Market Vendor Guidelines

The Green Barn Farmers’ Market
Guidelines for 2009

The Stop’s 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
• To establish and maintain a farmers’ market where community members can find healthy, local, sustainably-produced food.
• To 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
• This year the market will operate Saturdays from 8 am to noon, outdoors until October 31st. 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 in doors into Barn #2 the first week of November until the spring.
• We are located at 601 Christie St., at the corner of Christie and Benson Avenue.

Services
• 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 Web site.
• The summer 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.
• After you are walked in by a volunteer, you have 10 minutes to offload and move your vehicle to a parking spot. The market organizers will make every effort to have volunteers available to assist with unloading.
• 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 will be 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 change from season to season, so the market site fees change as well. The summer rates vary between $25 to $50 per vendor, according to size of area used and volume of sales and possibly other factors as well, at the discretion of the Market Manager.

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 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 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), 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 purchased berries elsewhere to re-sell at the market 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 non-profit group. Bookings must be made in advance by filling out a Courtesy Table Application.

Vendor responsibilities
• Vendors are responsible to obtain all necessary licenses, permits, inspections and certificates for the sale of their products. Vendors must also comply with provincial and federal sales tax laws.
• Each farmer/vendor will be responsible to keep their stall area clean during the market, and, after the market finishes, to take any compost material, produce boxes and garbage with them.
• 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 attending 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 Coordinator
Tel.: 416 652 7867 ext. 222
Fax: 416 652 2294
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