Rules

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P.O. Box 10012, Columbia, MO 65205
Market Cell 573-823-6889
columbia_farmers_market@yahoo.com www.columbiafarmersmarket.org

Rules & Regulations, Effective March 15, 2011

Rules in PDF Format

1. What Can Be Sold

1. Raw Agricultural Products: This category includes fruits, vegetables, grains,
   herbs, flowers, bedding plants and potted plants. Bedding plants and potted plants
   must be grown from seed, plug, cutting, bulbs or bare root, and be well established
   in its current container, by the seller. No resale of pre-finished plants is allowed.
2. Value-added Agricultural Products: This category includes products made of
   raw agricultural products grown/raised/produced by a CFM vendor that have been
   processed. Examples are jams and jellies, salsas, oils, vinegars, baked goods, cider,
   molasses, ice cream, burritos, sandwiches, picked out nuts, etc., and similar
   processed products that may not be covered by other CFM rules. Vendors of valueadded
   products must abide by all applicable federal, state, and local health and label
   regulations. The value-added product must contain significant/meaningful material
   grown or produced by the vendor. If value added products would be enhanced by
   additional items such as condiments, bread products, fruits or vegetables, etc., every
   effort should be made to obtain the additional items locally, preferably from other
   CFM vendors. The vendor must complete the Value Added Food Application for
   specific value-added items and send it to the CFM Board for review. Approval for one
   specific value-added item does not grant approval for additional items. Applications
   need to be submitted three weeks prior to the selling date.
3. 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. Any stall with greater than 50 percent non-agricultural products in member’s
   possession at the opening bell of a market session shall be a non-agricultural stall.
   Non-agricultural stalls shall not number more than 5 stalls or 10 percent of the total
   membership, rounded to the nearest whole number, whichever is greater.
4. 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. All slaughter animals shall be in the vendor’s immediate custody, care
   and control a minimum of 50 percent of the animal’s life at time of slaughter.
   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. All animals sold as cut meat at the Columbia Farmers’ Market should come
   from a known source; no resale of trader or sale barn livestock and no livestock from
   any condemned or “for slaughter only” herds shall be sold in any form. No live
   animals are to be sold at the market. No live animals will be displayed without a
   week’s advance permission from the Board. Placement of animals shall be
   determined by the Board. Animals will be displayed no closer than 20 feet from food
   products.
5. Samples: All samples must be offered within the vendor’s assigned space.
   Samples 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
   Columbia Health Department regulations. (573-874-7355)
   www.gocolumbiamo.com/Health/Food_Safety/Temp_Food_Operations/farmers.php

2. Vendor guidelines

1. Vendor Agreement: All vendors must complete and sign a vendor agreement
   with the Columbia Farmers Market and pay appropriate fee prior to selling. The
   Columbia Farmers Market, Inc. reserves the right to prohibit anyone from selling at
   the market and to cancel the privileges of any member who in the opinion of the
   Board of Directors has violated the rules governing the market. Participant or
   member has the right to respond in writing to the board, to include an explanation of
   how the violations in question will be remedied. The market board reserves the right
   to make a final decision on the response. Fees will not be refunded. Participants or
   members wishing to return to the market following expulsion must apply to the
   Board of Directors for re-admittance and pay appropriate fee(s) prior to selling.
2. Farm Inspections: Vendors may sell only their own products as per Rule 1. The
   resale of any products that are not grown or produced by the member/vendor, in the
   area as defined in Rule 4.B, is strictly forbidden. The Board of Directors or its
   representative(s) reserves the right to inspect any participant or member’s farm by
   appointment, to ensure compliance with market rules and regulations. This will
   include random inspections. The primary purpose of a farm inspection will be to
   determine whether the participant or member is in fact producing all that he or she is
   selling at the market. Upon notification, participant or member must make all
   production areas available within three (3) days. Refusal to allow inspection is
   grounds for indefinite suspension. A decision regarding the inspection must be
   rendered six (6) days from completion of inspection, to be delivered in writing. Any
   member/vendor found to be in violation of this rule will be immediately expelled from
   the market without refund of any fees.
3. The Board of Directors reserves the right to place a moratorium on membership.
4. Vendors that offer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares may promote
   and distribute their shares at the Market. However, CSA shares distributed at the
   Market must follow all CFM regulations including Rule 2B (producer-only); CSA
   shares containing items not produced by the CSA vendor may not be distributed
   during market hours.
5. Each vendor may set their own prices.
6. Any grievance regarding 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 Senior Market Director and the Board of Directors. The Board will
   determine if a special meeting needs to be called to settle the grievance.
7. Inappropriate language or behavior, profanity, or other harassment or abuse by a
   member or participant toward another member or participant, employee, or
   customer of the market is grounds for immediate and permanent expulsion from the
   market.
8. Each vendor is encouraged to provide scales of certified accuracy (‘Legal for
   Trade’), 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 stall
   area. It is the responsibility of individual vendors to maintain a clean and healthful
   condition within their assigned area and to leave that area free of debris. Products
   should be displayed in an attractive manner.
9. Canopies, tents and umbrellas shall always be safely secured from unexpected
   weather events by attaching all four corners to weights. Unsecured tents may not be
   used. (Formerly part of item H, above; separated for emphasis on the importance of
   having tent secured on all market days.)

3. Market hours.

   1. The market will be open at the corner of Clinkscales and Ash from mid-March
      through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Open dates shall be March, April, and
      November on Saturday only (8 a.m. – noon), May through October on Wednesday
      (4-6 p.m.), June through September on Monday (4-6 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m.-
      noon).
   2. No product may be sold, distributed or bagged by customer until opening time.
      However, vendors may purchase from each other prior to market opening. There
      shall be no customer vehicular traffic in or out of the Market area proper during
      Market hours. Escorted vendor traffic will be allowed only with the Market Manager’s
      permission. One hour will be allowed for finishing sales and clean up after closing
      time.
   3. Saturday Member Arrival – Members with annual spaces should arrive at the
      market by 6:30 a.m. Saturday, or have informed the Market Manager by 8 p.m. the
      night before that they will attend.
   4. Unoccupied Member Stalls – At 6:30 a.m., unused annual stalls may be assigned
      to any member in good standing. At 7:00 a.m., stalls will be available for assignment
      by the Market Manager to qualified or daily vendors.
   5. Failure to Show – Members with annual spaces who have arrangements to hold
      their stall(s) and who do not show up for the market by opening bell at 8 a.m. must
      be in their stall(s) by 7:00 a.m. at their next attendance to Saturday market.

4. Membership.

   1. Persons living within a radius less than or equal to the furthest point in Boone or a
      contiguous county are eligible to become members of the market. Any vendors
      growing products outside this area must be individually approved by the Board of
      Directors on an annual basis.
   2. Anyone wishing to become a member or participant must apply for admission and
      must sell at least two (2) times per year to remain in good standing. The applicant
      may sell at the first market, but must turn in a completed application before parking.
      Market management will contact the applicant before the next market regarding their
      application. April 1 will be the cutoff date for new vendors, unless these vendors
      have approval of the Board.
   3. Transfer of Ownership – At the death or retirement of a member in good
      standing, membership seniority can be transferred to an immediate family member
      or partner, as listed in the vendor application and approved by the Board of
      Directors. Membership seniority cannot be transferred by the sale of a business.
      The new owner must apply for membership as a new business.
   4. Emails/Mailing List – All communications to the membership as a whole should be
      sent to the Senior Market Director for distribution. Emails sent to the membership
      shall be sent only by the Senior Market Director as approved by the Board of
      Directors. Members shall not use the membership list for mass electronic
      communication. Members who abuse the use of the membership mail/email list
      may be subject to expulsion from the Market by the Board without refund of any
      fees.
5. Satellite and Winter Markets: The Columbia Farmers Market may open and
   operate markets at sites other than the location on Clinkscales Ave. These markets
   will be considered ‘trial’ markets for an initial maximum period of three years. These
   markets will operate under the same rules and guidelines as the original market,
   with the exception that fee structures may differ for the initial ‘trial’ period.
   Additional information on these markets will be attached as an ‘Addendum’ to these Rules and Regulations.
6. Senior Market Director: The Columbia Farmers Market will employ or select a
   Senior Market Director, whose duties shall be to direct the activities of the CFM at all
   of its various sites. The Senior Market Director shall a) select and oversee the
   market manager(s), b) seek out and write grants for funding CFM programs, c) plan
   and coordinate advertising for CFM markets, and d) coordinate market activities with
   community activities and programs.
7. Market Manager: The Columbia Farmers’ Market will employ or select a Market
   Manager, whose duties shall be collecting daily fees, assigning market stalls,
   supervising the market and other duties as assigned by the Senior Market Director.
   The Manager will be responsible to the Senior Market Director, who will report any
   violations of rules to the Board. The Manager will be final authority on the day of
   Market – all decisions may be appealed to the Board for later consideration.
8. Stall Policy:
   1. Effective January 1, 2010, membership fee will be $250.00. This 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.
   2. ‘Annual’ (reserved) stalls – Annual stalls are determined at the March vendor
      meeting. (A vendor does not need an annual stall to sell at the Market.) Fees for
      annual stalls will be as follows.
      • $250 + $175 annual stall fee = $425 for membership & 1 annual stall.
      • $250 + $175 + $200 second annual stall fee = $625 for membership & 2 annual
        stalls.
      • $250 + $175 + $200 + $250 third annual stall fee = $875 for membership & 3
        annual stalls.
   3. Stall Vendor Fee – Effective March 15, 2011, in addition to the annual
      membership fee of $250, vendors not holding an annual stall will pay an additional
      daily vending fee of $5 per market day. This fee will be capped at a maximum of
      $30 for Monday market, $50 for Wednesday market, and $75 for Saturday market.
      Vendors holding annual stalls will only pay the vending fees for Monday and
      Wednesday markets.
   4. Continuance of Occupancy – Members who had annual spaces the previous year
      will have the option to renew the same space for the next season. Effective 2012,
      members holding annual stalls must notify the Senior Market Director of their intent
      to retain their stall(s) by the date of the February membership meeting, or the stall
      will be forfeited. Fees must be paid no later than the March membership meeting.
   5. Any available annual stalls will be drawn by lottery at the March meeting and
      interested eligible parties must be present for the drawing. Annual spaces available
      will be assigned by lot to market members requesting them. A stall waiting list for
      annual stalls is maintained by the Board. The list is ranked by seniority based on
      years of continuous membership. As stalls become available, individuals with most
      seniority on the list, (for example all those who signed up in 1994) will draw for the
      opportunity to rent a stall. Seniority guarantees the opportunity to obtain a stall
      through drawings before those having less seniority. Vendors will be placed on the
      waiting list according to the earliest year of continuous membership.
   6. Stall Trades – Members with annual spaces will be able to trade with the approval
      of the Board.
   7. Subleasing – No member shall sublease, sell or permit anyone to use their space;
      this right is reserved for the Market.
   8. Stall Shares – A member may arrange use of another member’s annual stall(s)
      when the owner is not present. Members sharing a stall(s) shall both pay the
      appropriate stall fee as determined by Rule 6B. Sharing arrangements must be
      approved by the Board of Directors annually. Original owners of a shared space
      maintain the option for the whole space.
   9. Daily Stall Rentals – Effective March 15, 2011, daily vendors (non members) or
      members using an additional stall on a daily basis shall pay a daily rental fee of $13.00
      per stall on Monday, $18.00 per stall on Wednesday, and $55.00 per stall on Saturday.
      Individuals paying daily fees shall become members after paying the price of
      membership plus one additional Saturday daily fee payment (total of $300).
      Subsequently, only the daily vending fee will be assessed. (See Section 8.C. above.)
9. The Columbia Farmers Market, Inc. and its Board of Directors are not responsible
   for product liability or the paying of sales taxes for individual vendors. Each
   member/vendor shall provide proof of sales tax status (tax number) on their
   member application form.
   • http://dor.mo.gov/business
10. Because type of product and cultural practices are important to some customers,
    the market expects members to truthfully represent their products and operations.
11. The Columbia Farmers Market, Inc. will not discriminate against anyone because
    of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation.
12. Effective February 16, 2010, vendors wishing to utilize electricity shall pay an
    additional yearly fee of $50 for each electric line. Generator use will only be allowed
    if adequate power is not available.
13. For reasons of personal and food safety, animals (except service animals) and
    bicycles are prohibited in the market area.
14. No smoking will be allowed in the Market area.
15. All children in the care of vendors during Saturday Market need to be supervised
    by an adult at the vendor’s stall.

2011 ADDENDUM

16. Satellite Markets – Markets operated by CFM at sites other than the
    Clinkscales address shall be referred to as ‘Satellite Markets’. Satellite markets may
    be opened on a three-year trial basis prior to establishment as a permanent market
    site.
    1. Market fees at satellite markets shall be the full membership fee of $250, plus a
       vending fee of $25 per market day, capped at $200 for each year of the three-year
       trial period. (Note: If you are already a member of Columbia Farmers Market, you
       will not pay a second membership fee, only the daily vending fee.)
    2. Nonmembers who sell on a daily basis shall pay $25 per day capped at $300
       (membership fee plus $50). Subsequently, only the daily vending fee will be
       assessed (as in item A. above).
17. Winter Markets – CFM may operate a ‘winter’ market for certain winter
    months. Market fees for the winter market shall be determined on a yearly basis
    and dependent on an available indoor location.