Lamoille Valley Year-round Farmers Artisan Market Guidelines
(Voted and accepted 12/31/07 at Farmers Discussion)
Statement of purpose:
The purpose of the LVYR Farmers Artisan Market is to encourage support for year-round sustainable agriculture & artisan work around Vermont and to provide a year-round outlet for local farmers and artisans to sell products. Our plan provides a venue that connects local buyers to local goods with opportunities to meet their good's creator. We will incorporate an element of education on the importance of buying local, while celebrating the Wednesday Localvore in creative ways.
Market Rules:
- Market season and hours of opening: The LVYR Farmers Artisan Market will be held once a week on Wednesdays. The grand opening will be March 5th, 2008. The time frame will be 3pm to 7pm with a possible optional extended hour of operation until 8pm during the summer season. Until further notice, the location of this market will be held at the Morristown Grange, presently known as the River Arts Center, downtown Morrisville on Pleasant Street. The non-snow season will expand to the outside w/ use of the Municipal Parking Lot.
- Eligibility of vendors:
Judging of applications for membership in the LVYR Farmers Artisan Market will be the responsibility of the Steering Committee. This committee can include the market manager, the nonprofit directors, any market members and hosting representative. There is general agreement among this committee as to certain basic principles. That product should be locally grown or made, produced by the vendors or their immediate representatives, and conformable to sustainable practices. To determine whether applicants meet these criteria, the following questions will be addressed:
a) Are the products made or grown locally, closer the better?
b) What is the geographical scope of the operation's marketing?
c) Is the products home or shop-made?
d) What is the volume of production?
e) What pre-prepared ingredients or materials are used?
f) Do the products have a homespun quality?
g) Will the products benefit the Market as a whole?
No one question will serve to determine eligibility: rather it will be made considering the overall tendency of the answers. Seeing 2008 is this market's first year, out of courtesy, the 2007 Morristown Farmers Market members and the River Art members will receive priority. When there are two vendors applying for membership with the same product, applications will be considered in this order of priority: (1) Morristown Farmers Market farmer/growers; (2) Lamoille Valley farmer/growers; (3) Morristown Farmers Market prepared food & craft/art vendors, then River Artisan; (4) Lamoille Valley prepared food & craft/art applicant; (5) Vermont farmers then artisans applying within 100 mile radius or about. - Eligibility of products:
a) Only local products (i.e. grown or produced in Vermont) may be sold.
b) Products must be of high quality and may include produce (agricultural, animal and horticultural), prepared foods and crafts. All products are subject to the approval of the Steering Committee.
c) New vendors will be given a probationary period for their first two scheduled market dates. If found to be in violation of market rules and standards, vendors will be asked to leave the market. No refunds will be given.
d) The caterer kitchen usage will be reviewed on it's own application and cooks are encouraged to use as much local ingredients as possible, prefacing the market vendor products.
e) The vendor must have grown all plants for at least six weeks prior to being brought to market.
f) Annually, vendors must sign a product/display liability waiver & understanding of guidelines on application. Market fee must be made before first sale of that year. - Conditions of sale:
a) Products must be sold by the grower or producer themselves, or by an employee thereof. The Steering Committee reserves the right to approve a farmer/artisan representative; this must be reviewed prior to that day of market that rep is to work.
b) Vendors selling by weight must provide their own certifiable scales when state laws require it.
c) Each vendor is responsible for any licensing or certification required for products sold.
d) Collection of Vermont sales tax, if any, is the responsibility of the vendor. - Allocation and usage of space:
Space shall be allocated annually by the Steering Committee under the following general principles:
a) In allocating space, the Steering Committee will maintain the number of vendors as far as possible in the ratio of agricultural products 60% prepared foods 20%, and arts/crafts 20%. This ratio will be calculated using the actual number of vendors and not the linear feet occupied. Vendors who sell in more than one category will be prioritized based on the predominant activity of their business.
b) The Steering Committee will reserve 60% of spaces as "farmers first" spaces; any unfilled farmers first spaces may be reserved by a non-agricultural vendor for the present season only. These "farmers first" spaces do not assure a non-ag vendor a spot at the market in subsequent years. However, once a farmer is able to fill that space, that farmer has the option to remain in that space for subsequent years' markets.
c) Agricultural vendors only will be given the option to share a vending space with other farmers during the winter/holiday season. This will allow farmers to participate even if they have only a few items to sell. The market manager, or a designated volunteer, will help farmers get together, but the actual decisions of who sells what, how people might share the job of selling and payment of 5% at the market will be left to the vendors to decide cooperatively.
d) On the application for membership, all vendors will be asked to indicate their preference as to the space occupied. Please understand there are many factors into making a layout and all effort will be made to find a spot pleasing to each vendor, but the ultimate decision will be in the markets best interest. Most vendor spaces will be 8 feet in length with one chair and a table (limited amout) unless previously requests were made. The possible outside space would be a 10-foot space with no table or chair provided. Please pre-arrange any other options with manager.
e) Priority will be given to vendors who sign up for the most days and who have paid their fee.
f) In the hopes of creating a pleasant atmosphere for the majority; there is no smoking, live animals, alcohol, illegal drugs, or open flames allowed at the market. The Steering Committee reserves the right to alter this if it is approved for a special event.
Thank you for your interest in FAM! We'd love to see you, come on buy!