|
Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market Vendor Participation Guidelines
Approved by Parks and Recreation Commission: October 8, 2008
Definitions:
Farmers: Those engaged in growing / producing vegetables and fruits on their farm; those engaged in the production of dairy products including milk, cheese, ice cream, etc.; those engaged in the production of eggs by their poultry; those engaged in the production and / or processing of meat products such as pork, chicken and beef; those engaged in the preparation of honey produced by their bees.
Food artisans: Those engaged in the preparation of baked goods and foods, jams, jellies, pickles, preserves.
Craft artisans: Those engaged in the production of arts and craft items such as pottery, jewelry, apparel, wood and metal crafts, paintings, photography, etc.
Regional: Local; more specifically, North Carolina and adjoining states (South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee)
Local: See regional
Agent: An employee or representative of a farm vendor who, along with the farm vendor, assists in selling goods produced by the vendor.
Mission Statement
The Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market is a place for farmers and craft persons to market locally produced goods directly to the public. The goals are:
1) To provide a venue for local farmers, food and craft artisans to sell their homegrown, homebaked, and handmade wares
2) to promote the richness of regional agriculture and artisans
3) to provide a place for Greensboro residents to have access to fresh locally produced food, and
4) to provide a crossroads where all residents can come together.
1. Market Hours
The market is open year round on Saturdays, except when Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday. The market will also be open on Wednesday mornings from May through December. Hours of operation are the following: Wednesdays from 7am until 1 pm and Saturdays from 6 am until 12 noon. The Market Manager has the discretion to close the market at any time during any day if conditions justify closing.
2. Who May Sell
Selling space shall be strictly limited to growers and artisans residing in the state of North Carolina or adjoining states, and their products. No reselling of any prepared foods or craft items of any type shall be permitted at any time. Reselling refers to buying produce or other goods from a wholesaler and selling the product, as is, to the customer. Reselling of certain farm products and / or produce may be allowed by special permission of market management. In these cases, an Application for Variance must be completed and submitted for review (see Schedule 3 – Application for Variance to Sell) and approved by Market Management prior to selling those items.
3. What May Be Sold
The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market exists as an outlet for the selling of farm products raised by the seller and artisan food products made by the seller. These products can only be offered for sale at the market by the farmer who raised them, or the artisan who made them, or his / her agent. (See schedule 1 for a complete list of products which may be sold). A number of tables may also be made available for the sale of crafts made by the seller. Priority for space is given in the following order:
1st: to growers / farmers
2nd: to prepared foods / baked goods vendors
3rd: to crafts vendors
4. Table Rentals
Tables may be rented by the day or by the year. Each vendor must obtain an application from the Market Manager or from Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. After completion, the application must be returned, along with all necessary permits, to Parks and Recreation at least one month prior to the date the vendor wishes to begin selling at the market. Approval of the application does not guarantee table space. Upon approval, table space for day rental will be assigned by the market manager as available no later than 6:30 the morning of the sale. Priority is given first to farmers/growers.The City’s fiscal year is July 1 through June 30. Yearly table space is assigned at the end of July by market management based on availability of space. Vendors currently leasing tables by the year must notify the Market Manager of their intent to renew their lease for table space(s) for the next year by the last Saturday in June. Rent is due on July 1 and must be paid in full no later than July 31. Table rental is nontransferable and nonrefundable. In order to maintain continuous lease after permanent table assignment, all farmers must occupy the space for a minimum of 15 weeks each year. Exceptions may be made when drought or other extreme conditions exist which adversely affect the seasonal crop / harvest expectations. Prepared foods / baked goods vendors and craft vendors must occupy the space for a minimum of 30 weeks each year. This occupancy need not be consecutive. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the permanent table.
5. Application to Sell
Applications to sell are available from the Market Manager or from the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department. Applications must be completed and returned at least one month prior to the date vendor wishes to begin selling. Applications will be considered only if and when all necessary permits are submitted with application. (See Item 6 – Vendor Permits). Application for craft persons must contain descriptions of products to be sold along with photos. Craft vendors will be chosen based on available space and appropriateness of items to be sold. Craft items using locally produced materials or that are farm and garden related are especially encouraged. All crafts must be original and handmade by the seller. In some cases, food items not covered in Schedule 1 may be permitted. A vendor wishing to sell an item not otherwise listed may apply to market management for a variance (see Schedule 3 – Application for Variance to Sell).
Any vendor who has applied and been accepted to sell produce, food or crafts may only sell items listed on the original application and approved by market management. All vendors wishing to add new categories of items must submit an amended application and be approved before selling new items.
6. Vendor Permits
All vendors selling produce must have a Growers Certificate completed by the agricultural extension agent in the county in which the farm is located listing all products being grown or produced by the vendor. A copy of that form must be kept on file with the market management.
All vendors advertising and selling organic products must also submit a copy of their current organic certification and renew each year.
All vendors selling meat must obtain a meat handler’s license from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA).
All prepared food items, meat and fish sold must meet state and local health regulations, including the inspection of prepared food seller’s kitchen by NCDA health inspectors. Vendors must have a current copy of their inspection form on file with the market manager.
7. Vendor Responsibility
Leasing a table by the day or the year is a contractual agreement between the market and the vendor. Each renter must be set up by 6:30 am. After that time, market manager may reassign that table for the day as needed. Each renter agrees to stay until market closing. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of the privilege of selling at the Market.
Each renter is responsible for keeping table and space clean and aisles and walkways clear at all times during market hours. All trash must be placed in provided trash cans. Spills must be cleaned immediately with provided mops and brooms. At market closing, the vendor must clean the table and area completely, including removing all discarded produce, food or flower material to the dumpster located behind the building. Carts are provided for vendor and customer convenience during market hours. Carts may at no time be used to store items -- before, during or after market. Sinks are provided for the convenience of all vendors. Anyone using a sink must clean it out after use. All vendors must leave the Market facility within one hour of listed closing times.
Vendors must provide their own scales and measures. Scales must be accurate and NCDA approved. Vendors set their own prices. All items sold are to be of top quality. Prices must be clearly posted on each item. Signage and creative displays are encouraged as long as they do not interfere with normal market operations or obstruct view.
All vendors must represent their products in an honest manner, written or verbal.
No water or ice that has come into contact with meat or fish may be deposited or allowed to drain on market premises.
Vendors cannot keep their displays up if they are not here every Saturday. The display has to be easily moveable so that the Market Manager can remove it if necessary. If the vendor is not at the Saturday Market and has left his or her display up, an additional charge will be assessed. Displays must be taken down for special events as needed. If vendors leave their displays up, they will be removed by market management and additional charges will be assessed.
No perishable goods can be left at tables when the Market is closed.
It is the responsibility of the vendor to satisfy customer complaints. Upon receipt of numerous complaints about the same vendor, Market management will investigate and reserves the right to impose a penalty which may include probation and / or suspension. Vendors having complaints about other vendors must submit specific written and signed complaints to the Market manager or to Market management.
Vendors determined to be using methods that are detrimental to sound Market operations, including the violation of Market policies, may be denied the privilege of selling at the Market. These methods may include, but are not limited to
1) offering for sale produce that is unsound, unwholesome or which fails to meet the requirements of federal, state or local laws
2) intentional misrepresentation of products sold by you, such as labeling products as “organic” without proper certification, failure to indicate source of products not grown / produced by you through the use of proper labeling at all times when selling at the Market, etc.
3) disruptive behavior, abusive or offensive language, abusive or offensive behavior toward other vendors, Market customers or Market management / staff
4) use of alcohol or other controlled substances while at the Market
5) possession of firearms or other weapons while at the Market
8. Vendor Parking
Vendors may park near the market doors for 15 minutes while unloading. All vendor cars, trucks or other vehicles may not be parked in spaces along the side of the building on Lindsay Street, or along the creek side on Homeland Avenue. Parking spaces closer to the building are reserved for customers only. Vendors may park across Yanceyville Street at the War Memorial Baseball Stadium or on the grassy area adjacent to the parking lot on Homeland Avenue.
9. Animals
No animals of any kind (including pets) are permitted in the market. Service dogs are permitted when necessary.
10. Selling Outside the Market
No one shall be permitted to sell any farm products from parking lots within a distance of 600 feet of the curb market unless legally authorized to do so.
11. Violation and Penalties
Violation of any of these policies shall subject the vendor to forfeiture of the privilege of selling at the market. Any complaint must be filed in writing, signed and submitted to market manager. Complaints will be looked into by market management, who reserves the right to request a farm visit of any farm / producer. Violations will have the following consequences:
1) If a violation of market policy has occurred, a warning letter will be sent to vendor.
2) A second warning letter of complaint will result in a 30 day suspension of the right to sell.
3) A third violation will result in the vendor not being allowed to sell for one year and forfeiture of the permanent table reservation and all fees. After one year, the vendor may reapply by submitting a new application and all necessary permits.
12. Secondary Use of the Market
The city reserves the right to open the curb market facilities to other activities when the market is closed.
13. Market Management
The Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market is a facility of the City of Greensboro’s Parks & Recreation Department. Market Management consists of the Market Manager, who manages the day to day operations of the Market; and the City Beautiful Coordinator / Market Coordinator, who oversees the overall operation of the Farmers’ Market and other events at the facility. Both are employees of the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department.
Market Management may deny the privilege of selling at the Market to any person who violates these guidelines and rules, or who otherwise takes actions which are determined by Market Management to be detrimental to the Market. Market Management specifically reserves the right to request additional information or documentation before making a decision to deny or limit a vendor’s access to the Market. The privilege of selling on the Market is not an entitlement. In utilizing discretion to suspend, revoke, or otherwise terminate a vendor’s privilege to sell at the Market, Market Management may consider a vendor's history of cooperation with the Market Management and the vendor’s good faith effort to obey the guidelines outlined in the Vendor Participation Policy. Likewise, any effort to manipulate or to violate the spirit of the guidelines and rules may be considered. The ultimate discretion for eligibility determinations belongs to Market Management and the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department.
Schedule 1: Products that may be sold at the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market
1. Any vegetable grown by the seller from seeds sets or seedlings on the seller’s farm
2. Fruits, nuts or berries grown by the seller from trees, bushes or vines on the seller’s farm
3. Any plant grown by the seller from seed, seedling, transplant or cutting on the seller’s farm
4. Bulbs propagated by the seller
5. Honey produced by the seller’s bees
6. Fresh baked goods made by the seller
7. Eggs produced by the seller’s poultry
8. Preserves, pickles, jams and jellies made by the seller
9. Fresh cut or dried flowers grown by the seller
10. Fish or meat from animals raised on the sellers premises
11. Firewood cut by the seller
12. Compost produced and bagged by the seller
13. Non farm crafts produced by the seller
14. Other local food products -- by special approval only
Schedule 2: Table Fees for the Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market
Yearly Fees
Full table - $330
Half table - $165
Full wall table - $385
Half wall table - $192
Daily Fees
Full table - $24
Half table - $12
Full wall table - $35
Half wall table - $18
Schedule 3: Application for Variance to Sell
The Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market has a long tradition of providing a venue for local farmers, food and craft artisans to sell their homegrown produce, homebaked foods and handmade wares, and of providing a place for Greensboro residents to have access to fresh, locally produced foods. However, in certain cases, reselling of certain farm products and / or produce may be allowed by special permission of market management. These cases may include but not be limited to periods when drought or other extreme conditions exist which adversely affect the seasonal crop / harvest expectations. (i.e. if a late freeze impacts local farmers’ ability to supply the demand for strawberries in early May, the farmer who normally provides strawberries from his / her farm at this time may obtain berries from another local source and resell them until their crop comes in, or if destroyed completely, as long as strawberries are normally in season in North Carolina.) In these cases, an Application for Variance to Sell must be completed and submitted for review. Applications may be discussed with members of the elected Vendor Advisory Committee for input. However, the final determination rests with Market Management.
All vendors wishing to resell products not produced by them must first complete and submit an Application for Variance to Sell, provide necessary Growers or other certificates, and receive permission from Market Management before selling the products. The following is among the criteria is considered when reviewing applications:
- Product must support the Mission of the Market
- Product must meet all terms and standards outlined in the Market Policy
- Product must not compete with other existing vendors producing the products or providing the product from local sources.
- Product must not compromise, or otherwise call into question, the integrity of the Market
- Product must not create a liability for the Market, for the applying vendor, and the City of Greensboro
- Product must add to the vitality of the Market by benefiting the overall Market and its customers
All approved variance applications will be reviewed annually.
|