Readable at 45 miles an hour
A farm sign has to work on a country road at speed. Keep it to what you sell and the price, as big as the sign allows, plus an arrow and the distance on the signs leading in: "farm stand, 1/2 mile". The price needs its unit: $5 a dozen, $7 a dozen ears, $35 a half-bushel bag. A script word like "fresh" adds warmth, but the price and the arrow stay in bold block letters.
Products with their own rules
- Firewood: New York wants firewood sold and advertised by its three dimensions, with the wood ranked and stacked. Say "face cord, 16 in pieces, 4 ft × 8 ft". Only true hardwoods may be called hardwood, and "seasoned" should say how long and how.
- Maple syrup: if you name a grade, use the official names, such as "Grade A Amber Color and Rich Taste".
- Raw milk: permit holders post the exact notice "Raw milk sold here. Raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization." The raw milk template carries it word for word.
- Organic: only certified farms may say "certified organic".
Signs that last the season
Corrugated plastic yard signs suit the seasonal crops. For the farm name at the driveway and the market hours, an aluminum sign lasts for years. Pick your own farms often add a banner at the entrance and feather flags for the weekends.