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Purpose:
Provide fresh, local, wholesome produce directly from farmers to
residents - “reminiscent of the market days of our forebears”.
Preserve and foster the well being of the local agricultural system.
Protect farm open space from being developed. Educate residents about
healthy eating and maintaining a healthy environment. Educate
residents and farmers about sustainable living. Provide a forum for
environmental education groups in town to get exposure. Provide a
wholesome social experience that helps build community.
Vendor
Policies:
Applications: Anyone wishing to
set up a booth must submit the attached
application to Market Manager.
Attendance: Farms and weekly
non-farm vendors are expected to attend every week.
Fees: Booth space cost is $120
per season to be paid upon application submission or by
the end of the
first market day you attend. Visiting vendor $10/week, this fee may
not be applied toward season fee.
Product & Price Signage: Each farm and non-farm vendor must
post prices for all items
on sale. Please label all “native” produce/plants as such.
Health/Food Permits: Vendors of
any prepared or ready to eat foods need to provide a
copy of their
health permit from their hometown; ideally a copy would be included
with the application. A $10.00 out of town vendor permit must be
purchased from the Marshfield Board of Health. Please bring a
copy of your hometown food permit with you to the town hall.
Rain or Shine: The market will be
held “rain or shine” – unless the weather is dangerous. Genetic Engineering: No one may
sell products, which to the best of their knowledge
contain
genetically engineered or modified organisms.
Farm Booth Workers must be from the farmers’ immediate family or
an employee who
works on the farm.
Non-farm Booth Workers must be
the artist/maker of the goods for sale.
Mostly Home Grown: Farmers may
sell a neighboring farmer’s produce.
No Dumping: Farmers must sell on freshness, wholesomeness,
nutrition, and quality for
a fair price.
Non-Farm Products (foods, arts &
crafts, etc.) Must be high quality, locally made,
take skill and
creativity, and the vendor must add at least 50% of the total value to
the product. The product(s) must be complementary to a farmers’
market. Food products should be based on local produce wherever
possible. We may restrict the number of
vendors selling similar
products. Primary food products must be 100% made by the vendor –
condiments etc may be purchased.
Coupons: We recommend that farms
get certified to accept Massachusetts Farmers’ Market coupons.
Farmers must apply to MA Dept of Agricultural Resources by mid May.
Call Dave Webber at 617-626-1754 for more info. (Only farms may
accept Farmers’ Market coupons, and only for fresh produce)
Utilities etc: we will provide
limited electricity, cold water, soap, paper towels, and restrooms.
Start and Stop times: The market
will open at 2 p.m., which will be signaled by the ringing of a bell.
No sales before the opening bell. The Market will close
at 7 p.m..
Parking: Ample parking available.
Non-vendors:
Non-vendors must come to
the market primarily to educate or to entertain.
Any
organization can apply to attend the Farmers Market as an educational
organization or as a performer. Applications must be made on a
Farmers' Market application.
We
are eager to have guest organizations and individuals attend the
Farmers' Market for the purpose of educating the public on the
following issues:
Nutrition & food preparation
Environment
Health
Organic gardening, lawn, & plant care
Sustainable living
Conservation of natural resources and recycling
Local governmental bodies (to educate the public not for campaigning)
Local history
Fine arts.
In
addition, we are also eager to have performers such as musicians,
clowns, jugglers, storytellers, etc.
Sales
and fundraising are discouraged but, if allowed, must be a secondary
goal. Any sales or fundraising activity must be clearly identified on
the application and must be approved prior to the market. In other
words, where the primary purpose is to sell the organization's goods
(e.g. raffle tickets) or to solicit contributions, the application is
highly likely to be rejected.
In
addition, there can be no political activity. This means we cannot
give booth space for the purpose of elections (candidates or ballot
questions) or for gathering signatures for petitions to governing
bodies. Educational guests at the market should note that this ban
covers their verbal discussions also.
Exceptions:
The Farmers’ Market Board of Directors
may make exceptions to any of these policies.
All Vendors Must Fill Out an
Application Form
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