Applications

Van Buren Farmer’s Market

Farm Application

 

Rules, Regulations, Bylaws and guidelines are hereby stated and may be subject to amendment per the Van Buren Farmer’s Market Association.

 

Mission Statement: For the purpose of supporting locally owned and operated farmers’ and bringing them together with our community. To give all in our community a Healthier and Greener way of Living, while affording the small noncommercial farmer, craftsperson and plant grower a marketplace for their products.

 

The following statements refer to the terms used for this document:

 

Market Association: Comprised of registered vendors who are allowed to set up and sell their produce/product at the Van Buren Farmer’s Market.

 

Market Master: A duly designated member of the Van Buren Farmer’s Market that will oversee the daily activities of the market, call the annual meeting and be the person to give approval to potential new members. The Market Master has the authority to enforce all rules and regulations hereby set forth.

 

Market Committee: The committee that oversees and gives approval for new members, products for sale, etc...

President/Market Master: Terry Thomas

Vice President: Alta Mullins

Secretary/ Treasure: Rachel Thomas

Broad Members: David Blair, Lisa Stringer, Darren Johnson, Shannon Cole, and Kissy Walker.

 

Membership will run from April 1, 201`7 to December 31, 2017. Cost of membership is a nonrefundable yearly due of $25.00. An additional $2.00 set up fee per day will be charged.

 

Hours of Operation: Wednesday and Saturdays fro 7:00a.m. To 1:00 P.m. then on Thursday Nights from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Van Buren Library parking Lot.

New Facility hours will be Wednesday and Saturdays 7:00a.m. Until 2:00p.m. Then from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday nights

 

The Market Master reserves the right to remove or reject any items even if the vendor as been approved to sell other things.

The Market Master also had the right to ask the market member to remove any item that has not been approved.

Refusal to do so may result in disciplinary action.

The Market Master will assign and oversee the allotment of the set up spaces on the day of the market before 7am.

All vendors are required to have arrived and be set up by 7am.

Spaces are limited to a 10’ x 10’ space. If additional space is needed for your booth, you will need to purchase an additional space for an additional fee of $25 per set up.

 

A vendor must be register member of the Market Association and is responsible to sell his/her own goods. There may be allowances for an employee or immediate family member to sell for the vendor at the discretion of the Market Master. The vendor must discuss this with the Market Master before selling begins.

 

Each Vendor is responsible to clean his/her area before leaving the Farmer’s Market Area.

 

Inspections: The Market Master or a designated representative shall reserve the right to inspect any vendors farm or facility in order to ensure that the member is growing to , and the making the products being sold at the Van Buren Farmer’s Market.

 

Vendors must display their Vendor number and any any applicable Permits in plain view at all times during each day’s participation.

 

Sales Tax: As of 2009, Governor Beebe signed the law making Farmer’s Markets exempt from collection sales tax.

 

Items Permitted For Sale: the listed items may be sold at the Farmer’s Market provided that all items are grown by vendor or have value added by an active labor or operations by vendor. All operations must be located within 50 miles radius of Crawford County. No produce may be bought from another source and sold at the market.

 

Fruits, vegetables, field crops

Plants, flowers (fresh and dried), Herbs

Trees and garden related items

Honey, molasses

Eggs*

Nuts (in shell only)

Baked Goods

Jams, Jellies, fruit butters

Candy

All vendors are required to comply with Arkansas State Cottage Laws, regulations of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Department of Health, Food and Sanitation.

If selling of any item requires a license, the vendor is responsible for acquiring and promptly displaying the license at the point of sale. To use the term “Organic” at the market, a member must have USDA certification.

Plants. In general, all plants must be grown by the member; however, when plant material is bought from other sources, i.e. plugs, that material must be grown out for a minimum of six (6) weeks before resale.

*Eggs have specific requirements set forth by the State of Arkansas. They must be in a Refrigeration unit of 45 deg or below. No Ice Chests

1. Rules for Sale of Eggs. (Excerpt from the May 2012 Farmers’ Market Guidelines produced by the Arkansas Agriculture Department and Arkansas Department of Health):

Agriculture Department and Arkansas Department of Health): Vendors must follow all state regulations for selling eggs at Van Buren Farmer’s Market. Two very important requirements are: a) that eggs at market MUST be in a mechanical refrigerated unit not a cooler and b) that eggs should be in unused cartons with YOUR name and address on it. NOTE: If cartons are re-used, YOUR name and address must be on all cartons, and all other addresses and markings on the carton must be blacked out. Here is the list of state requirements that all vendors selling eggs at the Van Buren Farmers Market must meet: c) The egg producer shall be permitted to sell ungraded eggs at farmers’ markets provided the producer owns less than two hundred (200) hens d) Eggs are washed and clean e) Eggs are prepackaged and identified as ungraded with the name and address of the producer f) Used cartons are not used unless all brand markings and other identification is obliterated g) Eggs are refrigerated and maintained at a temperature of forty-five degrees Fahrenheit (45°F) or below. Refrigeration is defined as “an operable refrigeration unit which will maintain 45°F or below. Containers for storage of eggs refrigerated by means of ice, dry ice, or other non powered refrigerated container are not acceptable

 

Please Note: Labels on all baked goods, jams, jellies and candies must show the following:

 

Name of product

Ingredients

Your name, address and phone number

The following statement must be printed clearly on the label: "HOME PRODUCED, NOT INSPECTED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT".

 

If not labeled the product will be excluded for sell.

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*For the full application please contact the Van Buren Farmers Market Master, Terry Thomas.

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