[Download these rules as a printable PDF file.]
Unity Farmers’ Market
Market Rules
Revised: 27-Feb-2009
- 1. Location
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The Unity Farmers’ Market will be held at the
Unity Community Center located on School Street in Unity. All
Members are required to leave their display space neat and tidy,
and are responsible for removing any trash and garbage they
generate. Vendors will adhere to a contractual agreement with
facilities owners.
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- 2. Day/Time/Season
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The Unity Farmers’ Market shall meet each
Saturday May through mid November, with farmers moving indoors
as weather dictates from 9AM – 1PM.
The Unity Farmers' Market will be
held in conjunction with other events called Unity Market Day
involving agricultural demonstrations, children’s
programming, and more, which will be operated by Unity Barn
Raisers or other civic organizations.
-
- 3. Membership Eligibility/Application
Process/Duration of Membership
-
Voting Membership is open to the owner(s) of a farm
or food processing operation or crafter who has submitted an
application prior to the application deadline and has been
accepted by the general membership to sell at the market.
Each member shall
have a single vote.
-
Prospective members who are primarily crafters will
be admitted on a case-by-case basis. At no time shall the number
of crafters be more than 20% of market members. Crafts will be
limited to farm-related, natural or hand-made products, such as
pottery, knitted goods, candles, soaps, baskets, etc.
- Paid applications must be received by March 15
to guarantee membership for that year. Any application submitted
after that date must be approved by the general membership. Such
approvals will be made conservatively on a case-by-case basis. A
prior year’s member in good standing remains a member
automatically until April 15. General membership will
review all new Unity Farmers’
Market membership applications, applications from returning
members who are not in good standing, as well as applications
from returning members that are received past the application
deadline. All
applicants accepted for membership will serve a probationary
period not to exceed one (1) year’s market season. New
applicants
will be reviewed and voted at the April general meeting, which
they are required to attend.
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- 4. Agreements/Farm Visits
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All members shall enter into an agreement of
participation affirming the rules of the Unity Farmers’
Market by signing the application form.
In addition, farmers will declare (on the yearly application
form) the products they intend to sell and their anticipated
level of attendance. The Market Master will arrange
scheduled farm visits at a convenient
time to confirm the application information so as to ensure the
integrity of the Market.
-
- 5. Product Requirements
-
100% of all food or farm products offered for sale
at the Market must be grown by Market Members. Members may offer
for sale any of the products they indicated they intend to sell
on their application. Members may sell their products
themselves, through an employee, or through another member. In
any instance where a Member is selling
products that do not originate from his/her own farm or food
processing operation, the origin of the products shall be
clearly displayed. In all instances, the Market will uphold
Maine State Law,
which requires that 75% of what a Member sells must originate at
his/her own farm or food processing operation,
and be 100% native Maine produced.
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- 6. Relationship with Sponsor
- Unity
Farmers’ Market will coordinate with Unity Barn Raisers
and Unity Market Day. A contract will be negotiated on a annual
basis.
- 7. Market Voids
-
A Market Void is any food or farm product that will
not be offered at the Market in sufficient quantities to satisfy
consumer demand.
- The general membership may use any of the
following courses of action to fill Market Voids after the March
15 application deadline:
-
a. Approve existing Members to sell products they
did not list on their application
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b. Approve the membership of late applicants
-
All such approvals will be made conservatively on a
case-by-case basis, and only when the products to be provided
will fill a recognized Market Void. The general membership may
make such approvals to last any duration up to a full season.
-
- 8. Lay-out and daily Set-up
- The
Market will be set-up under the direction of the Market Master,
based on a priority ranking established by the following
Commitment Categories:
-
- Category A: planned attendance for at least 6
months (highest priority)
-
Category B: planned attendance for 4 – 6
months (next priority)
-
Category C: planned attendance for at 3 or fewer
months (least priority)
-
- All displays shall include a sign that clearly
identifies the farm and community where it is located. Members
will maintain a walkway free of obstructions so customers may
move freely from one farm’s display to the next. When
farmers set up their tent at market the four legs of the tent
must be on the black top, and not obstructing customer flow.
- 9. Fees
-
A yearly membership fee of $25.00 will be required
by each applicant before membership is granted. In addition,
Members who are present at the Market are required to pay a
daily set-up fee of $4.00 for every Market attended. All fees
will be designated to support the Market, as determined by the
general membership.
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- 10. Parking
-
The Market Master will designate parking areas for
both Members and customers. Market participants may not leave
vehicles parked on-site overnight. All disabled vehicles must be
removed within a 24-hour period or will be removed by Unity Barn
Raisers at the owner’s expense.
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- 11. Presentation/Behavior
-
Attending Members are responsible for maintaining a
clean, attractive, and pleasant atmosphere at the Market. The
success of the Market depends on the Members’ display of
cooperative spirit and friendly demeanor. Wearing shirts and
shoes is required. The following activities are prohibited; a)
use of profanity or other rude language; b) consumption of
alcoholic beverages; c) hawking.
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- 12. Violation of Rules
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If a Member is suspected of violating any rule, the
steering committee will appoint a committee consisting of the
Market Master and at least two other Members to investigate. The
accused Member will be notified and given an opportunity to
answer the charges before this committee. Following the
investigation, which may involve a farm visit, the committee
will present its findings of the Board. If the Board determines
that a violation of Market rules has occurred, it may revoke
current membership or suspend future membership for a period not
to exceed one year. Applicants may reapply to the membership in
one year.
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- 13. Modification of Rules
-
These rules may be modified by a simple majority of
all members that vote, either at the Annual Meeting or through a
mailed ballot. Any proposed changes to these rules must be
circulated to all Members at least 10 days prior to an Annual
Meeting or the due date for mailed ballots. Proposed changes may
be developed by a group of at least five Members petitioning to
have its proposed changes considered.
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