Downtown FWB Farmers Market (October 8, 2022)

Description

***If you have not been approved by the Event Director, please do not purchase, there will be no refunds issued if approval has not been confirmed.***

2022 Downtown FWB Organization
Farmers’ Market Guidelines

FARMERS’ MARKET SEASON HOURS OF OPERATION

• The Downtown FWB Farmers’ Market will be open the 2nd and 4th Saturday from 8:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. rain or shine, year-round. The Farmers’ Market Director, with the consent of the Downtown FWB Organization, may curtail and/or modify such days and/or hours of operation for reasons such as lack of activity during inclement weather or scheduling conflicts.

REQUIREMENTS FOR VENDORS

• ALL VENDORS MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE REGISTERING. Please email Ashley Sukalski, Director of Events, for approval at events.downtownfwb@gmail.com
• Vendors are required to bring a 10×10 tent
• Spaces are first come first serve. Vendors begin to arrive between 6:45 and 7:00am. ALL Vendors are expected to arrive for setup before 7:45am to ensure the market is ready for patrons by 8:00am. Failure to comply will result in expulsion from the market.
• Should an emergency arise, and the Vendor may be arriving later than the 7am set up time, the Vendor shall notify the Farmers’ Market Director, Ashley Sukalski, by email at events.downtownfwb@gmail.com, as far in advance of opening as is possible.
• All products offered for sale must be of the highest and freshest quality possible. The Events Director reserves the right to direct any inferior goods to be removed from display. Failure to remove products deemed inferior may result in expulsion from the market.
• Farmers may not use the term “organic” at the Downtown FWB Farmers Market unless their farm is certified organic by a USDA accredited third party certifier and the farm has submitted their current certification to the Events Director.
• Agricultural vendors must provide the exact address and origin of where their products are grown or raised. This is required and must be submitted to the Events Director. The Events Director and the Downtown FWB Board Members reserve the right to deny products that are submitted to accommodate the needs of the market.
• Vendors are permitted to sell only items that were approved upon application. New products intended for sale by current vendors but not included on the most recently approved application must be approved prior to their sale at Market.
• Every Vendor at the Downtown FWB Farmers’ Market must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations.
• Vendors must specify if their products fall under a Cottage Food Product or Prepared Food
  • Florida Cottage Food Act: This Act now allows the home preparation and sale of Cottage Products. “Cottage food product” means food that is not a potentially hazardous food as defined by Florida’s food safety regulations. These vendors no longer must find commercial kitchens to prepare their products. However, cottage food operations are not exempt from any state or federal tax law, rule, regulation, or certificate that applies to all cottage food operations.
  • Prepared Food: Homemade baked goods, candy, honey, jams, jellies, drinks from natural products grown and owned by the seller, and highly acidic canned goods (with an inspection report from the Florida Department of Agriculture)
• Collection and filing of any applicable taxes and payment to the appropriate taxing authority is the sole responsibility of the Vendor.
• Vendors shall be open and ready to sell when the Market opens and remain open until the Market closes. Failure by Vendor to comply may result in the revocation of vendor space.
• Vendors selling prepared foods (breads, cakes, homemade beverages, etc.) must secure a food permit or be in compliance with the “Florida Cottage Laws”. Contact the Florida Department of Agriculture (850-245-5520) for more information.
• Cleanup: Vendors are required to clean up after themselves. Vendor space must be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner. No Vendor is permitted to dispose of produce waste, overripe/leftover produce, or boxes in any onsite garbage receptacles.
• Vendors are required to have a presentable booth space
• Vendors who do not comply will be uninvited to future Downtown FWB Organization events.

FARMERS’ MARKET SPACE AGREEMENTS

• Vendors must notify Ashley Sukalski with the Downtown FWB Organization at events.downtownfwb@gmail.com, by 5:00pm the Wednesday before that Market day if such Vendor will not occupy their paid space(s) for that Saturday. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the paid fee for that day and may possibly be uninvited to future markets.
• The Farmers’ Market Fee is $15.00 per market. If a vendor chooses to pay cash the day of the event, the vendor fee is $20. All fees are nonrefundable.
• No Vendor shall be allowed to sell from any space at the Farmers’ Market without approval.

VENDOR PLACEMENT:

• The Farmers’ Market Director, will be at the Market no later than 7:00am for vendor check in. Vendors must notify the Farmers’ Market Director by e-mail, events.downtownfwb@gmail.com, by 5:00pm the Wednesday before that Market day if such Vendor will not occupy their paid space(s) for that Saturday. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the paid fee for that day. In order to secure your assigned spot all fees must be paid by 5:00pm the Wednesday before that Market day.
• Vendor set up begins at 7am. Vendors who arrive later than 7:45am will not be allowed to set for the day.
• The Downtown FWB Organization reserves the right to refuse to offer or renew a space to any Vendor, or to relocate or revoke any space without cause for a Farmers’ Market space previously issued, when it is considered to be in the best interests of the Market. The Downtown FWB Organization further reserves the right to revoke at any time or not renew any license or space without cause. If the Vendor’s space is revoked, or not renewed, the Vendor is entitled to receive an email notice of such action at least 5 business days prior to the effective date of such action unless such termination or non-renewal is for cause or for an emergency. The following shall be grounds for immediate cancellation of any license or space, for cause, without prior notification: (a) failure to meet the terms of the agreement; (b) failure to comply with the guidelines.
• Vendors shall be responsible for the actions of employees, agents, or other persons working for, or with, the Vendor.
• Spaces are entity-or-person-specific. If a family is applying for a space, all members of the family who expect to sell at the Farmers’ Market must sign the application and release. If the space is being obtained by a business, an officer or a general partner must sign the application.

VENDOR SPACE

• Vendors MUST use a 10×10 space.
• Spaces are first come first serve. Vendors begin to arrive between 6:45 and 7:00am.
• Vendors must provide their own equipment and any additional materials for display of items.
• Vendors may not use set up materials that permanently damage the space. Power to vendors may be available on a limited basis. Water service is not provided. Vendors must indicate if a power source is needed and it must be approved prior to the day of the Farmers’ Market.
• The Farmers’ Market Director must approve any signage that a Vendor wishes to use in his or her space and has the sole discretion to disapprove any sign or signage considered to be inappropriate.

PARKING

• Vendors may park behind their 10×10 tent.
• Vendors are NOT permitted to drive on the Fort Walton Beach Landing after 7:45am. No exceptions!

HEALTH, SANITATION, AND SAFETY

• The Downtown FWB Organization will provide and empty, all public litter containers at the Farmers’ Market.
• Vendors are responsible for the collection and proper disposal of all refuse, grease, and trash generated from their spaces.
• Vendors are responsible to see that their areas are left clean and orderly when they leave the Market for the day. Failure to comply with this section may result in the imposition of the actual cost of any cleanup, to be collected by the Farmers’ Market Director.
• The Downtown FWB Organization is not responsible for damage to or loss of any personal or other items in any of the assigned spaces.
• Children less than 14 years of age brought to the Farmers’ Market by a Vendor must be kept within the Vendor’s space and be under the supervision of a designated adult.
• Vendors and their representatives agree to protect and hold the Downtown FWB Organization, their employees, agents, and representatives harmless and to protect such entities from any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, judgments, and recoveries, for or on account of any damage, theft, or injury (including death) to property or person occurring as a result of Vendor’s use of Downtown FWB Farmers’ Market space for which Vendor has been approved, including loss or injury resulting to Vendor from any cause whatsoever, including but not limited to electrical or equipment failure.