2011 Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market

MARKET POLICIES

The Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market (DYFM) is managed by Growing Hope, an Ypsilanti-based nonprofit dedicated to helping people improve their lives and communities through gardening and healthy food access.  Market policies are informed by the DYFM Executive Committee, which includes representation from Growing Hope, and the market’s lead partners from Washtenaw County Public Health and the Ypsilanti Food Co-op.

Vendor Fees, Applications, Stalls, and Signage

• Vendor fees are non-refundable, except in the case of documented (in writing) circumstances that unexpectedly don’t allow a vendor to continue to participate for the remainder of the season.  These include major illness or sudden relocation, but do not include factors such as sales being lower than expected or other market opportunities arising
   
• Vendor applicants are accepted to sell at the market at the discretion of Growing Hope’s DYFM Market Manager.  The Market Manager has the final decision as to who sells at the market. The DYFM works to create a balance of product mix available to customers. To maintain this balance, the DYFM order of priority for product types are: Fresh Produce, which is top priority and represents a large portion of our market, Meat, Cheese and Dairy products, Baked Goods, Plants, Other Foods & Prepared Foods, and Crafters. Vendors can be removed from the market after the market season begins due to violations of any market policies, or other reasons as determined by the Market Manager.
   
• The Market Manager will keep a waitlist for vendors for whom space is not available for their product type as initially requested.  Growing Hope will refrain from depositing checks included with vendor applications for those placed on the waitlist.  If space opens up and the vendor accepts it, Growing Hope will then deposit the check.  If the vendor chooses not to accept the spot, or a space never opens, Growing Hope will void the payment.
   
• Vendors are required to attend a Vendor Orientation on April 5.  If a Vendor cannot attend or applies after that date, arrangements for an on-site Orientation will be made with the Market Manager.
   
• All vendors accepted to sell Michigan-grown produce and packaged food must accept EBT/SNAP benefits and Project Fresh.
   
• Vendors must display required signage at their stall on every market day.  This signage includes:
• Prices on all items(Vendor provides this signage)
• Ingredient and identification labels on all packaged products (Vendor provides)
• Applicable licenses and permits (Vendor provides)
• Growing or Production Practices (DYFM provides this signage)
• “EBT/Bridge Card/SNAP Accepted Here” if applicable (DYFM provides)
• “Double Up Food Bucks Accepted Here” if applicable (DYFM provides)
• “Project Fresh/Senior Project Fresh” if applicable (DYFM provides)
  
• Permanent vendor spaces will be assigned to pre-paid full season vendors. Vendors with reserved spaces must notify the Market Manager if they are not attending the Tuesday market by the preceding Friday at 5PM. More advanced notice is preferable. Unexcused absences may result in loss of the reserved space for the remainder of the season or potential expulsion from the market and forfeiture of vendor fees. Vendors arriving after 1:30pm may lose their assigned space for that day.
   
• The Market Manager reserves the right to adjust vendor stall spaces on the day of the market to maximize the market space and make an inviting space for customers. (e.g. if there have been vendor cancellations, to move the stalls closer together).

Vendor Product Guidelines

• All food products must be packaged, stored, and displayed per Michigan Department of Agriculture and Washtenaw County Public Health guidelines.
   
• ONLYMichigan-grown produce can be sold at the market (i.e. grown yourself or resold Michigan-grown produce).
   
• If you resell Michigan-grown produce, you must be able to provide written documentation to the market manager on a monthly basis that includes verification of location of the producer. Vendors who resell will receive a monthly form to fill out list of products, locations produced, and producers.  Market manager may ask to see receipts.
   
• Vendors selling prepared foods MUST include a label listing ingredients and identifying potential allergens per the Michigan Food Laws.  Vendors are required to also have an operating license on hand at each market day.  For products falling under the Cottage Food Law, see attached guide for labeling.
   
• Vendors selling items falling under the Cottage Food Law must adhere to Michigan Department of Agriculture policies including proper kitchen cleanliness standards, correct and accurate labeling of products, etc.  Guidelines are available at www.michigan.gov/cottagefood
   
• All non-food items must be hand-crafted in Michigan, though materials don’t need to be from Michigan.  Reselling of imported items or items not made by you or your family is not allowed.
   
• All new products not listed on your vendor application must be pre-approved by the market manager prior to the market day using a supplemental product application sheet that will be in your weekly vendor packet.
   
• The Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market works to create a balance of product mix available to customers, with the majority of vendor spaces available to people selling fresh produce and other food.  We value our non-food vendors but to keep the market from becoming overpopulated with non-food vendors we restrict the numbers of spots available.  To keep these ratios balanced, at times the market stalls are not 100% full, but some vendors will remain on the waitlist if their product type is over-represented.  The DYFM order of priority for product types are: Fresh Produce, which is top priority and represents a large portion of our market, Meat, Cheese and Dairy products, Baked Goods, Plants, Other Foods & Prepared Foods, Crafters.

Vendor Conduct Guidelines

• Vendors must adhere to all city, county, state, and federal laws and regulations.
   
• All vendors are expected to arrive at the market at or before 1:30pm and prepared to sell from 2 pm – 6 pm each market day unless completely sold out or vendor has made prior arrangements with the Market Manager.  Please call the Market Manager if you are going to be late or an emergency arises.
   
• All vendors are required to turn in coupons, tokens, and total sales tally at the end of each market day to the Market Manager.  Those vendors who choose to count cash sales after they leave the market can turn those sales figures in the next week, but still must turn in coupons and tokens each day.
   
• Vendors may not park in the street where the market is held, but can pull their vehicles into the street for loading and unloading.  Parking for vendors is available in the lot immediately north of the market (about 15 feet away from the market).
   
• The Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market is a smoke-free environment. No customers or vendors will be permitted to smoke within 10 feet of all vending areas.
   
• Each vendor is expected to clean his or her stall at the end of each day and to keep it neat during the period that the market is open, and dispose of all rubbish and recycling in appropriate receptacles.
   
• Please keep your pets on a leash at all times. We reserve the right to ask that the pet be removed from the market.
   
• While participating in the market, vendors shall not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, disability status, height, weight, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Violations

Violations of these policies or generally good business conduct will result in:

1. A verbal warning from the Market Manager
2. A written warning from the Market Manager (if violation continues or occurs again)
3. Written notice of removal from the market signed by Market Manager and DYFM Executive Committee (if violation continues or occurs again)

If you have questions about these policies or need further clarification please ask the Market Manager.