Vendor Information

Please contact Sarah Conley, Market Manager for a vendor packet containing further information.

ATHENS FARMERS MARKET RULES

(REVISED 2008)

These rules are in effect at all times for all Athens Farmers Markets and are enforced by the Market Manager or a designated Assistant Manager or Officer.

Definition: Producer means an individual who is a member of the Athens Farmers Market who has agreed to these rules and paid the applicable fees for participation in one or more market days.

MARKET CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE

1) The Market year is April 1 to March 31; annual fees paid by producers cover this period.

2) Producers may sell at the Athens Farmers Markets only on the announced days of the market: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

3) The Market shall be opened for selling by the Manager, using a bell or other signal. There will be no sales prior to the opening of the market, except the managers and producers of the market may buy before the opening time. Exceptions may be made by the Market Manager.

4) The Saturday market operates year round. The Wednesday market begins in April and closes in December on dates otherwise determined by the Executive Committee.

5) Market days will be cancelled when there is a level 2 or 3 emergency announced by the Athens County government or for other emergency situations.

FEES

6) Annual fees are $140 for a single stall, $250 for one and one-half stalls, and $400 for two stalls.

7) Producers holding assigned stalls must pay the annual stall fee no later than 2 weeks after the annual meeting (held in fourth quarter of the market year.) Failure to pay fees by this date will result in the producer losing the stall assignment.

8) Two or more producers may share one stall so long as they each pay the full fee for that stall.

9) Producers who wish to sell at the market but have not paid the annual stall fee may pay $xx at the beginning of their first day of attendance only, and must pay the remainder of the annual stall fee at the beginning of their second day at the market.

10) Producers who claim financial hardship may pay the annual stall fee in three installments, with payment to be completed within two months of the initial commitment and payment. At least one payment must be made no later than two weeks after the annual meeting if the producer wishes to retain a stall assignment.

ARRIVAL, SET-UP, AND DEPARTURE

11) Producers at the Athens Farmers Market are to park only in the area specified by the Market Manager. Producers with assigned stalls shall occupy only those stalls. All unassigned or vacant stalls will be assigned for the day by the Market Manager.

12) Producers shall arrive at the market in time to set up and be ready for customers at opening time. Producers arriving at the market after 9:30 am will be admitted only at the discretion of the Market Manager.

13) Each producer shall display a sign stating the producer’s name and location and shall have their prices displayed

14) Producers must remove unsold produce and clean up their stalls before leaving the market. A fine not to exceed $25 may be imposed by the Executive Committee for violation of this rule.

PRODUCTS AND SALES

Producers shall sell only agricultural, horticultural or food items that they themselves have grown, produced or processed. Producers may not sell as a franchise or use franchise trademarks, logos, etc., at the market.

15) Radical price cutting of top quality produce is prohibited. Poor quality or overripe produce must be labeled as such and can be sold for a discounted price.

16) Selling of dairy products, eggs, meats, canned goods, and other processed or potentially hazardous products must meet all legal requirements

17) Producers must comply with all laws, ordinances, and regulations of the United States, State of Ohio and City of Athens. Producers must obtain all licenses or certifications so required, and these must be displayed at the market.

18) The Market Manager has discretion to allow solicitation, entertainment, informational and advocacy activities, but such activities must not obstruct customer aisles or occupy stalls needed for selling by market producers. Producers may use their own stall for advocacy or informational displays.

19) With the exception of disability service animals, pets are not allowed in the market area.

STALL ASSIGNMENTS AND SENIORITY

20) Producers may hold an assigned stall space at the market. Stall assignment shall be made by seniority in market membership. The treasurer shall maintain a list of all producers by seniority and make this list available at the annual meeting.

21) Producers shall have the right to retain an assigned stall space the next year provided they participate in the market at least twelve times during the year, notify the Treasurer of their intent to continue by the annual meeting and pay fees as provided in these Rules. The Executive Committee may waive the attendance requirement for hardships such as crop failure, prolonged illness, or other good cause.

22) Producers holding assigned stalls who wish to change location or size must notify the Treasurer by the time of the annual meeting. Further assignment of vacant stalls shall be made by the Executive Committee by seniority from the list of unassigned producers who have paid the full fee.

23) Producers’ seniority shall date from the first date on which the producer attended the market, providing the full membership and stall fees were paid at that time. Seniority for producers who elect to pay in installments shall date from the date of the last installment payment. A producer retains seniority by paying the full membership and stall fees each year.

Producers who joined the market prior to 2003 shall be considered to hold equal seniority with all other producers who began in the same year, since past market records do not permit us to ascertain actual dates on which members began.

In the event two or more producers have equal seniority and sufficient stalls are not available for assignment, the executive committee shall select the producer for assignment randomly.

ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATIONS

24) Producers who suspect that another producer is violating any market rules should report the matter to the Market Manager. Producers should not attempt to address violations themselves.

25) Violations of any market rules will be dealt with by the Market Manager or, in the absence of the Manager, a designated officer. The Manager will give a verbal warning notice to the producer for an infraction of the rules. If a producer receives two verbal warnings, the president shall convene the Executive Committee to vote on the question of giving the Market Manager the power to expel the producer if a third violation of the rules occurs

26) An expelled producer can be reinstated at the next annual meeting by receiving a 2/3 vote of the members present. The producer forfeits any assigned stall and seniority upon expulsion and may rejoin the market as a new member.

AMENDMENT

28) These rules may be amended by a majority vote of members attending any regular or special meeting of the Athens Farmers Market Association.

ATHENS FARMERS MARKET BYLAWS

[Revised 2007]

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Athens Farmers Market.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND POWERS

Section 1. The Athens Farmers Market shall operate on a not for profit basis. It shall serve its members and the public through education on the benefits to the community that result from supporting a locally based food economy and by providing a public market allowing direct connections between producers and consumers of local food and agricultural products.

Section 2. The Athens Farmers Market shall impose fees and rules only insofar as necessary for realizing the purposes stated in Section 1.

Section 3. The Athens Farmers Market shall uphold equal employment opportunity laws.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership and voting privileges shall accrue to those producers who have paid the full membership fee for the current organizational year defined in its rules. A producer may be an individual, farm, or business. Each producer receives one vote.

ARTICLE IV. GOVERNANCE

Section 1. The elected officers of this organization shall be the President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Their term of office shall be one year and shall conform to the organizational year defined in its rules.

Section 2. There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the elected officers and up to five elected members at large, plus the manager and assistant managers. The Executive Committee shall have the power to enforce market rules, empower committees, resolve interim questions arising from the operation of the market, and to contract for management of the market.

Section 3. Elected positions shall be chosen at the annual business meeting by majority vote of the members present. Elections shall be held by a method allowing confidential balloting. Vacancies in elected positions may be filled by the Executive Committee until the next election.

Section 4. The President shall preside at all meetings and carry out the duties assigned in the bylaws, rules, or actions of the organization. The President shall have the power to call Executive Committee meetings. In the absence or incapacity of the President, the Vice President shall fulfill these duties.

Section 5. The rules governing the organization shall be voted upon by the membership at an annual or special meeting and shall be in effect at all times.

Section 6. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining minutes and records of the association and shall be chosen by the Executive Committee.

Section 7. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the financial reports and obligations of the organization.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. This organization shall hold an annual business meeting in the final quarter of the organizational year as defined in its rules. Members shall be given at least two weeks’ advance notice of the meeting time and place.

Section 2. A majority of the members present shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President or upon the written request of 25 percent of the members. Before a special meeting can be held, each member must receive a written notice which includes the time, date, and location of the meeting and the exact items of business to be considered.

Section 4. The parliamentary code for this organization shall be Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

ARTICLE VI. FINANCES

Section 1. This organization’s fees shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and voted on at the annual meeting.

Section 2. The monies of the organization shall be managed by the Treasurer with the approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII. AMENDING AND SUSPENDING

Section 1. The Bylaws of this organization may be amended or suspended by a two-thirds vote of the members present. All members must be given notice of the meeting and the proposed amendments at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE VII. DISSOLUTION

Section 1. This organization may be dissolved at a regular or special member meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present.

Section 2. Upon dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more public purposes to the City of Athens.