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Amador Farmers Market Association

Market Guidelines

TYPE OF MARKET

The Amador Farmers Market provides growers of all sizes with the opportunity to sell their fresh and local (generally, within a 100-mile radius) products to the community.

This is a certified growers market operating in accordance with the regulations in the California Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 3, Group 4, Article 6.4 on direct Marketing and CURFFL Health Regulations, Article 15.

The market is certified by the Amador County Agricultural Commissioner as a direct marketing outlet for producers of certified agricultural products. The producer may sell their products without meeting the usual size, standard pack and container requirements for each product except in the case of eggs and pre-packaged items. However, all products MUST meet minimum quality standards and all health regulations.

NO peddlers or vendors will be permitted, nor holders of commercial license 56181 of the Agriculture Code. NO resale of any commodities purchased may be made, and NO commissions may be paid or received in connection with sales at the market.

MANAGEMENT

The Amador Farmers Market is managed and controlled by the AMADOR FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION. The Board of Directors and its manager shall implement and enforce all rules and regulations pertaining to the operation of the Association in a fair and equitable manner.

PERMISSION TO SELL

Anyone holding a Certified Producers Certificate may apply to sell at the market. However, the Board of Directors delegates to the Market Manager the duty to balance the array of products and produce available to the consumer. Other producer-direct agricultural products may be sold as allowed by the Association guidelines and State Direct Marketing regulations.

Copies of all appropriate certificates and permits MUST be posted so as to be readily seen by the consumer.

 

A certified producer may sell on behalf of two other certified producers within a 12-month period, provided the name of each certified producer appears on each other’s certificate. The producer applying for certification shall obtain and submit to the agricultural commissioner, prior to certification, written authority from the other certified producers to sell on their behalf.

 

In addition, a certified producer may sell for up to two certified producers provided that:

  • Both certificate holders are Association members.
  • Both current certificates are prominently displayed.
  • Each producer’s products shall be separated and identifiable.
  • The certified producer selling for another certified producer shall sell by volume more product than that for whom they are selling.

Minimally processed agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and their products, processed herbs, nursery plants and flowers, poultry products and livestock products are permitted to be sold at the Market provided one or more of the following are met:

  • A single producer controls the entire process from growing the crop through minimally processing and sale.
  • The grower contracts with a processor to make an exclusive run of only that grower’s crop.
  • “Minimally processed” shall be construed to follow those guidelines set forth by the Department of Food and Agriculture. Bakery products and confections are specifically excluded by those rules.
  • Sellers of processed foods shall have all necessary Health Department and/or USDA inspection certificates on file with the Market Manager and comply with all standard packaging regulations.

Items such as garlic braids, herbal vinegars, dried flower arrangements, prepared fleeces, birdhouses, wreaths, etc., MUST be constructed from products grown by the seller and appropriately certified.

NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

 

Sellers in the Non-Agricultural Products category are subject to the final approval of the Market Manager. Approval will be based, in part, on how closely an item is determined to fit into the overall agricultural theme appropriate to a Farmers market. Items purchased wholesale for retail sales are strictly prohibited.

Prepared Foods

Sellers in this category are those offering baked, cooked, canned, or preserved products. Items in the category include, but are not limited to, baked goods, confections, and canned products. Sellers must have developed the recipe for the item sold and either produced, cooked or canned it themselves or have otherwise maintained complete control of the product. Low acid canned foods are prohibited from the Market (e.g. vegetables, meats, low acid olives).

Non-agricultural food sellers  MUST meet above requirements for processed foods and:

Products sold shall be packaged in bulk and for take-out. Bulk is equivalent to four servings; for example: whole loaves of bread, 4 rolls or bagels, 1 pound of pasta, etc.

Non-Food Items

Sellers in this category are those who have manufactured a non-food item and have executed every step required in providing the product. Products in this category include, but are not limited to, “non-producer” herb products, candles, and soaps. Items should be consumable products constant with the agricultural theme of a Farmers Market.

PRICING

Prices MUST be clearly posted. Please keep the quality and uniqueness of the products in mind when determining prices.

Pre-packaged products sold in containers MUST be labeled with the name, address, and zip code of the producer as well as a declaration of identity and net quantity of the commodity in the package.

STALL SPACES

Association members have the privilege of reserving stall spaces monthly or weekly during the market season with advance payment. Reserving on a weekly basis MUST be made by Thursday noon preceding market date. All sellers MUST notify the Market Manager by Thursday noon preceding market date if a cancellation is required. Sellers who fail to show up without first notifying the Market Manager MUST remit the stall space rental fee or forfeit future stall space at the market. Any unreserved spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Members may not sub-lease stall spaces.

Backyard growers  are encouraged to participate by sharing stall spaces with one another.

Producers will be allowed one hour before each market for set-up. Producers will be allowed one half-hour after close of each market for take-down. NO set-up involving vehicles or shades will be allowed after the market opens. To ensure the safety of the public, NO movement of vehicles in or out of stall spaces will be allowed during market hours.

Suncloths/shades/umbrellas should be placed in or around stall spaces in a secure manner and so that the line of vision through the market is not broken and there is no distraction from adjoining stalls. If suncloths/shades/umbrellas overlap into adjoining stall spaces, growers in the adjoining stall spaces must agree to the encroachment.

Sellers are responsible for maintaining their space assigned to them in clean and sanitary condition, and when vacating such space, MUST remove all equipment, fruit, vegetables, trimmings, wrapping, and containers before they leave.