Skagit Valley Farmers Market

Skagit Valley Farmers Market Category Definitions
Crafters
Farmers
Processors, Seafood, Other
Service Providers

Website for Washington State Dept. of Agriculture Regulations for Direct Farm Marketing

http://agr.wa.gov/Marketing/SmallFarm/greenbook.aspx

Membership Dues and Stall Fees

The Skagit Valley Farmers Market is not a membership organization. Vendors pay daily or weekend fees. In addition vendors need to pay fees for usage of electricity if needed.

Daily stall fees
Daily stall fees are charged at beginning of the Market

Daily Market- Saturday OR Sunday
A stall fee of $20

Weekend Market- Saturday AND Sunday
A stall fee of $30

Weekday set up: arrange with owner on case by case basis

If you would like your products sold by us during the week contact the market director.

 Tory Fidler @

360-422-5142

skagitvalleyfarmersmarket@yahoo.com

Electrical fees:

Daily fee: pay at the beginning of market
$1 electrical fee for scales
$3 electrical fee for appliances

Annual fee: pay once at the beginning of the season
$10 electrical fee for scales
$18 electrical fee for appliances

Stall Canopy, Parking

1. Spaces will be 10 by 10.

1. Parking spots in designated vendor parking.  No parking in the market area.

SET UP – LOADING AND UNLOADING

Set-Up

On Market days, time prior to market opening is available for stall set-up by vendors. During this period, vendors may enter the market area for the purpose of readying their stall space for the day’s sales. Except for sales to other vendors, no sales are allowed during set-up time. Monthly vendors will be given priority spots.  If you plan to arrive later or leave earlier you must take an outside spot.

       Canopy and Table Set-Up/Take down

   All vendors erecting canopies 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.  The market recommends 24 pound weights on each of the corners of the canopy. 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.  If there are any insurance costs arising from a canopy, due to negligence on the part of the vendor, any insurance costs (i.e. deductable payments) shall be passed on to the vendor). 

       Signs

All vendors must have a sign at their Market site. The sign must have the business name, location and may include the business logo. Additional signs are permitted as long as they do not interfere with neighboring stalls and are in good taste.

       Vendor Displays

Table displays, temporary displays in front of stalls and signs must not block accessibility to adjoining stalls. Display and selling techniques must not impair other vendor’s ability to sell. If a vendor feels his/her sales ability is compromised by a neighboring vendor display or selling techniques, he/she may verbally complain to the Market Manger, who will mediate a solution acceptable to both parties.

       Stall Clean Up

Each vendor is responsible for cleaning his/her stall area (including tables and canopies) and removing their own boxes and garbage from the Market site. If this is not done to the satisfaction of the Market Manager, after an initial warning a vendor may be fined $30.00 per instance, and may be excluded from participation in the Market.  All vendors utilizing heat must have fire extinguishers in their booths.

        No alcohol or drugs are permitted on the premises. If the Market Manager believes a vendor is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, he/she has the authority to ask the vendor to leave the market immediately. 

state wineries and breweries are able to sell bottled wine/beer but must have a Washington State Liquor License (WSLCB)

        Behavior

        All vendors, their children and staff, whether at the market site or market functions, will behave toward Market customers, Market members, staff and volunteers in a professional manner.

        Firearms/Fireworks

        No firearms or fireworks permitted on the premises.

        Health Practices

        All vendors must adhere to sanitary procedures as outlined by the Skagit County Environmental Health Department. Any vendor found selling contaminated foodstuffs or produce shall be suspended from selling operations until satisfactory clearance has been obtained from the Skagit County Environmental Health Department. The Health Department will make unannounced inspections at the Market.  Three Health Department violations in one Market year will result in a vendor being asked to leave the market.

        Insurance

        It is recommended that each vendor have his/her own product liability insurance.

        Logo Use-vendors have permission to use the Skagit Valley Farmers Market logo

        Labeling

1. Use of the word “organic” is restricted to those who have in fact, been so certified by the Department of Agriculture. All vendors are required to advertise truthfully and to respond to customers' questions in a like manner. Under State law, organic growers selling less than $5000 annually are not required to be certified to label their product “organic”.

1. Eastern Washington Produce sellers must display a sign indicating product coming from Eastern Washington.

       Pets

  Pets are not permitted on the premises.

 Aid dogs are exempt from this rule. 

 We will have a pet “area” outside the market.

Political/Religious Activities

The Market is not a forum for political or religious activities. Permits will not be issued to persons or organizations wishing to campaign or proselytize.

       Poultry/Livestock

Poultry and livestock must be kept in cages. The cages will be kept clean and clean fresh water will be made available to animals throughout the market day.

       Pricing

Pricing of goods sold at the Market is solely the responsibility of the individual vendor. “Dumping” will not be allowed. We suggest, for good community and vendor relationship, that produce not be priced below 80% of the prevailing

area retail price.

       Quality

The Market strives to provide a place where fresh and wholesome products are sold. The Market Manager has the responsibility to cooperate with regulatory agencies in order to maintain quality control at the Market.

       Radio/Cassette Players

  No sound that can be heard outside an individual vendor’s stall will be allowed.

       Skateboards/Roller Blades/Bicycles.

  While we encourage alternative modes of transportation, we ask there be no skateboards, roller blades or bicycle riding in the market area.  Bike racks will be provided.

       Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a practice that violates federal equal employment opportunity laws and violates the principles of the SVFM. Therefore:

1. It is the policy of the SVFM to comply with the spirit and intent of federal equal employment opportunity laws and rules.

1. Vendors and staff will be afforded a work environment free from sexual harassment.

1. All vendors and staff shall project the necessary attitudes and behavior to ensure that sexual harassment does not occur.

1. Vendors observing or having knowledge of incidents or practices within the Market, which are harassment, as defined within this section shall report their observations to the Manager.

1. The Market will not tolerate instances where a vendor or staff is retaliated upon in any way for complaining of sexual harassment. Confidentiality will be maintained whenever possible.

1. Violators of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with SVFM policy.

  The following acts are considered sexual harassment:

1. Promise of employment or continued employment made implicitly or explicitly predicated on sexual activity as a condition of employment.     

1. Implicit or explicit coercive sexual behavior to control, influence or affect any employee, contractor, customer, potential customer or vendor.

1. Deliberate or unsolicited verbal comments, gestures or physical contacts of a sexual nature which are unwelcome or interfere with work performance or create an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment exists when the behavior is repeated or unsolicited and is unwelcome.

Tobacco

  Smoking and tobacco chewing are not allowed within the vendor stalls or spaces.

       Hawking

To ensure that the experience of shoppers at the Farmers' Market is relaxing and enjoyable; and to ensure that all Market vendors have equal and uninhibited access to customers, hawking by vendors of their or other vendors’ product is strictly prohibited.  Behaviors which for the purposes of this policy fall under the description of hawking include, but are not restricted to:

Actively soliciting market customers with samples of product within the public areas adjacent to Market stalls or pop up canopies.

Yelling at, or raising of the voice towards potential customers not in the vendor's booth for the purposes of soliciting a sale

Impeding in any way the free motion of Market customers so as to offer them samples or solicit them to buy products

Any type of aggressive or animated behavior conducted outside a vendor's stall that is intended to gain the attention of potential customers.

Any behavior conducted outside the vendor's stall that redirects or blocks customer access to the adjacent stalls of other vendors.