Anacortes Farmers Market Vendor Guidelines
Drafted 2/8/12
Qualifications for Vendors in the Anacortes Farmers’ Market Vendor Group (VENDOR GROUP) are payment of a $40 Registration Fee and execution of the Application/Contract for New/Renewal Vendors.
Application entitles the member to have one vote per Vendor application on Vendor Representatives of the Anacortes Farmers’ Market Corporation’s (MARKET) Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting in January/February of each year and all issues and items brought before the VENDOR GROUP at meetings, which will be held from time to time.
Other requirements include:
- Vendors must have a UBI number issued by the WA DOL in order to become members.
- Vendors must live in Skagit County or the Surrounding Counties (includes Whatcom, Snohomish, Island, San Juan & Okanogan). All vendors will be required to show a copy of their UBI document to the market manager prior to vending.
**FEES: Registered Vendors have a choice to pay one of two ways in 2012.
- A full season booth fee of $25/week for a 10’x10’ (paid in advance by May 1, 2012 = $600). The AFM also allows Vendors to pay for any number of weeks each vendor plans to attend by May 1, 2012.
- A weekly booth fee of $30 (after May 1, 2012 paid the week before each market day) for each 10×10 space.
- Guest Vendors pay a drop-in rate of $40 per week.
- Non-profit organizations and vendors aged 14 and under, who sell their own products, pay no application fee or rent.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:
1. Timely payment of all fees.
2. Possession of a WA DOL UBI number.
3. Agreement to hold the MARKET harmless for the member’s conduct and to indemnify the MARKET for losses due to the member’s conduct.
4.Agreement that they have received, read and understood these rules.
OPERATING DATES AND TIMES:
During the summer market season the market is open on Saturday’s from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The summer market season starts the second Saturday in May and ends the last Saturday of October. The market may be open during the winter months for certain holiday seasons or regularly as designated by the MARKET Board.
LOCATION:
The market is held in the area immediately surrounding the Depot Arts Center, in the paver area north of the Depot building, the bricked area west of the Depot and in the indented parking area west of the Depot. There are no permanent structures for the market. The market does not provide any other equipment for vendors.
MARKET ORGANIZATION:
The market is governed by the Anacortes Farmers Market Board of Directors. The Market Manager performs daily operation of the market. A Market Booth is centrally located at the market, where any current marketing or advertising items specific to the market will be sold. The Market Manager reserves the right to accept only vendors who are in compliance with these rules.
VENDOR Classification:
FARMERS: One who raises produce, plants or botanicals, or animals, which they sell at the market, on land they own, lease or rent, in Skagit County and bordering counties. The definition of Farmer may also include someone who processes produce, fruit, berries, botanicals, meats, honey, etc., which is grown, raised, or harvested on their own, leased or rented property in Skagit County or border counties and then turned into value added product(s) such as jams, cider, salsa, vinegars, alcoholic beverages (*), essential oils or any other botanical use. It may also include Farmers who raise the basic ingredient(s) of a product, but who must send it out for fundamental processing, either within Skagit County or border counties, before creating the value added product. Such Vendors might include those Farmers selling certain essential oils, smoked meats or fish, etc. This excludes Resellers or those who might work on, or manage a corporately owned farm and have permission to dispose of surplus product. Farmers may sell no more than 25% from a farm other than their own, but “buying in” produce is not allowed if another farmer is growing the same product. Wild harvested produce, such as mushrooms, is allowed to be resold.
1. SEAFOODS: In the case of seafood, the vendor must own, lease, or operate the fishing vessel or own, lease or rent the parcel of land where the seafood is caught or harvested for sale at the market. The vendor must be a legal resident of the State of Washington.
2. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Alcoholic beverages must be made entirely from ingredients grown in Washington, or from grapes grown in a recognized Washington appellation, except for certain additives required for processing which cannot be produced in the State of Washington, not amounting to more than 5% of the total volume of the beverage. [Because at this time there appears to be no beer made in Washington State that meets these requirements, WSFMA recommends that its Member Markets only apply to be authorized for wine sales by the State Liquor Control Board.]
RESELLERS: The AFM does not allow Resellers.
PROCESSORS: One who sells foods that they have personally prepared or processed on property that they own, lease, or rent in Skagit County or border counties. Processors are persons offering fresh food products (such as meats, seafood, ciders, wines, baked goods, jams, nuts, etc.) that have added value to their product through some sort of “hands-on” processing (e.g., hand-filleted fish, smoked or butchered meats, handmade candies/nuts, etc.), but have not raised the ingredients themselves. All Processors must meet all Federal, State, County and local Health Department requirements. All appropriate permits and licenses must be submitted and filed with the Market Manager. Processors must produce their products in Skagit County or in the border counties. Processed food producers should use ingredients from Washington State farms or waters as much as possible, and Market Manager should give stall preference to those Processors who use ingredients from Washington State farms or waters.
1. SEAFOODS: In the case of seafood vendors, the product must originate from the greater Pacific Northwest, which includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska and British Columbia.
2. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Alcoholic beverages must be made entirely from ingredients grown in Washington, or from grapes grown in a recognized Washington appellation, except for certain additives required for processing, but which cannot be produced in the State of Washington, not amounting to more than 5% of the total volume of the beverage.
OTHER VENDORS/PREPARED FOOD VENDORS: Prepared Food vendors (Concessionaires) offer freshly made foods, available for sale and immediate consumption on-site at the market. Prepared Food vendors shall submit and also possess and maintain all required State, County, and local Health Department permits. All appropriate permits and licenses shall be filed with the management of the market. Prepared Food vendors should use ingredients produced in Washington State as much as possible. Further, when selecting Prepared Food vendors, the Market Manger is encouraged to provide a good variety of healthy foods and to give preference to those vendors using ingredients produced in Washington State only. In an attempt to become a Zero Waste Event, Prepared Food Vendors are required to use compostable, biodegradable and recyclable products for serving food to the customer.
ARTISANS/CRAFTERS: One who creates with their own hands the products they offer for sale at the market. To qualify as an Artisan/Crafter, a majority of the tools and equipment used to produce their products must require skill, personal handling and/or manipulation. Artisans/Crafters should incorporate materials grown or produced in Washington State as much as possible and create their products in Skagit County or border counties only. The Market Manager should give priority to those Artisan/Crafter vendors who use materials from Washington State. The market will allow growers to broker no more than 20% of produce from other growers if they buy directly from that grower and brokered produce must be posted as such. Brokered items are limited to cultivated farm produce and must be grown within Skagit County or border counties, with the exception of limiting wild grown foods to being grown within the state of Washington. In the spirit of cooperation, growers will communicate with each other about bringing in produce not grown on their farm. There will be no brokering of craft items.
EXCLUSIONS:
The MARKET will not allow the following:
- No Second Hand Items (Exception: Those vendors who take a second hand item and recycle that item intended for a new use.)
- No Franchises: Those who have entered into an agreement or received a license to sell a company’s products and/or use a company’s packaging, logo, ingredients, and/or marketing tools under that license or any franchise agreement;
- No Commercial or Imported Items
- No Non-Owner Operated Businesses: Only those businesses that are operated and controlled by their Washington State-based, or border county-based, owners are permitted at the market; and
- No Out-of-State Processing: All processed products sold at the market must be processed within Skagit County or border counties.
MARKET SET-UP: The goal of space assignment is to achieve a harmonious, attractive and inviting display of the vendors’ products. Location of vendors is determined based on seniority, with the most senior market vendors being given preference in selection of selling space. The Market Manager is responsible for space assignment. Vendors participating regularly may have their space assigned for the season. Vendors participating infrequently, irregularly or without prior notice cannot be assigned a “permanent” space. Every attempt will be made to accommodate the preferences of the vendors.
- All vendors who wish to erect canopies (including umbrellas) on the farmers’ market site during a normal period of market operations, including the set up and break down period, are required to have their canopies sufficiently and safely anchored to the ground from the time their canopy is put up to the time it is taken down. Any vendor who fails to properly anchor his or her canopy will not be allowed to sell at the farmers’ market on that market day, unless that vendor chooses to take down and stow their canopy and sell without it. Each canopy leg must have no less than 25 lbs. anchoring each leg. If weights are not positioned by 9am, weights will be assigned to the vendor for $10 each. Rule intent: Member Markets, under the WSFMA Liability Insurance Policy, who fail to enforce this, shall pay a $1000 deductible for any damage that may occur due to rogue or improperly secured vendor canopies.
- Set-up time is from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM during the summer market season. All vendor vehicles should be out of the market area by 8:15 AM. Vendors arriving after 8:30 AM may have their space reassigned for the day.
- All display tables, products & signage must remain inside each 10′x10′ space. Rule intent: Signage, displays, etc. outside of your space could become a tripping hazard or block customers from your neighbors space.
- The market closes at 2:00 PM. Vendors should not leave prior to close of the market. If you run out of product, prior to the close of the market, please notify the market manager and arrange to leave with minimum disruption.
- Parking in front of the market is reserved for customers. Vendors must park south of the north end of the Preston snag boat and north of 6th St. Vendors can park behind the Depot building as well as the listed locations.
FARM INSPECTIONS: The Anacortes Farmers’ Market reserves the right to visit the farms of growers to confirm that the products brought to the market are their own products. Such visits will be set up at least 24 hours in advance. The same type of visit can be extended to the production site(s) of producers and crafters if a question should arise regarding the origin of merchandise offered for sale.
SELLING TIME: Selling shall begin at 9:00 AM and not before. A bell will be rung to indicate the opening of the market.
NOTICE OF NON-PARTICIPATION: The market has a substantial waiting list of vendors wishing to participate and the Market Manager needs as much lead time as possible to contact a substitute vendor. Vendors must notify the Manager by 9am on Thursday before the Saturday’s absence. If there is not sufficient time to find a replacement, the pre-paid fee will be forfeited. Rule intent: A full and vibrant market is in all vendors’ interest.
NON-PROFIT – The AFM can accommodate 3 non-profit vendors per week. All non-profits must notify the Market Manager prior to arriving at the market.
SPACE CLEAN UP: All vendors are responsible for cleaning up all litter and debris from their space. There is a broom and dustpan in the Car House.
MARKET SET-UP AND TAKEDOWN: It takes a lot of work to set up and take down the market equipment. It is in the best interest of all vendors that the market is well-prepared and put away weekly. All vendors are required to assist in the set up and/or take down of the market each market day. Rule intent: Many hands make light work.
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS:
- Vendors are prohibited from drinking and smoking inside the market area. Please do not smoke within 25 feet of the market.
- Vendors shall not play amplified music. For vendors whose product consists of/or includes taped music of their performance, the sound level should be such that it cannot be heard outside their space.
- “Hawking” of products by vendors is not permitted.
- Political or religious campaigning is not permitted.
EBT/DEBIT/CREDIT: The market has been approved for the EBT/Debit/Credit Program offered by the USDA & WSFMA. All food vendors who fit into the USDA categories of food vendors must accept EBT food stamp tokens. The market will also offer the service of a Debit/Credit Card Token. All vendors may accept these. The Debit/Credit Card Program is a service to the market Vendors. A Debit/Credit fee in the amount of 3% will be deducted from the total amount returned by the vendor. Vendors will be reimbursed on the following Saturday of receipt of tokens (or via mail, if necessary).
MUSIC AT THE MARKET: Musicians wishing to perform at the market must contact the Market Manager to schedule dates for performance. Music played at the market must be original and not subject to copyright laws. Volume and content must be appropriate for the market setting. The Manager reserves the right to choose performers that best suit the integrity and spirit of the market.
The Anacortes Farmers Market operates under the Bylaws of the Anacortes Farmers Market.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, you may submit your request by clicking here.
