2008 Vendor Application and Guidelines

The Binford Farmers' Market (BFM) is a community development project organized by Binford Redevelopment and Growth, Inc. (BRAG) and managed by BRAG's BFM Steering Committee. The BFM will be held weekly on Saturday mornings during the months of May through October each year on the corner of 62nd and Binford, just north of the Shell Station.

The following are general guidelines for vendors who wish to participate in the BFM and serves as your application to participate as a vendor during the 2008 season.

ELIGIBILITY OF VENDORS

Any person who regularly and directly works in all stages of the cultivation, production, and harvesting of quality produce or other eligible goods or is regularly engaged in the sale or distribution of such goods may apply to become a BFM vendor. Prior to participating in the BFM, all vendors must provide BRAG with copies of all State and local permits and licenses required for the operation of their vending business, a copy of the certificate on insurance described below, and such other signed agreements, consents, waivers, releases and acknowledgments as BRAG may from time to time require.

BRAG reserves the right to deny any vendor application or revoke vendor privileges of any person for failure to provide all requisite paperwork or to comply with all applicable laws and BFM policies, or on account of undesirable or suspect produce or other goods offered for sale, space considerations, or for any other reason or cause as determined by BRAG in its discretion.

GOODS PERMITTED FOR SALE

Approved vendors agree to offer only superior quality produce and other goods at the BFM in strict accordance with all applicable laws and BFM policies. Upon request of the BFM Market Master, each vendor agrees to provide the name and contact information of the farm or other source of the produce or other goods offered for sale. This information will be kept confidential and will not be shared with other BFM vendors. No product offered at the BFM shall be purchased at an auction or, except as may be approved in advance by BRAG, from a wholesale supplier. Any vendor who is found to be buying and re-selling goods from auction may be asked to leave the market for the duration of the season.

Subject to applicable federal, State and local laws, regulations and guidelines, the following goods may be sold at the BFM: fresh fruits and vegetables, dried and fresh herbs and spices, plants, flowers, honey, eggs, unpopped popcorn, flour and ground grains, meats and cheeses. Processed food items which are permitted include: jellies, jams, preserves, frozen persimmon pulp, dried vegetables, dried fruits, cider or other pressed juices, ice cream, vinegar, herb vinegar and baked goods. These processed food items must be prepared in a licensed facility in accordance with Indiana law and sold in pre-packaged form. All vendors selling processed foods must prominently display their Board of Health certified kitchen licenses at their stand at all times. The sale of these food items requires proper labeling and must consist of the following: Name of Product / Location of Preparation / Description of Contents / Net Weight / Price.

Meat Products--All meat products must come from animals weaned by the farmer producer. Animals may be butchered or processed off-farm. Processing must comply with federal, State and local laws and regulations and the farmer/producer must supply documentation of such compliance with the vendor’s application.

Milk, Dairy, and Cheese--Milk must be from the farmer/producer’s own herd. Cheese and other dairy products must be made by the farmer/producer. Production must comply with state dairy ordinances and licensing, and the farmer must supply the documentation of such compliance with application. Further, if selling eggs, they should be kept at 45 degrees or less. A current egg vendor license issued by the State Egg Board must be exhibited and a copy of license should be sent with the vendor’s application.

Plants and Produce--Plants or produce for sale cannot be purchased at auction. If any vendor is found to be purchasing produce or plants at an auction for resale they may be asked to leave the market for the remainder of the season. No refunds will be due to the vendor. The only re-selling that can take place is by acquiring and selling another farmers’ Indiana grown goods.
Each plant must be cultivated by producer from seed or plug for a minimum of six weeks.

The Vendor must display legible price markers for all goods offered for sale. All goods offered for sale at the BFM must be of superior quality.

GOODS NOT PERMITTED

No potentially hazardous foods or other goods may be sold (this includes sprouts and pokeweed). Some plants, berries and roots are poisonous. The vendor is responsible for assuring that all goods offered are edible. Questions regarding potentially poisonous foods should be directed to the Poison Control Center at: 1-800-382-9097. No alcoholic beverages may be sold.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

All items intended for human consumption must be kept off the ground at all times and stored and displayed in safe and sound conditions. The vendor is solely responsible for damages resulting from the sale of unsafe or unsound goods. No potentially hazardous foods may be offered for sale. If you have questions regarding a particular food that is included in the minimally processed food items list, call the Marion County Health Department at 317-541-2222. Flowers are not to be displayed or sold in glass containers. They should be displayed in plastic or metal containers, which eliminate the danger of breakage. It is the responsibility of the vendor to keep abreast of all county and state rules and ordinances as they apply to the product that is sold. Most notable is the sale of mushrooms, honey and eggs.

REGISTRATION TO SELL

Reserved vending space can be revoked at any time by the BFM Steering Committee or Market Master if any of the above paperwork has not been submitted or if payment in full has not been received.

ASSIGNMENT AND LIMITS OF SPACE

Vendors are limited to one vehicle space per space rented. Each regular full space is 20 ft in width with a line of 18 ft. into the center of the vending area. Vending spaces will be marked each week as needed for verification. For reserved table spaces the vendor must unload his/her vehicle by 9:15 a.m. on the day of market. If a vendor is not in their space by 9:15 a.m. and has not informed the Market Master that he/she will be late, that vendor will forfeit his/her spot for that day.

ACCESS TO SPACE
Advertised Market hours are from 8 am to noon.

Vendors are asked to be in their reserved spaces by 7:00 am.
Although not promoted, vendors may begin selling product as early as 7:00 am.
No smoking will be allowed on the grounds of the Market.
No pets will be allowed on the grounds of the Market.

Initial____

EXITING THE BFM SITE
All vendors must be packed and prepared to depart from the Market site by noon on market days. All personal items and equipment must be removed at that time. Vendors must properly dispose of ALL litter and debris from their area before leaving.

Any vendor found violating access to space safety rules may be asked to not return to the BFM. For the safety of BFM customers and vendors, there can be no exceptions.

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Each vendor must supply his own tables or other display equipment. If selling goods by weight, the vendor must supply a legal produce scale that is subject to periodic inspection by the County Department of Weights and Measures. Umbrellas or other weather protection devices need to be supplied by each vendor. Tents or awnings may be erected only by permission from the Market Master. Each vendor is solely responsible for any damages or personal injury resulting from its equipment or set-up. No electricity will be available to vendors. Generators must be placed where they will not create noise pollution.

MARKET MASTER

The BFM Market Master will invite vendors to participate in the BFM. The Market Master is authorized to direct any vendor to leave the BFM site, remove any poor quality or unacceptable goods from sale at the BFM, or instruct a vendor to not return if, for any reason, that vendor is not making a significant contribution to the BFM. The BFM Steering Committee and Market Master shall have sole authority and discretion as to permission to offer goods for sale at the BFM.

INSURANCE

All vendors must supply BRAG with a certificate of liability insurance in the amount of One Million Dollars general liability. Binford Redevelopment & Growth, Inc. (BRAG) and its directors, officers, employees, contractors and representatives shall be listed as additional insured. No vendor will be allowed to sell in their space until the BFM Steering Committee receives appropriate verification of all required insurance.

VENDOR RATES

$120 per 25 week season, payable in full before the May 10, 2008 opening.

$15 per Saturday. Payable before setting up.

Pro-rata rates for selected Saturdays may be worked out with the Market Master prior to the opening of the Market season.

Certificate of insurance must be shown.