Market Vendor FAQs
How do I become a vendor at the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market?
Every vendor must fill out and comply with all rules and regulations of the 2010 vendor application. The application can be downloaded from the Growing Hope website www.growinghope.net. To be mailed the application please contact the market manager, Ryan Stedman, at ryanmary@growinghope.net. Vendor applications must be received 14 days before the date vendors plans to attend. Vendor fees are $8 per day and you receive 20% off if you pre-pay for the entire season.
What can I sell at the market?
Vendors are allowed to sell non-Michigan produce (U.S.-grown only) during the months of May and June only in order to ensure produce supply in the early season. Although it can come from out of state, it must be Michigan type produce, i.e. fruits and vegetables that are able to be grown in Michigan. During July, August, September and October, ONLY Michigan-grown produce will be allowed at the market. We also accept cheese, meat, egg, and non-food vendors. Growing Hope reserves the right to use discretion in limiting the number of non-produce vendors to ensure balance at the market.
Will you provide me with a tent and table?
No. You do need to bring your own set-up, including table, tent, and any display you choose.
What size are the stalls?
The stalls are roughly the size of a parking space. No trucks can be pulled up to the stall during the market.
Do I get a permanent space assigned?
No, the market manager assigns spaces and makes an effort to keep stall location consistent. This is especially true for vendors who are season long vendors who prepay the vendor fees for the season.
What are the market hours and where is the market located?
The market is open every Tuesday from 2pm-6pm, May 4th-October 26th and takes place in the southwest corner of the Key Bank Center parking lot in downtown Ypsilanti.
What do I do when I arrive at the Market, ready to sell, on a Tuesday?
The first thing to do when arriving at market is to check in with the market manager, and receive your stall assignment and vendor packet. The vendor packet will include guidelines for accepting tokens, laminated signage (provided by Growing Hope) with your farm’s name & location, signage indicating which products are produced in Michigan and which are produced by you, and your vendor tracking sheet (turned in daily). Please arrive no later than 1:30pm, and refrain from selling to customers until 2pm when the market opens.
What signage am I required to display?
The name of your farm or business and its location, signage indicating where the products were grown or produced, the price of the product, if you accept Project Fresh and/or SNAP (formerly EBT), and any liability, certification, or insurance documentation all need to be on display in your market stall. Signs for produce origin are provided and will indicate the following: Locally grown/made by you, Locally grown by fellow farmers, or Grown outside of Michigan.
Who manages the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market?
The market is managed by Growing Hope and overseen by the Community Advisory Board and the Executive Committee. Amanda Edmonds is the Executive Director of Growing Hope and Ryan Stedman is the current 2010 market manager, employed by Growing Hope via the Americorps VISTA program.
Do I have to accept food stamps, credit/debit, and any other forms of currency? And do I have to have my own machine to accept credit card or food stamps?
Yes, you are expected to accept all forms of currency accepted market-wide, including food stamps, credit/debit, ProjectFRESH, Prescription for Health, and Market Dollars. No, you do not need your own machine for these transactions. The Ypsilanti Food Co-op operates the machine and absorbs the costs of the EBT, credit, and debit transactions.
Do I have to give you my sales for the day?
Yes, it is required to report sales for each market day. Knowing sales helps us to better communicate our success as a market, market to potential customers, increase our visibility in the community & our attraction to revenue sources, sponsors, and community partners. We are also better able to gauge the impact of the various food access programs (i.e. food stamps, Prescription for Health, Project Fresh.)
When do I turn in tokens and Project Fresh coupons?
Weekly at the end of market day to the market manager, along with a reporting of your sales and any signage distributed by Growing Hope or our managing partners.
When do I get reimbursed for tokens or Project Fresh coupons?
Project Fresh, Market Dollars, & Prescription for Health are all reimbursed by Growing Hope on July 15, August 15, September 15, October 15, and November 15. The market manager will hand you a check at market, or if you are no longer coming to market it will be mailed to you. The Ypsilanti Co-op will reimburse you monthly for EBT and credit card with a check.
Where are the bathrooms and is water available?
Due to the market being held only on Tuesdays in the Key Bank parking lot, a porta-john is not a feasible or affordable option. Bombadil’s & the library are both available and welcoming for the usage of their restrooms. Cold water is available by Growing Hope, but please try and remember your own personal cup!
Will there be a market in the winter after October?
We hold winter market hours on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday s in November and December, from 3-7pm inside Corner Brewery.
How is the market organized?
The market is managed by Growing Hope and overseen by the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and the Executive Committee. The CAB provides input and serves as a channel through which important business decisions are made. The Executive Committee consists of members from partner organizations including Growing Hope, Washtenaw County Public Health, MSU Extension, and the Ypsilanti Food Co-op. It helps to implement policies and makes decisions based on CAB, customer, and vendor feedback.