Market Vendor Guidelines
The Stop's Farmers’ Market
Guidelines for 2012
Mission Statement
The Stop Community Food Centre strives to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality.
Farmers’ Market Goals
• Establish and maintain a farmers’ market where community members can find healthy, local, sustainably-produced food.
• Foster an awareness of the benefits of buying local by providing an opportunity for customers to connect directly with local farmers.
• A long-term goal is to develop strategies for making local, sustainable food accessible to low-income community members while ensuring producers receive a fair price for their products.
Market Dates, Times and Location
• The market is open Saturdays from 8 am to noon. The market will run rain or shine, with the exception of extreme weather conditions to be determined by the Market Manager. The market will move indoors into Barn #2 the first week of November and will stay indoors until the May 24th long weekend.
• We are located at 601 Christie St., at the corner of Christie and Benson Avenue.
Services
• The Artscape Wychwood Barns will provide access to washrooms during market times through the courtyard in Barn 4. Water and electrical access is to be arranged through the Market Manager on site.
• The Stop will promote the market on its website.
• The market is insured against certain liabilities as per City of Toronto requirements; each vendor must maintain their own liability insurance as needed. Necessary permits for the market are maintained by The Stop.
Parking and Unloading
• All vehicles must be walked in and out of the park. There can be no exceptions to this. Winter and summer, vehicles must travel at 15km/hr with flashers on and a lead person walking the vehicle while in the park.
• After you are walked in, you have 10 minutes to offload and move your vehicle to a parking spot. The market organizers will make every effort to assist you.
• Layout and assignment of market sites will be determined by the market organizers and may have to change. Every effort to keep “your” spot will be made on your behalf, but it is necessary to remain flexible on this and all issues as they arise.
• There is no parking on site for vehicles. Vendors are responsible for finding safe parking for their vehicles outside of the market. Exceptions may be made for producing farmers during peak season only. These exceptions must be arranged in advance.
Market Site Fees
Site fees relate to the cost of maintaining the market. Our costs can change from season to season so the market site fees change as well, at the discretion of the Market Manager. Winter market fees are $40 for a 10’ by 4’ area, with each added 1’ by 4’ area raising the rental by $5 if available. This must be negotiated with the market manager in advance.
What Can Be Sold at The Market
• Admittance of vendors is subject to approval by the market organizers. The intent is to meet market goals and maintain a balance of products at the market.
• At least half plus one of the vendors at the market must be farmers.
• Vendors may sell locally grown produce, farm products or prepared foods.
• Vendors are not required to be certified organic, but are expected to follow sustainable growing practices and clearly communicate the nature of their growing methods to customers. Only vendors currently certified through an accepted accreditation body may label products as “certified organic” and proof of current certification must be provided to the Market Manager.
• The primary focus of the market is local food. Vendors may only sell produce that is grown locally (within Ontario). Exceptions may be made for produce that cannot be grown in Ontario, but vendors must request an exception from market organizers in advance.
• Re-selling of produce purchased at the Food Terminal or other wholesale outlet is not permitted. Vendors may sell produce from neighbouring farms (up to 25% of total sales in summer, up to 75% in winter), but the vendor must post information about the source and provide contact information to the Market Manager before bringing the produce to the market.
• Vendors who grow some specialty crops should be allowed to sell out of that item before those who have purchased the item from neighbours are allowed to sell. For example, in strawberry season, those who grow their own strawberries should be allowed to sell out before those who obtained berries elsewhere make theirs available. This does not apply to all crops, however, as items such as potatoes, onions, carrots, beets, and so on should be accepted as staples.
• Non-profit community groups may occasionally set up demonstrations or sales booths at no charge (at the Market Manager's discretion), provided all proceeds are designated for the registered non-profit group. Bookings must be made in advance by filling out a Courtesy Table Application.
Vendor Responsibilities
• Vendors must obtain all necessary licenses, permits, inspections, insurance and certificates for the sale of their products. Vendors must also comply with provincial and federal sales tax laws.
• Each farmer/vendor must keep their stall area clean during the market and, after the market, must take any compost material produce boxes and garbage with them and leave the area as they found it.
• Smoking is not allowed in the market area.
• Vendors are required to conduct themselves in a pleasant and business-like manner at all times while at the market. Rude or otherwise inappropriate behaviour with customers, market staff or other vendors will not be tolerated.
• Vendors who do not consistently comply with the market guidelines may be asked to leave the market.
Communication
• Issues identified by either vendors or market organizers will be communicated as they arise in person, by email or by phone to the Market Manager. If vendors continue to have a concern with market policies or procedures, they can speak to the Urban Agriculture Manager or Program Director at The Stop.
Surplus Produce
• Vendors are invited to donate any surplus produce from the market to The Stop. The Stop may also purchase surplus produce depending on program needs.
Contact info:
Roscoe Handford
Market Manager
Tel: 416-651-7867 ext. 24
Cell: 647-668-8546
gbmarket [at] thestop [dot] org
Rhonda Teitel-Payne
Urban Agriculture Manager
Tel.: 416-651-7867 ext. 28
rhonda [at] thestop [dot] org
Kathryn Scharf
Program Director
Tel.: 416 -652-7867 ext. 229
kathryn [at] thestop [dot] org
The Stop Community Food Centre
P.O. Box 69, Stn E
Toronto, ON M6H 4E1