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).
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.
All vendors must create an account and set up a vendor profile on Marketspread.com before applying to Columbia Farmers Market. For assistance on setting up a vendor profile, visit this help page.
**Note: If applications are submitted properly with all required paperwork, the approval process typically takes 2-4 weeks, including inspection, orientation, etc. If applications are submitted close to the due date, their preferred start dates may be delayed.
To maintain CFM's farm and food focus, the combined number of Non-Farmer Processors, Artisan Producers, and Service vendors shall not exceed 20 percent of the total membership. If space is available, CFM will consider the following items when reviewing new prepared-food applications:
Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor at the Columbia Farmers Market. Applications for the 2026 season are currently closed.
Please complete THIS FORM if you are a prospective non-farmer vendor (such as prepared food, baked goods, and artisan products) who is interested in applying for the 2027 season.
All submissions will be reviewed by market staff. After review, you will be notified whether your business appears to be a good fit for the market and whether you are encouraged to apply when applications open in January 2027.
Please note that space for non-farmer vendors is limited, and some product categories—particularly baked goods and similar items—are already well represented and may have limited or no availability.
Completing this form does not guarantee acceptance and is intended to help determine whether applying in 2027 is a good fit.
Wednesday SeasonV endor and/or Product Caps
Vendors are required to maintain a general liability policy that does not exclude products-completed operations coverage. Each vendor must provide the Columbia Farmers Market with a Certificate of Insurance 30 days prior to selling at their first market.
Products-Completed Operations Coverage is a form of insurance coverage that helps cover liability claims resulting from your business’ product or completed operations that were done away from your location. It can help cover claims that your business caused bodily injury or property damage.
If you are unable to provide a Certificate of Insurance when applying, please explain why in the application.
Q: Can I sell products that I haven’t raised or made myself?
A: Columbia Farmers Market is a producer-only market—vendors must personally grow, raise, or make the products they sell. If you did not grow or produce it yourself, you cannot sell it here.
Q: What percentage of my prepared food ingredients must come from local farms?
A: While CFM does not require a specific percentage, we strongly encourage all vendors to use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. This includes items like flour, fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, dairy, and meat. Our team can help you connect with local farmers and suppliers to source ingredients as you move through the application process. Review our Considerations/Preferences to Become a Prepared Food Vendor for more information.
Q: How long does the application process take?
A: The review process typically takes several weeks, depending on your readiness and space availability. Factors include:
How quickly you submit the required information and documentation.
Whether your products align with current market needs.
Space availability in the markets you wish to attend.
Our small team reviews each application carefully to ensure a strong fit for both you and the market. We appreciate your patience as we work to process applications as efficiently as possible.
Q: How much does it cost to be a vendor?
A: Stall fees vary by season and the number of stalls. When budgeting, please consider not only stall fees but also other costs such as licensing, permits, insurance, equipment, labor, packaging, and unsold inventory. Fee details can be found here and below.
Q: Are you looking for new products at the market?
A: 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)
Q: Do I need any licenses or permits to sell at CFM?
A: It is the vendor's responsibility to research what licenses, permits, and certificates apply to your product. This State and Local Agency Contact List is a good place to start. When applying, if applicable to your business, please make sure that you have the following permits/certificates to attach to your application:
Certified Mushroom Expert
Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services Operating Permit
Dairy Manufacturing Plant License
State or USDA Inspected Labels (Meat and Poultry)
Food Establishment Inspection Report (Inspected Kitchen)
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan
Proof of Certified Organic Certification
Q: Still have questions about becoming a vendor?
A: If you still have questions or want to learn more about whether Columbia Farmers Market is the right fit for your business, we encourage you to attend our free Vendor Resource Fair. This event is designed for prospective vendors to learn about our producer-only requirements, application process, fees, and timelines, and to connect one-on-one with local agencies and businesses that can help you prepare to be a successful CFM vendor.
The Vendor Resource Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 4, from 6–8 PM at the MU Health Care Pavilion at Columbia’s Agriculture Park (location may shift to Boone Electric Cooperative due to weather). This is the best next step if you’re seeking clarity before applying or want guidance on how to get started.
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 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.
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 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 are vendors that offer services for cooks and gardeners. CFM may allow some booths for services, on a limited basis.
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.
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.
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.
$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.
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
Vendors without an annual stall pay $50 per Saturday. Fees for the first and second stalls are capped at $600 each (after 12 markets). Fees for any additional stalls beyond the first two are not capped.
Wednesday Market Season Fee:
OR
Wednesday Market Daily Fee: $20 per stall
Winter Season Fee:
OR
Winter Season Daily Fees: $30 per stall
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.
Columbia Farmers Market
P.O. Box 10012
Columbia, MO 65205
All fees are non-refundable.
Contact Executive Director: Corrina Smith manager@columbiafarmersmarket.org.