MARKET RULES & REGULATIONS
As required by Farmers’ Market Management Co., Inc. of all participating farmers and vendors.
SETUP - All vendors are responsible for personal booth set-up. No vehicles will be permitted to drive through market beginning fifteen (15) minutes prior to market opening and fifteen (15) minutes after market closing. Vendors should be set up and ready to sell by market opening and will keep all products set-up until market closes.
CANOPY WEIGHT GUIDELINES - Most accidents at farmers markets involve canopies—it is each vendor’s responsibility to minimize the risk. Riverside County has unpredictable weather and often strong, gusty winds, so an assumption that winds my come at any time will be made. Vendors may experience calm conditions during morning setup but conditions can change drastically by afternoon. Vendor canopies must be fully secured before setting up anything else. Each vendor will completely secure your canopy at set up, and take down the canopy as soon as you remove the weights at the end of the market.
Vendors must use a method of securing your canopy to ground does not create an additional hazard. Any participant who fails to properly secure their canopy will not be allowed to sell that day at the market, unless the participant takes down and stows their canopy. Vendors may sell without a canopy. (Effective June 1, 2021)
SPACE ASSIGNMENTS/PARTICIPATION - The market manager assigns spaces. Participants are normally allowed to keep the same space. However, the market manager reserves the right to reassign spaces as deemed necessary each week. Participants expected on any market day must notify the manager 24 hours in advance if they are unable to attend. Failure to notify the manager with prior notice is subject to a $25 fine and may result in losing a space in the market. Vendors missing a market without notification must contact manager to verify space for the following week.
Selling and sampling is limited to space assigned by the market manager or a staff member. Participants in the market must obtain approval from the market manager or a staff member before introducing a new product not represented on application.
Growers/Vendors must maintain the space assigned to them in a clean and sanitary condition. The space must be left in clean condition when leaving. No trash may be left at the market. Aisle apace is reserved for the customers.
No alcoholic beverage consumption or smoking by growers/vendors in the market area.
Commodities sold in the certified farmers section are limited to fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, fresh and dried herbs, nursery stock, cut flowers, honey, nuts, eggs and fish as listed on Certified Producers Certificate. Farmers’ Market Management Co. has allowed limited space for ancillary vendors. These spaces are available at the discretion of the market manager and staff.
The market manager and staff reserves the right to accept new growers/vendors and/or commodities into the market based on availability of space, type of product/booth, and compliance with the USDA, CDFA, Dept. of Environmental Health, California Dept. of Public Health, license agreement with the City of Operation, and the Rules and Regulations of Farmers’ Market Management Co.
PERMITS/CERTIFICATION - Each farmer/grower must file with the market manager a copy of his Certified Producers’ Certificate. Food vendors are under one (1) Environmental Health Group Permit filed with the market manager. All necessary permits must be posted during market hours.
All commodities sold at the farmers’ market must be of high quality and shall meet the standards set by the State of California Department of Food and Agriculture. For commodities that must be weighed, scales and balances are required and must be sealed by the county Sealer of Weight and Measures. Commodities that are pre-packaged must be labeled with name, address and net weight.
The grower, a member of the immediate family, or a paid employee may sell products. One certified producer may act and sell for two other certified producers in accordance with state regulations and with the approval of the market manager.
Collusion among growers/vendors to change prices or exertion of any influence, pressure or persuasion to cause a grower/vendor to change prices is strictly forbidden.
MARKET FEES - At the close of the market farmers, food vendors, and ancillary vendors must completely and accurately fill out and submit a market sales report plus the required fees to the market manager or a staff member. Reports must be turned in after market closes.
Any variation from the foregoing rules and regulations will preclude a grower/vendor’s right to participate in the farmers’ market. The market manager and other Farmers Market Management Co. staff members have the authority to enforce these regulations and to exclude non-conforming growers/vendors.
cc: California Department of Food and Agriculture, City of Market Operation
ADDITIONAL VENDOR FAQs
1. Who can apply to be a grower/vendor?
Farmers’ Market Mngmnt. Co. is currently accepting applications for farmers, food vendors, and handmade and market-related products. Only vendors being accepted into a market will be contacted by a market manager.
2. Is there a wait time for growers/vendors?
Yes, there is a wait for spaces in most markets at this time. However, submitting your application will put you onto that list for future reference by the market management team. Market management will accept new vendors into the market based on availability and product. You will be contacted by a market manager if a space becomes available for your product.
3. Market fees?
10’ x 10’ spaces are determined by Farmers’ Market Management Co. and fees for your space are paid at the end of the market day to the market manager on site. For current fee schedule questions, please email us.
4. What are the requirements for a food vendor?
Any food prepared off-site (marinated, pre-packaged, cooked, etc.) must be done in a certified kitchen. If you have a cart/self-contained set-up it must have it registered with the Dept. of Environmental Health. If you are a temporary set-up you must join our group permit, which costs $150 per quarter, paid to Farmers’ Market Mngmnt Co. in full at the beginning of each quarter. Every food vendor must adhere to the requirements of the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health (click here for more details).
5. What are the requirements for a farmer/grower?
Growers/farmers must carry a valid CPC (Certified Producer's Certificate) from the Department of Agriculture ensuring that they are the grower of everything they are selling at the market. A copy of your CPC must be posted in customer-view during market hours and a copy must be provided with your application.
6. Why does each market look different?
Each market under the umbrella of Farmers’ Market Management Co. is unique with its own personality. Our managers strive to bring in vendors that reflect the needs of its shoppers. Each market is also under separate lease and city restrictions that may change the availability of space to certain products outside of the Certified Farmers sections.