Membership Information

SCHEDULE:

The market is held in the parking lot and grounds of the United Church of Hinesburg every Thursday from June through September. Sales begin at 3:30 P.M. and end at 7:00 P.M. Unloading and setting up may begin at 2:30 P.M. Day rate vendors may be assigned a space at 3:00 P.M. Market may be canceled due to severely inclement weather at the discretion of the Market Manager.

PRODUCTS SOLD:

1. The following items may be sold at the market:
     (a) Fresh produce, meat, poultry, dairy products, maple syrup, honey. eggs, flowers, and other Vermont agricultural products.
     (b) Baked goods, home-canned garden foods, jams and jellies, ready to eat food.
     (c) Handcrafted items-See paragraph 2(c)
2. The Hinesburg Lions Farmers' Market exists to facilitate a link between local producers and consumers. To that end, we only allow the sale of producer-grown or made goods. The Market is primarily an agricultural market, but also provides a variety of products made in local cottage industries. The following guidelines apply:
     (a) An agricultural vendor is defined as follows: a vendor who sells food, fiber, plants, or flowers that were grown in Vermont by the vendor or the vendor's employees.
     (b) A prepared food is defined as follows: A vendor sells ready to eat food or drink prepared by the vendor in Vermont in a home kitchen.
     (c) A craft vendor is defined as follows: A vendor who sells items that do not qualify as agricultural or prepared food and that are handcrafted in Vermont by the vendor in the home or shop. No craft vendor shall sell any item which has not been juried.
3. All vendor applications must be approved by the market committee prior to space assignment
4. In keeping with the intent that the Hinesburg Lions Farmers' Market is primarily an agricultral market, a minium of 40% of the total market vendors should be agricultural vendors. Craft vendors should not exceed 30% of the total market vendors.
5. A member who sells in two or three categories (i.e. agricultural, craft or prepared food item) shall be counted as one (1) vendor in each category. The ratio of vendors is based on the total of paid members at the spring space assignment meeting. It is not based on the attendance on any particular day.
6. Craft vendors will be juried prior to selling at the market. Eligibility for selling crafts will be dertimed by the Market Commitee.
7. Returning vendors must update their application for approval of any new items.
8. Signs, sales or requests for donations unrelated to any vendor's product(s) is not allowed.

STATE LAWS

1. Vendors shall cpmply with all rules and regulations of the State of Vermont, and the town of Hinesburg relating to the products they sell (State ID Tax number, sales tax, labeling and processing laws, etc.). In addition, vendors are advised to carry product liability for their products.
2. Produce vendors must use legal-for-trade scales if selling by the pound. The State of Vermont Department of Weights and Measures will inspect scales at random throughout the summer.

VENDOR SPACES

1. Vending spaces for all members who pay for the current season at the spring space assignment meeting will be determined by the Market Committee.
2. All vendors who pay for the current season after the spring assignment meeting shall be assigned a space from the remaining available spaces by the market committee.
3. The market committee shall maintain a map of the market areas showing all vending spaces indicating where all season vendors belong. This map shall be available at the market for use in placing day rate vendors.
4. Vendors with reserved spaces MUST notify and speak personally with the Market Manager by 2:30 on THURSDAY if they will not attend the market that day. More advance notice is preferable.
5. If a vendor does not show up at the market and does not notify the Market Manager, thier space will be assigned to a day rate vendor at 3:00 P.M. unless prior arrangements have been made with the Market Manager.

VENDOR SPACE MANAGEMENT

1. A vending block is approximately 5' wide by up to 10' deep. Overhanging awnings, baskets, etc. are included in the width. Any awning that extends beyond the quoted width shall be no lower than 6' 8".
2. There will be at least a 2 1/2' walkway free of obstructions for each vendor.
3. Vendors must maintain a tidy display on all sides of their display area.
4. All displays and signs shall be appropriate and in keeping with the spirit of the market.
5. Any music must be approved by the Market Committee.
6. Each market day all Vendor spaces must be cleared of debris and removed from the premises.
7. All members are expected to participate in the market in the spirit of cooperation.
8. The Market Manager of the day has the responsibility to implement policy on all operations on the day of the market as the need arises according to the guidelines. The name of the manager of the day will be posted on the information board.
9. All vendors are required to submit weekly gross sales figures to the Market Manager on duty rounded off to the nearest dollar. If a vendor sells in more than one category, the gross receipt slip must be filled out for each category. These figures are confidential and are available only to the Vermont Department of Agriculture to help with promotion of the farmers' markets throughout the State of Vermont.

PARKING

1. Vendors may drive in and complete unloading prior to 3:15 but must park in offsite parking in an additional parking lot. Vendors may drive in after 7:15 P.M. (or after customewrs leave if sooner than that) to pack up.
2. There will be no parking for any reason in the office building parking lot to the south of the United Church's parking lot. Vehicles may use the lot as an exit onto Route 116, as indicated by the signage.

FEES

1. All vendors must be members of the Hinesburg Lions Farmers' Market. Non-refundable season's membership fees will become due at the organizational meeting.
2. Day rate fees must be paid on that vending day to the Market Manager.

MEMBERSHIP FEE: $20.00 per year

ONE (1) VENDING BLOCK: Approximately 5' X up to 10' deep (50 sq. feet)

DISPLAY SIZE                  SEASON FEE                       DAILY

1 Block                                $75.00                                   $12.00

2 Blocks                              $150.00                                 $25.00

July 29, 2009