Dandridge Main Street Farmers Market

Operating Rules

Effective 28 May 2008

Farmers Market Home

Purpose:

The Dandridge Main Street Farmers Market operates under the Dandridge Community Trust as a venture between it, local farmers, UT Agricultural Extension, the Town of Dandridge, and the public to provide a location in historic Dandridge where Jefferson County and contiguous county growers can sell their farm/garden produced items to consumers during the growing season.

Eligibility:

A farmer or gardener located within Jefferson County or the contiguous counties of Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Knox or Sevier that grows his or her own farm items is eligible to apply.

No reselling of items is allowed, as all products must come from the applicant’s lands or kitchens. An applicant can also be a small group of farmers or gardeners who band together to stock a booth with products from their lands.

Local food vendors may apply to sell refreshments. These food vendors will be required to satisfy all town requirements regarding business licenses, sales tax, and health and USDA and TN Department of Agriculture regulations.

Approval Process:

All applications must be completely filled out and mailed to:

DCT Farmers Market

P. O. Box 1382

Dandridge TN 37725

Each application will be reviewed by the market operating committee and any questions asked must be fully answered by the applicant. The UT Agricultural Extension Agent will schedule a visit with you prior to acceptance of your application in order to determine that you are or are capable of growing the items you intend to sell that are listed on your application.

All applicants must agree to abide by the regulations of the Town of Dandridge, Jefferson County, the TN Department of Agriculture and the USDA. If approved, you will be notified in writing of your booth number and the market dates for which you are accepted. Spaces are limited so if accepted and all spaces are full, you will be placed on a waiting list. If accepted and you are not going to be able to participate every market day, you must call the Market Manager at least one week in advance of the date you can’t attend.

The Market Manager’s phone number is 865-368-9097 (a cell phone- if no answer please leave a message). Those on the waiting list will be called in the order accepted to determine if they can fill a spot in your absence. It is important to keep the market as full of vendors as possible to offer a range of items and choice of products to the customer.

Liability:

All applicants by submitting an application assume liability for the any damage caused resulting from the sale of their products.  By signing your application you also agree to hold harmless the Town of Dandridge and the Dandridge Main Street Farmers Market/Dandridge Community Trust from any all liability resulting from a sale of your product to a consumer, or from any action resulting from your participation in the market.

Display and Sale of Products:

All accepted applicants agree to provide an attractive, clean and tidy display of their items for sale and arrive at the market well in advance of the opening hour in order to be ready to sell at the designated time.  Once unloaded, no vehicles will be allowed in the market during market hours and all vendor vehicles are required to park in the nearby courthouse parking lot. No vendor can sell in advance of posted market hours.

During market hours, one street parking space will be available for resupplying your booth and that space will be shared by all vendors. It is preferred that each vendor stay through the market’s close. If you are sold out you may place a sign on you booth so stating. Tbe Market Manager at his or her discretion may exempt you from staying for the remainder of that market day; however, you will have to use the loading parking space on the street and you will not be allowed to bring your vehicle in the market during market hours. To insure customer safety, the Market Manager will ask that you defer leaving until the market is not crowded and your exit will be a safe one.

To the extent of its ability, the market will endeavor to provide a tent to cover /shade your display. Tables, table coverings, display baskets, etc. are to be supplied by you as well as neat signage that detail the items to be sold and their price. Each vendor shall have at least one sign posted at its booth that lists the vendor name, address, and phone number. We will also hold a space on the street available for customer loading and unloading so that elderly persons or other persons do not have to haul heavy produce to their car.

All sales and monies will be handled by you or your designee as the market will not have funds on hand for such purposes. Any scales used in the course of your sales must have a current inspection sticker from the TN Dept. of Agriculture.

At the end of each market day, each seller is required to clean up any trash produced by it or its buyers and to leave their booth area clean. Additionally, in order to keep track of the market’s success, each vendor must turn in a short survey form listing the items sold and the total gross revenue earned. That survey form will also have a space where you can commit to returning the following week. Your comments and suggestions will also be solicited.

Consumers may also be asked to fill out a survey of their thoughts and suggestions as well.

The market supports sustainability and will encourage consumers to bring their own bags in which to carry their purchases. However, be prepared that not all consumers will bring bags and you will need to supply some packaging.

Items to be Supplied by the Market:

The Dandridge Main Street Farmers Market will supply tents to shade the booths to the extent it has funds to do so, as well as a porta-potty and trash cans to maintain a clean and sanitary location. A first aid kit will be on hand but any costs of injury or illness will be the responsibility of those affected. The market will also pay for signage and other promotional materials to advertise the market to help make it a success.

Market Hours:

The market will operate on Saturdays from 9 AM until 1 PM at the parking lot at the corner of Meeting and Gay Streets (Hwy 92 and US Hwy 25/70 intersection at the yellow blinking caution light), one block north of the Jefferson County Courthouse.  The market will be begin June 21 and plans to run as long as the growing conditions allow—hopefully, up to Thanksgiving.

Fees:

For market year 2008, to help defray the cost of the market, the fee will be $5.00/week. The fee is to be paid to the Market Manager prior to market opening at each market day or may be paid in advance. The Market Manager will provide you with a receipt detailing the funds received.

Pets:

No pets will be allowed in the market, either those of vendors or consumers.

Smoke Free:

The Dandridge Main Street Farmers Market is a smoke free environment.

Other Rules:

There shall be no whining at the market except to the Market Manager (the onsite representative of the Market Operating Committee). The Market Manager will arbitrate any on-site disputes, answer questions, and be a resource for the sellers and consumers. Any on-site decision made by the Market Manager will be final.

Any vendor who the Market Manager determines is out of compliance with these rules will first receive a written warning from the Market Manager detailing the problem (s). If the problem is not corrected quickly and appropriately, the vendor will be asked to leave the market and not be allowed to return unless remedial measures are undertaken and approved by the Market Operating Committee. The Market Manager has the authority to make on-site decisions to maintain the orderly functioning of the market.

Any outstanding complaints can be brought to the attention of the Market Operating Committee for further resolution. The Market Operating Committee is composed of a representative of the Dandridge Community Trust, the UT Agricultural Extension Agent, a consumer representative, and several farmers. It may be reached by calling (865) 397-7420 ext. 17, or (865) 368-9097 (a cell phone).