USDA
Farmers Market |
Market Operation:
The Market will be held in parking court #9 of USDA located on the
corner of 12th
Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. The
Market will be open to the public starting Friday, June 3 through
November 18, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Farmers/vendors
must arrive at the Market allowing them ample time for set-up and be
ready to start selling when the Market opens at 10:00 a.m. Due to
space restrictions, late arrivals will be located at Market
Management’s discretion. For
the SAFETY of the Customers, during Market set-up, No Sales before
10:00 a.m. are permitted and the Market will end promptly at 2:00
p.m. each Market day.
All vehicles must vacate the market site no later than 3:30 p.m.
Producer-Only:
Farmers will only sell products which they grow or produce
themselves.
Products To Be Sold:
Fresh, high-quality fruits, vegetables, herbs, honey, jams and
jellies, cheese, vinegars, cider, meat, maple syrup, flowers,
bedding plants, and potted plants may be sold at the Market. All
produce must be guaranteed to be fresh and should be insect-free,
and have no residual that cannot be removed by normal washing.
Produce must be clearly labeled and priced with appropriate signage
by Market opening. Produce of lesser quality for use in preserving,
canning or jam-making may be sold if clearly labeled as such.
Value-added products will be admitted at the discretion of Market
Management.
Commitment to Market:
Farmers/vendors must commit to the entire market season and
participate on a regular basis. Product availability may limit
participants’ beginning and ending dates; therefore, a
schedule will be developed prior to the start of the market season
documenting the farmer/vendor commitment to the Market.
Notification of Attendance:
Farmers/vendors must call within 48 hours of a market day if they
cannot attend. If farmers/vendors repeatedly miss market days
or continuously arrive late to market it can result in termination
of market participation. Violators will be given a warning letter
which can restrict you from participating on a market day. If the
behavior continues, the violators will receive a letter of
termination of market participation and you will be replaced by
another farmer/vendor. Failure to provide proper notification will
result in termination of farmer/vendor participation at the market.
You may contact the main office at 202-720-8317 or email Velma
Lakins at velma.lakins@ams.usda.gov.
Stall Space:
One vehicle is permitted per stall; all other vehicles must be
removed from the immediate market premises. One space is 16w x
17d feet, and all trucks must fit within that area. Every effort is
made to minimize farmer/vendor movement but space adjustments can be
made at the discretion of the Market Manager if deemed necessary.
Signage:
Farmers/vendors must clearly display signs that show the name of
their farm/business, products and prices, as well as Nutrition
Program signs.
Market Equipment/Supplies:
USDA will be responsible for supplying farmers/vendors with the
market tents and the set-up, taking down and storing the tents for
the market season. Each farmer/vendor will be responsible for
providing tables, certified scales, signs, containers, and change.
Scales must be accurate. If you have any questions regarding your
scales please contact the Department of Consumer and Regulatory
Affairs Weights and Measures, 1110 U Street, S.E., Washington, D.C.
20020. The phone number is (202) 698-2138.
Clean-up:
Farmers/vendors are responsible for maintaining their space in a
clean and attractive manner with attention to public safety and
respect for the use of this public space by others following the end
of the Market day. Farmers/vendors are responsible for cleaning all
trash and waste within and around their allotted space.
Garbage bins are provided on the market site for this purpose.
Applications:
All new and returning farmers/vendors must complete an application
each year. The application will provide Market Management with
contact information, farm location, and type of farming operation,
types of products grown, and business practices. Farmers/vendors
must provide copies of any permits and licenses applicable to the
sale of their product at the time of submitting the application.
Applications will be accepted year-round for the current market
season. If you are not accepted into the market then your
application will be on file.
Farm/Business Visits:
USDA Farmers Market Management may visit farm/business locations to
verify compliance with Market criteria and guidelines.
Farmers/vendors should submit a map and directions to their
farm/business location along with the Market application.
Noncompliance:
USDA reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any vendor or item
that is not in keeping with the rules or quality of USDA criteria
and guidelines.
Cooperative Marketing:
Farmers/vendors are permitted to share space with another
farmer/vendor or sell another’s products if the arrangement is
beneficial to the market. The
products must be clearly labeled with the farm name.
A co-op must be pre-approved by Market Management and will not be
accepted if similar products are already sold by existing farmers
and/or vendors.
Reselling:
The resale of items purchased by the vendor shall not be permitted
except in the case of ingredients required by those producing
prepared or value-added products. However, farmers and/or
vendors selling these types of products must prepare them
predominately with material they have grown or gathered. Baked
goods are exempted from this rule.
Prepared Foods:
All food items must be prepared in
accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Food vendors must submit a copy of their food licenses with their
application. If accepted, a vendor may be immediately
terminated from market participation if they fail to comply with
health department regulations. No hot prepared foods will be sold
at the market.
Reasons to disallow
participation:
Efforts will be made to accommodate all who apply, however, a vendor
may not be allowed to participate due to insufficient space, excess
supply of the products to be sold, if criteria is not met, and/or
guidelines not adhered to.
Conduct on Federal Property:
While participating in the market, farmers and vendors are required
to comply with Subpart 101-20.3 of the Federal Property Management
Regulations, “Conduct on Federal Property” (see
attached).
Security:
Every effort will be made by USDA to make the market a safe
environment for farmers/vendors. However, it will be the
responsibility of the farm/vendors to take every precaution to safe
guard all valuables and cash in your vehicles during market hours.
Report any suspicious activity to Market Manger or Security
personnel immediately.
Disputes: It is the intent of the Market to offer customers fresh, high quality farm products. Upon acceptance of a written compliant the Market Manager will forward the customer’s complaint to the farmer/vendor for action. If the farmer/vendor has a compliant please discuss or provide written documentation of your compliant to Market Manager. Repeated complaints and violations may result in disciplinary action including removal from the Market.
VENDOR CERTIFICATION
(Please detach, sign and return this page to USDA Farmers market Management with Farmers Market Application.)
By signing below, I certify that I have read, understand and will adhere to all applicable guidelines as stated in this document. I further understand that should I fail to comply with these specified guidelines, my participation in the USDA Farmers Market could be terminated.
_____________________________________ __________________
Signature of Farmer/Vendor Date
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | USDA Farmers Market |
| Author | Government User |
| Last Modified By | Marilyn Pish |
| File Modified | 2011-02-08 |
| File Created | 2011-02-08 |