Market Rules

COWLITZ COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET MARKET RULES, 2025

1. Mission: To serve Cowlitz Community by; operating a viable market for locally grown agricultural products which provide a wide variety of fresh, healthy produce and plants for all citizens and to enable local growers to increase their income by selling directly to the consumers.

2. What may be sold: Vendor produced plants, produce, honey, live caged small animals, eggs, flowers, processed foods, and most handcrafts made by the vendor. (A) All potted plants offered must have been grown by the vendor for at least four weeks just prior to bringing them to the market. (B) All seeds, bulbs and bare root plants offered must have been harvested from the vendor’s property. (C) Vendors may purchase supplemental materials to enhance their home-grown product, but the purchased materials shall not represent more than 25% of the value of each individual item sold. (D) No commercial, imported or second hand items shall be sold. (E) Growers may sell products processed in a factory provided they have documents proving that the major ingredient was raised by them; i.e. emus oil, peppermint oil, flavored vinegars. (F) All crafts sold must be related to yard and garden and represent a substantial and creative reworking of the basic product by hand. Crafts must be pre-approved by the Jury and Good of the Market Committee before they are sold.

3. Craft policy addendum March 2005 A total of 10 crafter will be allowed in the market, even if their crafts are not yard and garden. Yard and garden will have first priority. A. the product must have been produced using organic materials B. Material must have undergone a major transformation from its natural state. C. The following crafts will be accepted: 1. Woodworking including carvings, turning, and bentwood and twig items. 2. Quilts and other piece work 3. Pottery 4. Homespun threads, hand woven fabric 5. Metalwork 6. Basket weaving 7. Art works made from natural materials, - wall hangings using woods and plant material, stained glass objects, Paintings, etc. D. Not acceptable: Clothing, Jewelry, Any resale item.

4. New Vendors: Must be accepted by the Good of the Market and Jury Committee before selling for the first time. Products that are submitted will only be allowed to sell. Any new products must be resubmitted for approval.

5. All vendors: Annual dues, $25.00, must accompany application.

6. All vendors: Must make an application. State law requires that every vendor at farmers markets have an individual
   Business License, however the Market purchases an annual City of Longview license. Each applicant must include his/her UBI number on his/her contract/application also copies of licenses and permits (nursery, health, dept. of agriculture, certification for organic produce, etc.). This market does not discriminate according to race, creed, sex, religion, age, or nationality.

7. Daily Fees are payable at the close of each market day, before you load up, to the Market Manager. The current fee is 5% of gross sales, after taxes, plus a stall fee on Saturdays $15 and Tuesdays $10. Cowlitz Community Farmer's Market (CCFM) members that have vended for more than one season may request additional stall space, for additional fees.

8. CCFM Membership - you become a member when you pay your $25.00 annual fee with your application. Any form of partnership or corporation operating as a unit will pay the same as one member. No dues required of a member’s minor children

9. Sales Taxes: All vendors of non produce-food items must collect sales taxes on their products. Vendors must record their sales after taxes on their Daily Report forms and turn the record in with their fees for the day but will pay the taxes on their sales on their regular reports to the State.

10. Stall assignments for vendors, assignments will be made by the Market Manager. All vendors must be in their stall space no later than 8:30 am. Returning produce vendors have priority on the same stalls that they held in the previous year even though that stall may have been established by another vendor during the current plant season.

11. Dates and Times for 2025: Our season starts Saturday April 19th, through October 25th, 2025. Tuesdays May 6th through September 30th, 2025. Shopping hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Saturday, and 12:00-6:00pm for the Tuesday market. For safety reasons, no cars or trucks will be allowed in the mid-way during shopping hours.

12. Vendor Responsibilities:

• All vendors must furnish their own display table and/or equipment
  “All vendors who wish to erect canopies (including umbrellas) on the Farmers Market site during a normal period of market operations, including the set up and break down period, are required to have their canopies sufficiently and safely anchored to the ground from the time their canopy is put up to the time it is taken down. Any vendor who fails to properly anchor his or her canopy will not be allowed to sell at the Farmers Market on that market day, unless that vendor chooses to take down and stow their canopy and sell without it. Each canopy leg must have no less than 24# (pounds) attached to each leg, and market umbrellas, 50#. Vendors who choose to use side walls on their canopies shall add 7-10lbs.extra weight per leg. Weights mut be attached either hanging or secured around leg of canopy. No tying off to vehicles.

• Vendors must set up their displays within the marked boundaries of their allotted stall.

• Vendors should keep their spaces clean, safe, and attractive; promptly remove any refuse from the market premises

when leaving. All vendors are responsible for removing their refuse. (take it with you)

13. Vendors must follow all applicable health and safety regulations regarding handling, displaying, storing, and packaging product. Vendors who use electrical or propane for cooking, heating or popping, must have a minimum forty BC rated (5) lb. dry chemical fire extinguisher or larger. Applicable regulations are available from the Market Manager.
    A. Vendors are liable for any defect in their produce. The CCFM does not insure for product liability.
    B. Produce and plants should be insect and disease free, pesticide safe, fresh and clean as is normally acceptable.
    C. Vendors shall conduct themselves in a courteous and businesslike manner. There will be no inappropriate soliciting
    of customers. It is the market’s goal to win friends and benefit vendors, customers, and the community.

14. MarketManagerauthority:

    • The Market Manager has authority to have any vendor remove any items deemed unacceptable or inappropriate. The vendor may appeal against this decision to the Good of the Market committee.

    • All market rules shall be enforced by the Market Manager.

15. Our boarders are as per WSFMA appendix, subject to jury and good of the market committee approval. Giving local
    agriculture vendors priority defined as Cowlitz community and bordering counties

16. Vendors may take on consignment products grown or crafted by nonmembers, too small for a stall. After making $200.00
    the consignee must pay their $25.00 dues and become members of CCFM. Vendor must pay commission on all sales to
    the market and collect taxes if taxable.

17. Trucker exception: In order to ensure our customers adequate supplies of fruits and vegetables that cannot be grown in
    sufficient supply by Cowlitz Community growers, this market will contract to get a dealer’s license and truck in that non-
    competitive produce for resale. All produce sold by the trucker must be grown in Washington or bordering states.

18. It is illegal for vendors who have produce stands or speculate outside of CCFM, to sell or advertise at the CCFM.

19. Other exceptions:

    • Fish: To offer our customers added access to healthy Pacific Northwest foods, this market may contract with a fish dealer to purchase from Washington fishermen for resale at this market.

    • Concessions: To enhance the appeal of the market, CCFM may contract with a few concessionaires to serve at our markets. The appropriate number will be decided by the Good of the Market committee and they shall approve all such contracts. Annual dues and applicable fees will be the same as for other vendors

20. Music policy: Manager will assign and designate location in the market. Assigned Musician will receive a stipend, and may sell CDs, and accept donations. Musicians may use electronics furnished by them; however, the sound must be kept to a level that the vendors can hear, and talk to their customers without interference. Arrival time is 9:30 AM or earlier and departure is 1:30 PM or later. The market will furnish a canopy. Unassigned musicians may play at the market for donations and sales of CDs. A Canopy maybe provided if available.

21. Exclusions: No religious, political, and non-agricultural service organizations.

22. Use by others, non-vendors: The parking area and sidewalk areas within the farmers market are not public ways and are
    reserved for the exclusive use of the farmers market, its owners and tenants, and for members of the public transacting business with them. The use of such areas for any other purpose must be by permission of the market manager, its owners and tenants, subject to such rules and regulations as may be imposed upon such use, and permission to use said areas may be revoked at any time. Failure to comply with the above rules and regulations and failure to seek permission to come upon the premises may expose persons to the laws of criminal trespass of the State of Washington. Please direct your inquiries to the farmers market Manager.

23. All vendors’ dogs must be on a strong leash, and be securely tied up, or in a cage. If the animal is not people friendly leave it home.

24. Vendors must provide a certificate of liability insurance with a minimum of 1 million each occurrence with 2 million Aggregate. Cowlitz Community Farmers Market must also be named an additional insured.

Signed: ________________________________________________ Date: _____________________________