Winter Farmers' Market

The mission of the POS Winter Farmers' Market is to provide a viable year-round direct market for local agricultural products thereby promoting regional food sustainability by supporting the local agricultural community.

Working collaboratively to create a successful, vibrant indoor market for local vendors and customers. Issues should be brought to the manager's attention after an attempt on the part of the involved vendor(s) to work out an equitable solution.

Post Oil Solutions (POS) is the organizing body of the WFM. The policies and procedures of the market are determined by a volunteer WFM steering committee of market organizers, vendors, POS members and community members. The WFM steering committee appoints the market manger(s) with final approval by the POS Leadership Council. Other members of POS may serve as volunteers to assist with the operation of the WFM.

• Preference is given to agricultural vendors. Other applicants are accepted on a space available basis.
• All vendors, full season and day, are required to complete an application prior to vending at the market. Applications must contain a list of products to be sold at the market. Any changes to that list must be approved by the market management and/or juried as required (see below).
• In keeping with the Winter Farmer’s Market mission of providing a viable year-round local market for agricultural products, the WFM Committee retains the right to accept vendors outside of Cheshire and Windham Counties.
• Return applications by Oct. 1, 2008 with a $25 deposit to be held until the vendor has fulfilled their work duty (see below). The application fee will be returned if the product is not accepted by the jury committee or you are not accepted into the market.
• Each vendor must complete a work duty slot either by: 1.) assisting for one day with the opening and closing of the market (2 vendors per market); 2.) organizing a special event for one Jan-Mar market; 3.) assisting with publicity through posting flyers in designated locations through the market season.

• The market is organized to serve the needs of the vendors and their customers. Fees collected from all vendors will cover the insurance, advertising, supplies, and general costs of operating the market.
• Vendors may chose to pay a Full Season booth fee of $325 which confers a guaranteed space at all 14 markets between Nov 1 and Mar 21, or a $200 fee which confers a guaranteed space between Nov 1 & Dec 27. [Note: This does not include the Dec 13 BAFM Holiday Market.
• Day vendors will pay a $30 booth fee for each day they vend at the WFM as space allows and/or as dictated by policies related to the percentage of non-food vendors at the market. Day vendors must inform the manager at least 1 week in advance of each market in which they plan to participate. Site assignment will be given at arrival on market day
• All vendors will pay a 3% commission on the total daily sales. All vendors are responsible for reporting gross sales figures to the market manager at the close of each market.   A market sales slip will be included in their weekly market envelope to be returned to the manager along with their commission and the booth fee for day vendors. Collection of any Vermont state sales tax is the responsibility of the vendor.

• The market will operate on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. All vendors are required to be present throughout the hours of operation.
• There will be a total of 14 markets in the 2008/2009 WFM season: November 1, 2008 through Dec 27, 2008, January 3 & 17, 2009, February 7& 21, 2009 and March 7 & 21, 2009. [Note: There will be NO WFM on December 13, 2008, the date of the Annual BAFM Holiday Market. All WFM vendors interested in participating in that event will need to apply directly to the BAFM manager.

• The River Garden can hold approximately 32 vendors each given equal space of approx 8 feet by 5 feet. The Market Manager will make all decisions about space assignments.
• To the best of our ability, the market management will give full season vendors the same location each week. Day vendors will be assigned a space on a first come first serve basis.
• Ag Vendors may opt to "rent" up to 1 additional booth space to accommodate display space for an abundance of produce.
• Each vendor is responsible for sweeping/cleaning their booth area after breakdown.
• Post Oil Solutions information will be available at the Market Managers Table.

Agriculture vendors can team up with another small Ag vendor or other vendor to share a single booth.

• Vendors can begin to set up at 9:00 AM, and should be ready for customers by 10 AM.
• Limited parking is available for unloading. Vendors need to quickly unload vehicles, move to a nearby bank parking lot and then set up their booth. The reverse applies at the end of the market. Vendors must break down their booth and have all materials packed up and ready to load, THEN add name to parking sign up sheet by door and wait to be called for available space.
• ****DO NOT PARK IN THE BUS STOP OR ALLEY TO LOAD OR UNLOAD!****

Empty spaces at the market detract from the quality of the market. Therefore, all seasonal vendors must notify the market manager 24 hours prior if they will not be present at market. Day vendors who reserved a space and do not show up must pay the $30 booth fee or lose vending privileges.

• The WFM is a producers-only market, meaning that all products sold must be grown, produced or made by the vendor. Preferences will be given to regional vendors.
• Day vendors will be accepted based on the need for a particular product. The market management will limit vendors of a particular product if they deem the supply of that product to be more than adequate so as to prevent market saturation.
• The vendor is responsible for adhering to any state or federal regulations regarding handling, licensing, permitting, and inspection of prepared foods, meats, and dairy items. Any vendor selling products by weight must use scales capable of being inspected and certified as accurate.

Must be either made by the vendor, or made by another party using materials grown by the vendor if the vendor is legally or financially prohibited from making the product themselves.

• Vendors are encouraged to source locally grown or produced ingredients when possible and post signs/displays noting local ingredients for customers. 
• Vendors need to use food preparations appropriate to an indoor environment and in accordance with the River Garden rules for cooking.
• Vendors must ensure that all electrical appliances are in good working condition to minimize risk of causing disruption in the River Garden electric system.
• Vendors should bring their own working extension cord to enable them to access one of the limited power outlets in the River Garden.

• In keeping with the mission of this market to promote regional sustainability, preference will be given to craft/artisan vendors involved with the traditional crafts (i.e., spinning, weaving, blacksmithing, soap & candle making, pottery, etc.) that impart knowledge, skills and/or goods needed in a local sustainable community.
• Items must be produced by the crafter ( i.e., studio, workshop or home made items) and utilize local agricultural or other materials wherever possible. Flea market items, used clothing, antiques, or "crafts from kits", etc. will not be allowed.

• Any vendors/items juried and accepted for the WFM 2007/2008 or the current BAFM 2008 market season do not need to be re-juried.
• New WFM vendors/products and previous Day vendors will need to present their items for jury at 5:15 pm on Wednesday October 8, 2008. Location details to follow
• Any vendors applying after the jury process, or bringing new products to market, will need to wait for the next monthly jury time (9 am on the 1st market of the month).