essential. Dr. Liz explains the four core functions of a crop plan: predicting bloom timing, tracking actual harvest outcomes, scaling production intentionally, and aligning flower production with customer demand. She also shares why your first crop plan does not need to be perfect. The real value comes from collecting data season after season until your business becomes more predictable and profitable. Whether you use spreadsheets or the Farmers to Florists platform, this episode will help you stop guessing and start building a stronger floral business. Key Topics Covered: Transitioning from flexible flower farming to intentional productionPlanning flowers for weddings and event timelinesTracking planting and harvest datesUsing historical data to improve crop decisionsBuilding better relationships between flower farmers and floristsScaling flower production without increasing chaosCreating demand-driven floral businesseshttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

9 min

Apr 30

Farmer vs Florist Pricing: What Customers Don’t Understand

Use code PODCAST at checkout for 30% off! https://www.farmerstoflorists.com/ Takeaways The difference between farmer pricing and florist pricing comes down to labor, design, and customization.Competing on price leads to undervaluing your work and eventual burnout.Clear communication helps customers understand and respect pricing.Summary of the Episode In this episode of Farmers to Florists, Dr. Liz breaks down one of the most misunderstood aspects of the floral industry: pricing. She explains why a $30 bouquet can quickly become a $60 arrangement and how the shift from farmer to florist introduces additional layers of labor, design, and risk. This episode offers practical language for communicating value to customers while reinforcing the importance of sustainable pricing strategies. Key Topics Covered: Farmer vs florist pricing differencesWhat goes into custom floral designHow to explain pricing without defensivenessThe risks of underpricing your workBuilding a sustainable and profitable floral businesshttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

6 min

Apr 16

A Real-Life Look at Using Farmers to Florist for Weddings and Events

Takeaways Tracking actual bloom timing year over year helps flower farmers make better crop planning decisions.Floral recipe building simplifies sourcing, delegation, pricing, and event prep.Better systems and communication tools can save real labor hours in both flower farming and floral design businesses.In this behind-the-scenes episode of Farmers to Florists, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen shares exactly how she is using the Farmers to Florist platform inside her own flower farm and floral design business. From managing early season crop planning in a heated high tunnel to building floral recipes for stem bars, weddings, and statement installations, Liz walks through the real systems helping her save time and stay organized. She also explains how actual bloom timing can vary based on planting date, location, and growing conditions, and why tracking that data matters for future seasons. On the florist side, she shares how recipe guides help her calculate stem costs, manage wholesale sourcing, and keep event prep out of her head and in one organized place. The episode also highlights platform updates like a florist wishlist feature and email alerts that improve communication between flower farmers and florists. If you are looking for practical flower farming strategies, floral business systems, and tools to make local flowers easier to grow, design with, and sell, this episode offers a real-world look at what that can look like. Key Topics Covered: How Dr. Liz uses Farmers to Florist in her own businessCrop planning for cool hardy annuals and early tunnel productionTracking real bloom timing versus projected days to maturityHigh tunnel growing in zone 4B MinnesotaFlorist inventory visibility and wishlist planningEmail alerts for flower orders and farmer-florist communicationBuilding floral recipes for stem bars and wedding eventsCalculating wholesale flower costs and markupDelegating floral prep with organized systemsSaving labor hours through better floral business workflowshttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

10 min

Apr 7

How Flower Farmers Can Grow Without Burnout

Takeaways Burnout in flower farming is usually caused by weak systems, not lack of talent or passion.Clear boundaries, communication policies, and workflow structure help growers scale sustainably.Building systems early creates a more reliable, profitable, and healthier floral business.In this episode of Farmers to Florist, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen explores one of the most important but overlooked topics in the floral industry: burnout. She explains why many flower farmers do not struggle because they are poor growers, but because their business systems have not kept pace with growth. From inventory management to customer communication, relying on memory and last-minute decisions creates stress that is difficult to sustain. Dr. Liz shares how structure, boundaries, and predictable processes can help flower farmers and florists build healthier businesses. She discusses the importance of deadlines, pickup windows, communication expectations, and scalable systems that reduce overwhelm while improving reliability. This episode is a valuable reminder that sustainable growth in flower farming is not about doing more at all costs. It is about building a floral business that works for you, your customers, and the long-term health of the local flower industry. Key Topics Covered: Burnout in the flower farming and floral industryWhy systems matter more than talent aloneCommon business bottlenecks for flower farmersSetting boundaries with wholesale flower buyersCreating reliable communication and order processesBuilding a sustainable flower farm businessSupporting stronger florist-grower relationshipsPreparing your business for future growth without overwhelmhttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

6 min

Mar 31

Why Logistics Matter More Than Pretty Flowers in Floral Sales

Takeaways Smooth logistics are often the real reason florists place repeat orders with flower farmers.Clear pickup windows, conditioned stems, and accurate labeling reduce stress and save florists time.Early communication around substitutions builds trust and protects long-term florist relationships.In this episode of Farmers to Florists, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen explores why logistics matter just as much as flower quality when selling to florists. She explains how operational details like pickup structure, delivery expectations, stem processing, hydration, labeling, invoicing, and substitution communication all affect whether a florist will reorder. This episode is packed with practical advice for flower farmers who want to create a smoother wholesale experience, strengthen florist relationships, and make local flowers easier to buy. Key Topics Covered: Why logistics drive repeat florist ordersHow friction in the buying process hurts wholesale relationshipsSetting clear pickup windows and delivery expectationsThe importance of hydrated, conditioned, stripped stemsWhy clean buckets, labeling, and stem counts matterHow to handle substitutions professionally and calmlyCreating backup plans through crop strategy and farmer relationshipsSmall operational improvements that compound over timehttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

7 min

Mar 24

The Secret to Selling More Local Flowers: Predictable Weekly Inventory

Takeaways Florists buy more confidently when flower farmers offer a consistent weekly inventory rhythm.Predictable flower availability builds trust, repeat buying, and stronger wholesale relationships.Sharing projected and confirmed inventory separately helps florists plan ahead while reducing stress.In this episode of Farmers to Florist, Liz Fiedler Mergen explains why weekly inventory consistency is one of the most important systems a flower farmer can create when selling to florists. Rather than relying on random availability updates, farmers can improve wholesale flower sales by offering a dependable schedule for inventory, ordering, and pickup. Liz shares how predictable local flower availability helps florists plan weddings, build recipes, and source with confidence. She also breaks down the value of sharing both projected inventory and confirmed inventory. When florists know what flowers are likely coming and when orders are actually ready, they can design more effectively and reduce uncertainty. This episode is a practical guide for flower farmers who want to make local flower buying easier, strengthen florist relationships, and grow a more sustainable floral business. Key Topics Covered: Why florists need predictable inventory, not random flower availabilityHow weekly inventory systems increase repeat wholesale flower ordersThe difference between projected inventory and confirmed inventoryWhy professional communication improves florist confidenceHow consistency helps flower farmers build trust and long-term revenueWhy predictability often matters more than volume in local flower sales

6 min

Mar 17

Flower Farmer Outreach Tips: How to Approach Florists with Confidence

Takeaways Reaching out to florists works better when flower farmers position themselves as a solution, not as someone asking for a favor.Clear, structured communication helps reduce friction and makes it easier for florists to say yes to local sourcing.Strong wholesale relationships are built through professionalism, consistency, and simple systems.Summary of the episode In this episode of Farmers to Florists, Liz Fiedler Mergen shares how flower farmers can approach florists professionally and confidently when building wholesale relationships. She explains the mindset shift that helps growers stop sounding hesitant or overly apologetic and start presenting themselves as reliable local partners. Liz walks through what to avoid in florist outreach, including overly long introductions, vague one-line messages, and unstructured communication that creates extra work for the florist. She also outlines what growers should include in an introductory message, such as location, product, seasonality, and ordering details. The episode also covers follow-up etiquette, presentation tips for sample drop-offs, and why the long-term goal is not a single sale but a repeat relationship. For flower farmers looking to sell local flowers more effectively, this episode offers practical guidance on florist communication, wholesale flower marketing, and building stronger local floral systems. Key Topics Covered: How flower farmers should think about florist outreachCommon mistakes when contacting floristsWhat to include in a professional wholesale introductionHow to reduce friction in communicationFollow-up best practices for busy floristsWhy presentation and organization matterHow to build repeat florist relationshipsMaking local flower sourcing easier for floristshttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

7 min

Mar 10

Clear Communication Systems for Flower Farmers (So Florists Can Trust You)

Takeaways Use a simple structure for buyer updates: Projected → Confirmed → Delivered to reduce florist uncertainty.Set predictable response time expectations so your boundaries don’t create confusion.Create a consistent weekly ordering rhythm (inventory, deadline, pickup/delivery) to build florist confidence.Give early notice when weather or crop issues arise—florists can pivot only if they’re prepared.Under-promise and over-deliver to build long-term trust and repeat wholesale orders.In this episode of Farmers to Florists, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen breaks down why communication—not flower quality—is often the real reason farmer–florist relationships get strained. She shares a practical, repeatable framework to help flower farmers provide the clarity florists need to confidently design weddings and events using local flowers. You’ll learn how to label early crop projections, confirm exact availability closer to the event, and deliver operational details that make orders seamless. She also explains why predictable response times and consistent weekly rhythms lead to loyalty, and how early communication prevents last-minute stress when crops shift. Key Topics Covered: Why vague language (“should be ready,” “looks good right now”) creates uncertainty for floristsThe Projected / Confirmed / Delivered communication model for local flower salesSetting response time expectations without being available 24/7Building a consistent ordering cadence (inventory day, order deadline, pickup/delivery)Handling crop changes: early notice, substitutions, and avoiding last-minute surprisesWhy under-promising and over-delivering protects trust and repeat businessThe reliability test: sourcing for a high-stakes wedding and what to fix firsthttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

6 min

Mar 3

How to Sell Local Flowers to Florists: Understanding the Florist Mindset

Takeaways Florists plan around event timelines (weeks + Saturdays), not growing seasons—alignment matters.Reliability (consistency, timing, volume) builds trust faster than rare or novel varieties.Clear availability, simple pricing, fast communication, and predictable pickup/delivery make local flowers easier to buy.In Episode 1 of Farmers to Florists, Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen lays the foundation for stronger farmer–florist relationships by unpacking the florist mindset. She explains why misunderstandings often stem from mismatched planning systems—farmers manage bloom windows and weather while florists manage client expectations, wedding dates, and backup plans. The episode highlights what matters most to florists when sourcing local: dependable availability, consistency, and confident communication. Key Topics Covered: Why farmer–florist tension is usually misalignment, not bad intentionsGrowing seasons vs. event seasons: how florists planReliability over rarity: what drives florist buying decisionsHow “should be ready” creates uncertainty—and what to communicate insteadThe florist buying checklist: availability, pricing, stem length, hydration, pickup/deliverySystems and boundaries that build professional trusthttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

7 min

Season 1 Trailer

Farmers to Florists: Smarter Crop Planning + Better Floral Business Systems

Takeaways Build a floral business around systems, not hustle, to reduce burnout.Strong crop planning and recipe planning create easier, more reliable local sourcing.Better data and clearer workflows help farmers and florists strengthen wholesale relationships.In the Farmers to Florists trailer, host Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen introduces a podcast designed to make local flowers easier—from seed to centerpiece. Drawing from her experience as a flower farmer, wedding florist, and owner of Sunny Mary Meadow in central Minnesota (Zone 4B), Liz shares why the floral industry doesn’t need more hustle—it needs better systems. She explains the core topics you’ll hear each week: crop planning with intention, designing around seasonality, wholesale relationships, data-driven decisions, pricing with confidence, and reducing burnout. Liz also shares the “why” behind the Farmers to Florists platform: preparation comes before connection. When farmers have strong crop projections and florists can organize recipes clearly, the relationship becomes easier—and local sourcing becomes more sustainable. Key Topics Covered: Local flowers made easier: grow, design, and sell with claritySystems vs. hustle: reducing burnout in flower businessesCrop planning and bloom-time projection using real dataRecipe planning for florists and planning around seasonalityStrengthening farmer–florist wholesale relationships with better workflowshttps://www.farmerstoflorists.com/

12 min

Farmers to Florists

Episodes

How Farmers to Florists Became a Minnesota Cup Startup Semifinalist

Crop Planning for Flower Farmers: Stop Guessing and Start Growing with Purpose

Farmer vs Florist Pricing: What Customers Don’t Understand

A Real-Life Look at Using Farmers to Florist for Weddings and Events

How Flower Farmers Can Grow Without Burnout

Why Logistics Matter More Than Pretty Flowers in Floral Sales

The Secret to Selling More Local Flowers: Predictable Weekly Inventory

Flower Farmer Outreach Tips: How to Approach Florists with Confidence

Clear Communication Systems for Flower Farmers (So Florists Can Trust You)

How to Sell Local Flowers to Florists: Understanding the Florist Mindset

Farmers to Florists: Smarter Crop Planning + Better Floral Business Systems

Trailer

Farmers to Florists: Smarter Crop Planning + Better Floral Business Systems

Ratings & Reviews

The ultimate guide to selling to florists

About

Information

You Might Also Like