Athens Farmers Market, LLC

Membership Forms will be available in early 2009.

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Here are the 2008 rules for farmers and craftspersons to become members of AFM and sell their products at the Athens Farmers Market.  These rules may be revised for the 2009 season.

Rules & Regulations:

1. Membership

A. Persons living within a 100-mile radius of Athens-Clark County may become members of the market. Anyone becoming a member or participant must apply for admission and read and agree to all contents of this document. A vendor may sell at individual market days, but must have turned in a completed application no later than the Wednesday before the next market day. Market management will contact the member or participant before the next market regarding their application. The Board of Directors must approve any vendors growing or selling products from outside the 100-mile radius area.

B.  All vendors must complete and sign a vendor Application with the AFM prior to selling. An Application is not completed until all fees are paid.The Athens Farmers Market, reserves the right to prohibit anyone from selling at the market.

C.  All farms are subject to inspection by members of the Board to ensure compliance with product guidelines.

2. Vendor Fees and Stall Occupancy

A.  Vendor Fee - A $150.00 fee is required for membership in the market. The fee allows the vendor to sell at the market for the entire season in a space assigned by the Market Manager on a daily and space available basis.

B. Spaces - An additional space will be secured for $200. A third space will be secured for $250 with a three space total limit, as available.

C. Continuance of Occupancy - Members who had annual spaces the previous year will have the option to renew the same space for the next season, but must do so on or before the regular March membership meeting date. The March meeting will be the absolute deadline for payment of permanent spaces or the space will be forfeited.

D. Space Trades - Members with annual spaces will be able to trade with the approval of the Board.

E. Subleasing - No member shall sublease, sell or permit anyone to use his or her space.

F. Daily Space Rentals - Vendors not wishing to become a member or members using an additional space on a single Saturday market basis shall pay a daily rental fee $15 effective February 19, 2008 per space on Saturday.

G. Saturday Member Arrival – Approved members with annual spaces should arrive at the market by 7:30 a.m. Saturday, or have informed the Market Manager by 9 p.m. the night before that they will not attend.

H. Unoccupied Member Spaces - At 7:30 a.m., spaces will be available for assignment by the Market Manager to qualified or daily vendors. At 7:45 a.m., unused annual spaces may be assigned to any member in good standing.

I.  Vendor Waiting List - A space waiting list will be maintained based on seniority.

3. What Can Be Sold

A.  Raw Agricultural Products: This category includes fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, flowers, bedding plants and potted plants. The seller must grow from seed, plugs, cuttings, bulbs, bareroots, and bedding or potted plants. No resale of pre-finished plants is allowed.

B.  Value-added Agricultural Products: This category includes products made of raw agricultural products grown by the seller that have been processed or any whose sale a government agency regulates. Examples are jams, jellies, sauces, oils, vinegars, baked goods, molasses, cider and picked-out nuts. The value-added product must contain significant material grown or produced by the seller. Exceptions include goods that cannot be grown locally such as coffee or tea.  Sellers must abide by all applicable federal, state and local health regulations. In addition, they must adhere to federal guidelines on all labels. Products in this category must be brought before the board for approval.

C.  Non-agricultural Products: This category includes farm, garden, or food related crafts and value-added agricultural products made without raw agricultural products grown by the member. Examples include: baked goods, juried arts and crafts, handmade soap, handcrafted furniture, other garden related products, pottery and similar items. The member selling them must have created these items. These products are admitted at the discretion of the Board, for members in good standing only.

D. Arts and Crafts: Arts and Crafts must be handcrafted by the vendor, be original and exhibit a high level of quality and design. Products not allowed include those made from kit assembly and direct resale of commercially available products. Reformulating or repackaging of commercially prepared products or bases must demonstrate significant added value.  

E. Meat and Other Animal Products: This category includes meats, poultry, milk, cheese, eggs, farm-raised fish, honey, wool, leather, and other products derived from animals. Vendors must abide by all applicable federal, state and local regulations and inspection regimes. In addition, they must adhere to federal or state guidelines on all labels. No live animals are to be sold at the market.

F. Displays and Samples: Food products can be cut or opened for displays at the market if properly wrapped, but they cannot be sold. Free samples may be given to customers in accordance with all applicable Health Department regulations.

4.  Pricing

A. Each vendor may set his or her own prices. Prices should be set in keeping with customer satisfaction and consideration of other market vendors.

B.  Any grievance regarding the actions or prices of the other vendors should not be directed to the vendor in question. The initial grievance should be reported to the Market Manager who will bring it to the attention of the Board of Directors. The Board will determine if a special meeting needs to be called to settle the grievance.

C.  Each vendor is encouraged to provide scales of demonstrative accuracy, display racks or tables, sacks, money for change and post prices in full view of the consuming public with lettering and signs being limited to the individual space area.