BAFM Vendor Guidlines

To improve local access to locally grown and made products, to the economic benefit of area farmers and the nutritional well being of the local population.

II. WHO MAY SELL AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

A. Vendors must be BAFMA members, thereby sharing the cost of advertising and securing the market.

B. Vendors may sell without license their own produce and products. A vendor must grow at least 80% of his/her products. A vendor may sell up to 20% produce or products for another local grower. These must be identified as to where grown/made.

C. Nursery stock: anyone selling live plants must have a Grower’s license (see III E below).

D. Whole shell eggs: anyone selling eggs must have a Small Packers license (see III F below).

E. Shared vendor booth: two or more member vendors may share a "community" booth.

F. Distributors of educational materials addressing nutritional, environmental and sustainable topics may participate without charge by prior arrangement with the Market Manager.

III. WHAT MAY BE SOLD

The primary function of the market is to provide a connection between the grower/producer and the public. Therefore, priority will be given to fresh locally-grown and -made food products.

A. Fresh produce, herbs, and cut flowers (fresh or dried).

Produce should be mature, but not over-ripe, void of decay, have good appearance, and be clean and free of contamination.

B. Honey

a. Producer's bottling area may be inspected by the Washington County Health Department.

b. Jars must be labeled showing the name of the product, additive (if any), weight, and name and address of the producer.

C. Pecans, peanuts, other nuts, and grains.

a. Whole grains and nuts may be sold.

b. If cracked or ground prior to sale, a license is required from the Washington County Health Department.

D. Fish, Dairy, Meat and Poultry

a. Grower must be licensed by the County Health Department.

b. USDA inspection of facilities is required.

c. Must have Oklahoma Department of Agriculture license 405/521-3864.

E. Plants and Nursery Stock: Growers must have Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Growers license 405/521-3864, http://www.oda.state.ok.us/cps-nurserieshome.htm.

F. Whole shell eggs: Producers must have an Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Small Packers license from 405-522-6117, http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/food/epapal.pdf.

Eggs must be kept at 45F or below; must be graded and candled; must be packaged in correctly labeled cartons bearing producer's contact information or license number.

G. "Value-added" products (raw juices, canned fruits and vegetables, sauces, baked goods, popcorn and smoked processed meats) must be in compliance with Oklahoma Department of Health regulations (certified kitchen mandatory) and at the sole liability of the vendor.

H. Craft items must be garden- or food-related and must be approved by BAFMA prior to being sold.

IV. HOW PRODUCE MAY BE SOLD

Produce may be sold by volume, count, or weight. Containers are provided by the vendor. [Note: if selling by weight, scales are subject to inspection by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture 405/521-3684]

V. EXCHANGES AND REFUNDS

Exchanges of produce and/or refunds are up to each individual vendor.

VI. SANITATION AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

A. Vendors and the Market will follow any and all Washington County Health Department rules and regulations regarding sanitation and health.

B. All vendors must bring disposable trash bags for clean up. Each vendor is responsible for maintaining his/her area in a clean, neat manner throughout the day and cleaning his/her area before departing at the end of the day's Market.

C. All produce items must be sold whole – no halves or slices. For display only, growers may cut produce and wrap it with plastic wrap.

D. Vendors may offer customers bite-size samples on toothpicks, served by vendor from a covered container. Customers may not help themselves.

E. No animals, except service dogs, are authorized in the market area.

F. Restroom and hand-washing facilities as required by law are available for vendors only.

VII. SPACE AND FEES

A. Each vendor is required to pay an annual BAFMA membership fee of $20 and 10% of gross sales per day at the Market, not to exceed $10.00 per day.

B. Only vehicles/trailers of one ton or smaller will be allowed in the market area. Vendors will sell their products from the space assigned to them in the designated market area, or from approved vehicles parked in assigned spaces.

VIII. VENDOR RESPONSIBILITIES

A. The Vendor is responsible for assessing each buyer with the appropriate city, county and state sales taxes on products sold--this is required by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The Bartlesville Area Farmers Market Association is NOT responsible for collection of sales taxes. Each grower should call the Oklahoma Tax Commission at 405/521-3279 to obtain an application for a sales tax identification number.

B. Market spaces should be attended to at all times. The grower assumes full responsibility for any losses of merchandise and/or valuables from the market site.

C. Each vendor is encouraged to post his/her business or farm name in his/her display area.

D. Vendors are asked to set-up prior to the Market opening time, and to leave their space clean by noon on market day.

E. Members and vendors are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and in accordance with these guidelines. Non-compliance may result in loss of market privileges.

IX. COMPLAINTS OR DISAGREEMENTS

Any complaints from a consumer must be immediately reported to the market manager or a member of the Board of Directors. The market manager and the Board of Directors reserve the right to take any action they deem appropriate, including prohibiting the offending party from selling at the market. Any sanction may be appealed to the Board of Directors in writing within ten (10) days from the date the sanction was issued.