Market giudlines & REgulations
The current year’s fee schedule, policies and procedures along with additional vendor information are listed on our website on the BECOME A VENDOR page. Please take time to review this information and familiarize yourself with all pertinent information that applies to your goods.
Member Categories and Qualifications: Please indicate the vendor member status you seek and make sure you meet the qualifications listed to participate in the UFMM. IMPORTANT NOTE: Regardless of membership category, all members must grow or make their produce & products themselves; no resale of any items is allowed.
VENDOR VARIETY - Because we are a farmers’ market first, with a focus on selling fresh, local seasonal produce grown and produced by farmers within our defined vendor area, our farmers have space priority. We do offer a limited number of spaces to artisan/craft vendors, with an effort to maintain at minimum a market comprised of 60% farmers which include specialty food vendors to 40% craft vendors selling only craft products.
Farm Produce / Growers
A. 100% of all produce (e.g. fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs) sold at the market must be produced by the member.
B. 100% of all plants (e.g. cut flowers, shrubs, trees, rooted materials) sold at the market must be grown by the member. The purchase of plant starts, plugs or bare root plants is allowable providing the grower maintains these plants for a minimum of 30 days with the intent to sell them at the market and only after growing the plants to an appreciably larger size, requiring the investment of both time and materials on behalf of the grower.
C. For vendors selling nursery stock plants or collected plants, a copy of the member’s Nursery Certification or Nursery Registration, if required by the state, must be on file with the Market Manager.
D. Organic label: Growers using the label “Organic” in any representation of their product must have a copy of their Organic Certification on file with the Market Member. If a grower sells less than $5,000 worth of produce annually, that individual may use the term “Organic” in describing their produce only if they have signed the “Small Scale Organic Growers Declaration of Exemption from Certification” form. A copy must be on file with the Market Manager.
E. 100% of the meat(s) sold at the market must be produced by the member. A copy of the member’s SOM Meat Handler’s License must be on file with the Market Manager.
Specialty Food Vendors
A. 100% of the value added, prepared, or processed foods sold at the market must be made by the member and feature primarily fresh, locally grown seasonal ingredients. It is the responsibility of the vendor to know and comply with all State and/or Federal Regulations that pertain to their products. All documents required to produce these items for sale must be on file with the Market Manager (including a Kitchen inspection, a well test and proof of completion of a Low Acid class where required by the State).
B. Baked goods must be fresh and prepared locally by the vendor. Baked goods must be clearly labeled with the baker's name and address and the complete list of ingredients and be prepared in compliance with state law in a certified kitchen. A kitchen inspection and a water test must be on file with the market. Individual pieces of a baked product must be cut and wrapped prior to setting up at the Market.
C. Specialty food products, not covered elsewhere in this policy; including but not limited to items such as specialty olive oils and vinegars, maple syrup, locally roasted coffee, or spice mixes may be accepted on a limited basis and must be produced by the vendor and be attractively packaged and labeled with a complete list of ingredients.
*Priority for acceptance will be given to vendors of specialty products who incorporate locally harvested or grown plant or product materials into their specialty products. Specialty products that enhance the market's product diversity and meet customer demand without duplicating existing product offerings comprised of primarily local ingredients are given priority.
Artisan and Crafts Vendors
A. Handmade arts and crafts will be accepted as Market products only after a registration process, which includes review and approval by the Market Manager.
B. Specialty Criteria:
1. All crafts and apothecaries must be hand crafted by the vendor and must be produced in Michigan.
2. Crafts must be the product of a home or cottage type industry, using a personal type of technology rather than an industrial type of production. Works must be original, unique, creative, and demonstrate a high level of skill. To be considered “hand crafted”, the item must show evidence of manual skills obtainable only through a significant period of experience and dedication.
3.For items such as candles, soaps, lotions, and essentials oils, it is the responsibility of the vendor to know and comply with all State and/or Federal Regulations that pertain to their products.
4. They will be acceptable following review and approval by the board.
5. The Market Manager has the discretion to immediately remove any craft item that he/she considers objectionable.
*All documents required to produce these items for sale must be on file with the Market Manager. Items must be attractively packaged. Items must be labeled with a complete list of ingredients and warning labels as required.