Hope Farmers Market Holds Vendor Meeting

On Monday, the Hope Farmer’s Market held its annual vendors’ meeting.  This meeting covered the rules and gave vendors an opportunity to sign up. Last year there were a total of 15 vendors throughout the season and it looks like there will be more this year.  Terrie James from the Coopertive Extension Office covered the rules – stating that the Tuesday Farmer’s Market would have produce, honey, eggs, flowers, plants and fruit – fresh, raw and uncut.

What is allowed to be sold and the importance of presentation were covered.  Peas and beans must be in bushel form and cannot be shelled and sold. Nuts cannot be cracked and bagged and sold.  Herbs can be sold fresh but not dried. Samples and tastings are not allowed at the vendors tables.  No juices are allowed to be sold.

Eggs need to be cleaned and labeled. They also must be electrically refrigerated to keep the required temperature.  Honey needs to have the producers name and address.  Sorghum molasses can be sold.

Seeds need to be in a container with soilless potting mix.  With the recent cottage food industry bill pickles and salsa are now allowed.

Pepper jelly and low sugar jams are not allowed.

The importance of being friendly and attentive to the customers was emphasized. Vendors were told to wear a smile, try to stay off the phone and limit the reading of the newspaper.

Vendors were told that the table should be neat and presentable with a nice display and to bring their best produce.

The vendors were encouraged to come early as customers show up early. They were also encouraged to be consistent and to try not leave early.

If a vendor wants to promote an item, they were told to either ask James or go on Facebook.

Produce is exempt from sales taxes. Craft items are taxed, and the vendors are responsible for keeping track of the sales and reporting to the state finance department.  Craft items can only be less than 50 of the total items sold.

Deanna Gilbert, the market Manager stated that Nashville had broken off and Hope was alone this year. The starting date of the farmer’s market will be May 2nd.

The plan is to have a hospitality table which can include samples and that is separately and continually staffed.

The vendor fees are the same as previous years – $15 initial fee, which can be used for three visits and $5 each time after that.  The fee for the full season paid upfront is $50.  Gilbert floated the idea of an evening market once a month, most likely on Thursdays.

Gilbert stated that 3 vendors have signed up so far for WIC and that the board is working on getting the food stamp program set up.  This would require someone continually being there to run it and is more complicated than originally expected.

Gilbert stated that she is excited to start the season.

Last business of the meeting was talk about the workshop of high-tunnel production on March 23rd.  This would cover all-year production, diseases, insects as well as how to fund the high tunnel.  The workshop is no cost, but participants are asked to sign up beforehand in order to know how many lunches to provide.  Forty people have already signed up.