When may a produce order be placed even without a market price being established?
If the seller has possession of even some of the produce type, he may sell forward orders without a market price — his possession establishes the transaction as legitimate.
Question 2
A farmer going to shear his sheep says: 'I'll sell you whatever my sheep produce.' Is this permitted?
Selling 'whatever comes out' — without a fixed quantity and price — is permitted. Only fixing a specific amount at a specific price without a market rate is forbidden.
Question 3
Why can't a produce order be based on the village market price?
The Rambam rules that only established city prices are firm enough to base a produce order on. Village prices fluctuate too much.
Question 4
A grain heap still needs sun-drying, threshing, AND winnowing. May a produce order be placed on it?
Three or more remaining processing steps disqualify the produce from being considered 'possessed' — no forward order may be placed until a market price is established.
Question 5
A person pays now for ten specific cucumbers, agreeing to receive them when they grow large. Is this permitted?
Since the cucumbers exist and grow naturally, and cutting them now would not cause others to grow in their place, this is a real sale — not a loan with discounted interest.