Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds

Location provided by the Hancock County Ag Association

Vendor Application and Rules

As of 3/2019

The following are rules for vendors who wish to participate in the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds and serves as your application to participate as a vendor. The Farmers Market Vendor Council reserves the right to make exceptions to these rules at its discretion on a case-by-case basis.

  1. PURPOSE

The primary purpose of the Market is to provide consumers an opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown produce, meat, dairy and other food products from local producers.

  1. NAME

The Farmers’ Market will be known as the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds.

  1. MARKET LOCATION AND DATES

 Location: Hancock County 4H Fairgrounds. (Winter Market in the Show Arena)

  • 620 N Apple Street, Greenfield IN 46140

 Dates:

  • Winter Market (November – April)

 1st and 3rd Saturday’s

 10 am – 1 pm

  • Regular Market (May – October)

 Every Saturday

 8 am – Noon

  • Summer Market (July – 2nd Wednesday in October)

 8 am- Noon

**No smoking in the vendor booths**

  1. MARKET MASTER

The Market Master for the winter market is Barb Smith phone (765-763-0246) cell (317-697-0508), email: . The Market Master for the regular market is Jeniece Miller phone (765-629-2121) cell (765-561-8265), email:

The Market Master will have authority over the operation of the Farmers’ Market including vendor qualification and space assignment. All vendors must check in with the Market Master prior to setting up, including signing in with all required information and paying the appropriate space fee. Market Master will assign all vendor spaces (season pass members get first choice of space assignment). The Vendor Council may resolve any disputes and consider appeals from the decisions of the Market Master.

  1. MARKET FEES – for single booth space (additional space available for additional fees)
  2. Winter Market Pass (November – April)$50.00Single Day Fee$5.00
  3. Regular Market Pass (May – October)$100.00Single Day Fee$10.00
  4. Summer Market Pass (July – 2nd Wednesday in October)$75.00Single Day Fee$10.00
  5. OR
  6. Full Year Pass$200.00
  7. Regular and Summer Pass$150.00

Checks must be made out to the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds.

  1. Goods Permitted for sale at The Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds

The primary purpose of the Farmers Market is for the offering for sale articles for human consumption such as locally grown or produced fruits, vegetables, vegetable and bedding plants, nursery stock, edible grains, nuts, berries, aviary products, maple sugars, syrups or articles such as flowers grown and offered for sale by the growers or producers, members of his family or by his employees. Items must be produced in Indiana, no out of state produce. (Exceptions: Subject to vendor committee approval)

Approved vendors agree to offer only superior quality produce and other goods at the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds in strict accordance with all applicable laws and Farmers Market policies.

***Each vendor agrees to provide a receipt that includes the name and contact information of the farm or other source of the products offered for sale.

***All Items not grown by the vendor will have a label stating the name of the item, name and address of the producer of whom the item came from. All items must be grown or produced in Indiana.

***No product offered at the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds shall be purchased at an auction. Any vendor who is found to be buying and re-selling goods from auction may be asked to leave the market for the duration of the season without refund of fees.

The sale of eggs, cheese, meat, fish, poultry or refrigerated dairy products is permitted. These items require an Indiana Egg License and/or a Hancock County Food Permit.

Processed food items permitted for sale must follow the Guidance for Uniform Use of House Enrolled Act 1309 (copy available upon request). Products must be labeled in accordance with the Indiana law and sold in pre-packaged form. The sale of these food items requires proper labeling and must consist of the following:

Name of Product / Location of Preparation / Description of Contents / Net Weight / Price.

*This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health*

Final determination of this issue is at the discretion of the Market Master and/or the Local Health Department.

  1. VENDOR TERMS

(a) Goods can be sold directly from vans, trucks (one ton or smaller) or cars. Vendors must furnish their own tables, chairs or other display arrangements. In case of inclement weather, vendors must furnish their own protection. If tents or umbrellas are used, please secure them properly, as you are responsible for any damage they may cause.

(b) Shelter is generally provided during the regular season. Fairground Superintendent will let us know if the shelter will not be available. Winter market will be held in the Show Arena (heated building)

(c) Vendor shall post the price of your products

(d) Vendors must keep their produce in good condition. Low quality or dirty vegetables, fruit etc. should not be displayed or sold.

  1. Vendor Signage

All vendor booths must have at least an 81/2 x 11 sign stating their farm name or vendor name. You may use other signage to promote your farm/booth.

  1. Hoosier Harvest Council

Membership in Hoosier Harvest Council is a separate membership. Joining HHC will get you listed in their directory and a web page and additional promotion. HHC is no longer a member of Buy Fresh Buy Local, so any of that signage should not be used. Please contact Hoosier Harvest Council for information about membership; application can be found on their web site.

  1. HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS

All items intended for human consumption must be kept at least 18 inches off the ground at all times, be under a tent or umbrella and be in a safe and sound condition. Vendors are responsible for any damages resulting from his sale of unsafe or unsound goods. No potentially hazardous foods should be sold. For reference, please call the Hancock County Health Department at (317) 477-1125.

Permits for consumable goods must be available at the Market.

All items requiring immediate refrigeration must meet state, county and local health requirements, rules and regulations. Vendors are responsible for their own refrigeration source.

Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to their products.

Scales and measuring devices must be legal and accurate.

  1. VENDOR CLEAN UP

Failure to completely clean up assigned spaces and surrounding area may result in loss of vendor privileges.

  1. RESIDENCY OF VENDORS

Vendors offering items for sale must reside in Central Indiana.

  1. Eligibility of Vendors

Any person who regularly and directly works in all stages of the cultivation, production, and harvesting of quality produce or other eligible goods may apply to become a market vendor. Prior to participating in the markets, all vendors must provide the Farmers Market Vendor Committee with copies of all State and local permits and licenses required for the operation of their vending business and a copy of their certificate of liability,

The Farmers Market Vendor Council reserves the right to deny any vendor application or revoke vendor privileges of any person for failure to provide all requisite paperwork or to comply with all applicable laws and market policies, or on account of undesirable or suspect produce or other goods offer for sale, space considerations, or for any other reason or cause as determined by Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds Vendor Council at its discretion. All vendors are subject to a premises visit to insure integrity of products and labeling.

  1. COVENANT NOT TO SUE

By participating in this Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds, the vendor agrees not to institute any action or suit of law or inequity against the market, its employees, volunteers, agents, officers, and designees as a result of action taken under this contract. The vendors will not aid in the institution or prosecution of any claims for damages, costs, loss of services, expenses or compensation for or on account of any damages, loss or injury to person or property resulting from the terms of vendor’s participation in the market.

  1. INDEMNIFICATION

The Vendor hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, release, waive, and forever discharge Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds employees, volunteers, agents, officers and designees from all actions, damages, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees and court costs that may arise out of or as a result of the Vendor participating in the market.

  1. INSURANCE

Vendor shall provide a certificate of liability insurance (example 2) for protection against damages in the event injury occurs at the Market or an injury is caused by their products and will maintain insurance for the duration they participate in the Market. The certificate of liability insurance must be on file with the Market Master prior to your booth assignment. The Certificate Holder should be Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds, 620 N. Apple Street, Greenfield, IN 46140.

  1. FARMERS’ MARKET VENDOR COUNCIL

The Farmers Market Vendor Council consists of the Market Master(s), Ag Association Representative, 2 market vendors and a representative from the community. The vendor council will hold a spring meeting and meet at other times as needed. The Extension educator can provide current basic information about production and marketing of many farm products along with contact information for appropriate regulatory agencies. The Extension ANR can be contacted at (317) 462-1113.

  1. THE FARMERS MARKET AT THE FAIRGROUNDS NUTRITION PROGRAM…AKA…THE WIC and SENIORS Program

The FMNP provides participants in the WIC and Seniors program with checks to purchase locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. Only fresh, unprocessed, locally grown fruits and vegetables are eligible for purchase with an FMNP. It will be the responsibility of individual vendors to make application to the same agency to be able to participate as an approved vendor for the purposes of this program and to be able to accept WIC and Senior vouchers.

The FMNP in Hancock County is administered by the Hancock County WIC program, (317) 462-3552, and at the state level by Indiana State Department of Health, 1-800-522-0874 or .

  1. PAYMENT METHODS

Each vendor can decide type of payment accepted at their own booth.

The Market can accept SNAP, Debit and Credit Cards at a central location to pay for products customers wish to purchase from vendors.

SNAP – The market is also approved to take SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program) Benefits. You must attend SNAP training to validate understanding of what items can be purchased with SNAP and have eligible products to sign up to take SNAP. Mark the application if you wish to accept SNAP.

  1. CENTRAL PAYMENT & WELCOME BOOTH – For SNAP/EBT, Debit and Credit Cards

We will have one person who will manage the equipment at the market. The account will be reconciled prior to the next market and the vendor will receive a check from the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds for the amount that was charged for their items. We expect to have a check to the vendor by the next Saturday market or sooner.

Credit & Debit Cards have a processing fee of 2% that will be deducted from your payment.

SNAP/EBT you will receive the full amount.

  1. MARKET BUCKS

We plan to continue to use market bucks to provide for give a way’s at the market. Donations will be accepted at the market for the drawing. Other suggestions for market promotion will be welcome

We may use market bucks to reward a volunteer to help with the welcome booth and central payment center.

  1. VENDOR VIOLATION PROCEDURE

In the event that a vendor is found to be in violation of one or more of the above market rules the following process shall be observed.

  • Market rule violation
  • Verbal warning issued by market master
  • Written warning issued by market master
  • Expulsion from market for season
  • Appeal to farmers’ market committee
  • Decision of the committee is final
  1. MARKET PRODUCT VIOLATION

In the event that there is a question regarding a product being offered by a vendor the following process shall be observed.

Example

Vendor Information Please write clearly 2019

Farm Name: ______(this will appear on you vendor sign)

Farm Owners______

Address of Farm______

Address of owners (if different than farm) ______

Preferred Phone number______Alternate Number: ______

Email______

Do you have Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? Other? ______

Please list all the items you will sell at the Farmers Markets at the Fairgrounds. We will use this for advertising purposes.

______$50 for the Winter Market Pass (November-April)

______$100 for the Regular Market Pass (May - October) _____ Larger booth space

______$75 for the Wednesday Market Pass (July – 2nd Wednesday in October)

______$150 for Regular and (Summer or Winter) Market Pass _____ Larger booth space

______$200 for the Full Year Pass (Saturday, Wednesday & Winter Market)

 I will pay daily fee at the Market ($10.00 summer/$5.00 winter).

I acknowledge by my signature below that I have read the rules for the Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds and agree to abide by all of the terms and conditions. Check here if you have received SNAP training and wish to take it at the market 

______

SignatureDate

Please make checks payable to: Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds

Application and required documents can be mailed to: 620 N Apple Street, Greenfield, IN 46140

For Farmers Market Vendor Committee Use

Yes  No Certificate of Insurance on file

Yes  No Copy of Vendor Licence______

Yes  No HHC Member

Space Assignment Saturday______Wednesday______