Columbia Farmers Market

Become a Vendor

Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor at the Columbia Farmers Market.  As a Producer-Only Market, everything sold at the Columbia Farmers Market is offered by the farmers and artisans who help sustain the culture, economy, and environment of our region. If you did not grow or produce it yourself, you cannot sell it here. This ensures the freshest and highest quality product for our consumers. Vendors must be located within a 50 mile radius of the Columbia Farmers Market (1769 W. Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203).

Resources

Before applying, ensure you comply with all federal, state, county, and city rules that apply to your products. The below links will provide you with the necessary resources and contacts to ensure you are eligible to sell at the Columbia Farmers Market.

Vendor categories

CFM defines vendor categories with what the vendor expects 51 percent of their products, in their possession, at the opening bell to be. It is expected that vendors have that majority of that product type through the entirety of the season.
Farmers

Farmers are persons actively involved in the planting, growing, harvesting and/or raising of agricultural products/animals on owned, rented, or leased land.

Farm Products are those items grown or raised by the farmer upon land that s/he controls through ownership, lease, rental or other legal agreement. These products are fruits and vegetables, nuts, honey, eggs, dairy, grains, herbs, flowers, plants, meat, fish, and animal derived products.

Farmer Processors

Farmer Processors are persons actively involved in the processing of product sold at the market that was grown/raised by the member. A Farmer Processor may sell processed farm goods, value-added processed farm foods, and on-premise prepared farm foods.

Processed Farm Products are products made from scratch, using raw agricultural products a majority of which are grown/raised and then produced by the member. These products include all farm products that were in some way processed including cheeses, dairy, meats, dried fruits and vegetables, juices, jams and jellies, canned goods, baked goods, prepared foods or other processed agricultural and livestock food products. If additional items such as condiments, bread products, fruits or vegetables, etc. would enhance products, every effort should be made to obtain the additional items locally, preferably from other CFM vendors.

*All Processed Farm Products sold at CFM must be prepared following all local, state, and federal food safety laws.  To ensure you're in compliance contact the Columbia/Boone County Health Department.

In order to maintain the farm and food focus of CFM, the combined total of Non Farmer Processors, Artisan Producers, and Service vendors shall not number more than 20 percent of the total membership.
Non Farmer Processors

Non Farmer Processors process farm products that are not grown by the processor, but process products which the vendor made from raw ingredients which have then been cooked, canned, dried, baked, preserved, or otherwise significantly treated.

Processed Non Farm Products are made from scratch, using raw ingredients, not grown by the member. These may include cheeses, dairy, meats, dried fruits and vegetables, juices, jams, canned goods, baked goods, prepared foods or other processed agricultural and livestock food products. Every effort should be made to obtain primary ingredients locally, preferably from other CFM vendors. Additionally if main 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.

*All Processed Non Farm Products sold at CFM must be prepared following all local, state, and federal food safety laws.  To ensure you're in compliance contact the Columbia/Boone County Health Department.

Artisan Producers

Artisan Producers are persons actively involved in the creation of unique, high-quality, hand-crafted products not meant for consumption.

Artisan Products are agriculturally related or body products, made from scratch using raw ingredients not grown by the member. Every effort must be made to obtain ingredients from other CFM vendors. In order to maintain the farm and food focus of CFM, this category typically does not allow arts and crafts vendors.

Service

Service are vendors that offer services for cooks and gardeners. CFM may allow some booths for services, on a limited basis.

Cooperatives

Cooperatives are formal not for profit and/or community organizational groups of growers or producers and shall be considered based on space availability, market needs, and product offerings. Cooperative vendor products must fall under one of the product categories listed above. (Not eligible for memberships.)  Vending fees for Cooperatives are the same as for other vendors selling goods at CFM.

Nonprofits & Community Organizations

If you are a nonprofit organization or community information group wishing to participate at CFM, but not sell goods, please refer to our Tabling Guidelines.  

All Other Business Types

If you are a local business but do not fit into one of our vendor categories listed above check out our SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES to partner with CFM!

CFM is predominantly a food and agricultural market — we generally do not admit vendors selling arts and crafts. We do permit vendors with farm/food items the option to sell up to 10% of arts and crafts.

There is currently a cap for Non-Farmer Vendors

(Including Non-Farmer Processor, Artisan Producer, and Service vendors)

We limit the number of Non-Farmers Members to the Summer Season (Saturdays) to 20% of our membership.  Non-farmer spots are full for the 2024 Summer and Winter markets.  Non-farmer vendors are welcome to apply to the Wednesday Market. 

There is currently a cap on beef and chicken products.

Application Process:

Potential vendors submit an application and $30 application fee, which goes to the board for approval. If approved, we will schedule a site inspection.  After completed inspection, fees will be submitted and then you can sell at CFM.  Application link can be found at the bottom of page.  

We are only accepting applications for FARMERS at the Summer and Winter markets.  Non-farmer spots are full for Summer and Winter markets.  Non-farmers may apply to sell at the Wednesday Market

Applications Deadlines:

  • Summer Season:  Applications for Saturday markets in 2024 are closed, except for unique agricultural products, which will be assessed case by case. Please reach out to us to discuss a potential application. 
  • Wednesday Market: Open
  • Winter (2024/2025) Season: Applications for Saturday markets in 2024 are closed, except for unique agricultural products, which will be assessed case by case. Please reach out to us to discuss a potential application. 

Columbia Farmers Market fees

APPLICATION FEE

Application Fee: $30 – To be considered to vend at the Columbia Farmers Market all potential vendors must submit an application. The application will be submitted to the Board of Directors and the Executive Director will notify the applicant of the Board’s decision. The application fee only applies to new applicants.

Summer Season

Columbia Farmers Market Membership: $100
A membership allows members to sell at any Saturday market during the Summer Season. All members in good standing are able to vote at the annual membership meetings, run for Board of Directors, and obtain an annual stall.  Additional stall fees will be applied when applicable. 

OR

Daily Vendor (Non-Member): $75 (1 stall) - Pending market space

Annual Stall: $600 per stall
An annual stall allows a member to sell in the same booth every Saturday. Annual stalls are acquired through seniority and are limited to two per vendor. First-year members are not eligible for an annual stall.  Annual stalls are not required to sell.

OR

Saturday Vending Fee: $50 per Saturday
All members without an annual stall pay $50 per Saturday.  The fee caps after 12 markets, or $600.

Wednesday Market

Wednesday Market Season Fee:

  • $200 (1 stall)
  • $300 (2 stalls)
  • Package Discounts: -$25 per stall

OR

Wednesday Market Daily Fee: $20 per stall

Winter Season

Winter Season Fee:

  • $450 (1 stall)
  • $650 (2 stalls)
  • Package Discounts: -$50 per stall

OR

Winter Season Daily Fees: $30 per stall

Package Discounts:
If vendors pre-pay for the Wednesday Market Season Fee and/or Winter Season Fee in addition to the Summer Season Membership Fee discounts are available.  To receive discounts you must 1) prepay for Summer Season Membership Fee and add-on season fees, and 2) submit an application and pay fees by the third Tuesday in February. 

Before applying...

If applicable to your business, please make sure that you have the following permits/certificates to attach to your application:

Apply now

Fees can be mailed to:

Columbia Farmers Market
P.O. Box 10012
Columbia, MO 65205

Fees can be paid online at:

melio.me/columbiafarmersmarket

All fees are non-refundable.

Questions?

Contact Executive Director: Corrina Smith manager@columbiafarmersmarket.org.

more products, please

Columbia Farmers Market is particularly interested in adding the following products to our market:

  • dairy products
  • honey
  • stone fruits
  • berries
  • asparagus
  • certified organic vegetables
  • fish
  • early tomatoes (winter market and early spring)
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