Forming a Farm Market

Markets are typically formed for these reasons:

• To provide consumers with locally-grown, farm-fresh products at a convenient location.
• To create a new marketing opportunity for their products.
• To establish controls on the market that foster order, consistency, customer satisfaction and long-term growth.

Some of the basic rules that the founding farmers usually set up include:

• Vendors (members) must be Pennsylvania farmers.
• They can sell at the market only what they raise (supplementing during a harvest shortfall is allowed).
• Vendors must have their farm liability insurance coverage extended to include their products and stand at this market.
• All costs of the market (incorporation, advertising, insurance, bank account charges, etc.) are paid for by members on a fair share basis, and may include a first time-fee, a beginning-of-the-year fee and a weekly fee.
• Each vendor has one vote on issues. Vendors sharing one stand have a combined vote.
• New vendors will be accepted with a majority vote of the present vendors.

Click here for a printer friendly version of the Market Application for Farmer-Vendors (PDF)

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