Guidelines for Farmers and Food Vendors - Baltimore Office of

							                     BALTIMORE FARMERS' MARKET 2010 GUIDELINES
                           FOR FARMERS AND FOOD VENDORS

I.      ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

All persons who actually produce or grow the fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, baked goods,
jellies, jams, honey and/or other products that they intend to sell in the Baltimore Farmers' Market
are eligible to apply to sell at this market.

II.     GENERAL RULES:

         A. Definition of Vendor and Farm/Production Facility: All products sold must be
grown or produced by the vendor. "Vendor" shall be defined as the producer of goods sold and
shall include the spouse, siblings, children, parents and employees of the applicant, who assist in
the cultivation of the same property, listed in the application under "name of farm production
facility." Produce grown or produced at a location not listed on the application (or in an attachment)
is not eligible to be sold. Only goods produced at the location listed on the application shall be
considered. The resale of items purchased by the vendor is not permitted. If you do not fall within
the above description you are considered a Food or Craft Vendor as defined in paragraph P.

        B. Permitted Items for Sale: Items allowed for sale shall include fruits, vegetables,
berries, nuts, plants, herbs, flowers, baked goods, honey, jams, jellies, cheese and vendor-raised
fish, meat and poultry. Examples of items not permitted include canned goods and molasses except
by special approval of market management.

        All processed/cured/baked items, including preserves, honey, cheese and meat, must be
properly labeled to clearly identify processor, grower or producer and ingredients. A certificate from
the resident department of health indicating facilities in which the above items were processed,
cooked or prepared, must be provided before such items will be approved for sale and must be
displayed on site at all times.

       Cider: Cider is only permitted if it is pressed by the vendor or if it is pressed exclusively
from the vendor's fruit. The sale of apples to an operator of a cider press and the subsequent
purchase of bottled cider back from the press operator shall not be considered to have been
produced exclusively from the vendor's fruit.

         C. Application and Verification by Extension Agent: All persons intending to sell in
the Farmers' Market must, prior to participation in the Market, file an application with BOPA that
verifies they are the actual grower or producer of the specific items which they intend to sell in the
Farmers' Market. Return applications for the 2010 season no later then April 2nd.

         Professional farmers must submit their application with verification of their grower/producer
status signed by their County Extension agent on the application form prior to opening. All vendors
shall allow from time to time, BOPA and/or BOPA’s designated representative, the Market Manger,
with or without notice, to inspect their production facilities and review all production-related records,
as deemed necessary. Only persons with an approved application shall be permitted to sell in the
Farmers' Market.
2/10                                       Page 1 of 4
       D. Leases and Written Agreements: All persons intending to sell in the Farmers' Market
must sign their application stating that they have read the 2010 guidelines and will adhere to same.
Vendor may not sub-lease, sell, transfer or permit any other seller to use the assigned market
space.

       E. Baltimore City Health Permit: All vendors participating in the Farmers' Market must
comply with the sanitary rules and regulations of the Baltimore City Health Department. Once they
are approved, vendors shall apply for such permit by obtaining a form from BOPA and returning it
along with a check in the amount of $185.00 made payable to the Director of Finance. The health
permit must be displayed on site at all times.

       F.      The Market Manager is a BOPA designated representative.
               The Market Manager's duties and responsibilities are to:
               -record attendance
               -distribute materials intended for all vendors
               -record all incidents occurring before/during/after market hours
               -act as liaison between BOPA and all approved vendors
               -make and change space assignments, as necessary
               -place barricades at all entrances and exits
               -maintain decorum throughout the market
               -resolve minor disputes on behalf of BOPA: and,
               -document in writing, known or alleged violations of the guidelines

        G. Seasonal Rent: All approved applicants who sell goods in the Farmers' Market are
required to pay rent for the market space they use. This rent shall be paid to BOPA prior to the start
of the season. Each space occupied is rented at the rate of $375.00 per space for the entire
season. Vendors who do not pay their rent may be denied the right to sell in the Farmers' Market in
the future.

        H. Hold Harmless Clause and Insurance: Each authorized vendor participating in the
Farmers' Market shall be individually responsible to BOPA and the City for any loss, personal injury,
deaths, and/or any other damage to persons or property that may occur as a result of the vendor's
acts or omissions or that of its servants, agents, and employees, and each vendor hereby agrees to
indemnify and save the City harmless from any loss, cost, damages, and other expenses, including
reasonable attorney's fees, suffered or incurred by BOPA and the City by reason of the vendor's acts
or omissions or that of its servants, agents and employees; provided that the vendor shall not be
responsible nor required to indemnify the employees. The city does not provide insurance to the
participants of the Baltimore Farmers’ Market. It is recommended that each vendor obtain his/her
own insurance.

       I. Market Location: The Farmers' Market will operate under the Jones Falls Expressway
viaduct bounded by Gay, Saratoga and Holliday Streets and the Fallsway, as well as streets,
sidewalks and parking lots in the vicinity. All vendors must operate within their assigned spaces.
Hucksters and non-registered vendors will not be permitted in the market or within 200 feet of the
market.


2/10                                      Page 2 of 4
        J. Parking: Vendors may bring as many vehicles as their space(s) will accommodate.
Vendors and their employees shall not park in unassigned or unused spaces, on walkways, grassy
areas or at the Saratoga Street or Fallsway entrances. Park all automobiles, small vans and large
vehicles on the street or parking lots surrounding the market parameters - do not park in the
Hollywood Diner parking lot off Saratoga Street.

       K. Space Assignment and Size: BOPA will assign spaces prior to opening day. No
vendor will occupy a majority of space at the market; a maximum assignment of six (6) spaces per
vendor shall prevail. Vendor's tables, canopies, produce or displays shall not protrude onto the
walkways. All vendors’ tables must line up consistently leaving a 15 foot walkway to conform to
Baltimore City Fire Department regulations. Vendors must remain within the parameters as
designated by BOPA.

        L. Length of Season/Hours of Operation: The market will operate from 7:00 a.m. to
noon, Sundays, from May 2, 2010 through and including December 19, 2010, rain or shine. Vendors
must be set up by 6:00 a.m. Taking into account late shoppers, packing-up time and other break
down activities, participants must be out by 2:00 p.m. Participants must remove any remaining food
items and associated sales equipment (tables, chairs, bushels, boxes, bags, etc.) from the site as
quickly and efficiently as possible to enable sanitation crews to clean the area for the resumption of
normal activities.

         M. BOPA reserves the right to adjust the time of operations if the city requires the space for
a civic or special event.

        N. Clean-up: BOPA will arrange for the clean-up the morning of the market and a major
clean-up at closing. The city will also provide lined cans for the public to utilize. However, it remains
the responsibility of each vendor to maintain the cleanliness of their area during market hours
including public walkways in front of their space(s).

        O. Decorum: Produce shall be attractively displayed. Business shall be conducted in an
orderly and businesslike manner; no shouting or other objectionable means of soliciting trade will be
tolerated. No distress pricing will be allowed. No live animals, pets or otherwise are permitted.

       P. Food Vendor or Craft Vendor: Definition: The privilege of retaining a subsidiary
business within certain premises i.e.: Farmers' Market. Specifically, Food Vendors may sell prepared
items such as sandwiches, pastries/bread, and other non-produce items such as flowers. Included
are foods prepared onsite such as brewed coffee, grilled or other forms of cooked foods. Craft
Vendors may sell items such as antiques, collectibles, handcrafted items and yard sale fare.

III.    VIOLATIONS

        A. Any complaint against a vendor regarding the origination of their produce or goods, or
any other matter, must be directed to the attention of the market manager in writing via e-mail or
letter. Resolution of complaints are the responsibility of BOPA which shall determine, in its sole
discretion, what type of investigation, if any, shall be conducted in response to written complaints;
whether or not the written complaints shall be provided to the vendor against whom the complaint is
directed; what type of response, written or oral, a vendor against whom a complaint is made shall
be entitled to make; and, the time frame in which it is made.
2/10                                       Page 3 of 4
         B. When BOPA determines, in its sole discretion, that a vendor has violated any provision of
these guidelines, it will issue a warning. If the vendor fails to comply by the next market day, it will
result in termination of this agreement and the vendor may no longer sell at the market.

IV.    MODIFICATIONS - BOPA reserves the right to revise guidelines at any time as it deems
appropriate.

V.     COMPLIANCE - BOPA reserves the right to approve and/or disapprove any item listed for sale
on applications. Vendors shall not display/sell any item that has not been approved by the
Reviewing Committee.

Applications are reviewed and accepted and/or denied solely by the Baltimore Office of
Promotion & The Arts. BOPA reserves the right to terminate any participant for non-
compliance of the above guidelines at any time. If a farmer or vendor is terminated by
BOPA from the market for violation of the 2010 Guidelines, there are no refunds on the
space fee and submission of application for the following year may be disqualified.




2/10                                      Page 4 of 4