That's less than $10 a week. That's very reasonable.

I'd say you are cheap. I have paid as much as $40 a space (whole month paid up front, no refunds for any reason). $10 a week is very reasonable unless you cannot cover that fee. In which case, I'd say either improve your sales pitch or find another line of work.

No market covers vendors insurance wise and it is really up to you to carry it or not. Few ever check to see if you are covered.

Ok you have been talking to my wife. LOL you are right I was not thinking long term breaking it down into small weekly totals.
You guys are right 10 a week isnt a bad deal at all now.
I wonder how much insurance is ? off to the Phone...... Thanks for pointing out the simple thoughts. Brian kc0kfg

Insurance is a GOOD thing to have if you are involved in a farmers' market. Sadly, these days some people will do anything for a fast buck including blaming the local farmers' market vendor(s) for a foodborne illness. Not to mention somebody dropping a watermelon on their foot and suing you for having watermelons without warning labels.
Anybody who has heard of the McDonald's coffee scalding incident knows I'm not kidding.
Even if it's NOT mandatory. Cover your backside!
DD

One market I go to is $50.00/ yr per space & 5% of sales. You can rent an occasional extra space (if available) for $5.00/ day. You must also collect & pay appropriate sales taxes.

Another is $5.00/day per space + 4% & sales taxes, but I think that is being raised this year. Another is $25.00/ space for the year + 7% of sales.

The insurance thing is so important. I'd be willing to bet that within 3 years there won't be a farmers' market anywhere in Colorado that will let you participate without it. I suppose one of the better side effects is that it keeps out people who undercut or have extra tomatoes to sell for 10 cents each. Aside from the protection, it's a backsided way of recognizing market farming as a profession.

bring this back up.

Last year, my market was saying that they were one of the cheapest farmers market. Daily rates were $15/weekday and $30/Saturday, with a seasonal fee of $300 (may-oct). No percentages on top of space fees. Yes, needed insurance.

What are yours?

I think ours is pretty cheap also. $18 a day, no insurance required. Electricity is provided.

Here in Longview, Wa., we pay a stall fee of$7 per Saturday plus 5% of sales. They haven't yet mandated insurance, but we are required to collect appropriate sales tax and report it. I agree that requiring insurance would keep those out who only have a few extra tomatoes or a couple extra plants they have that they've dug out of their flower beds (IF PROOF IS REQUIRED AND IT IS ENFORCED). There is also a Tuesday market that I don't participate in and there is no stall fee, just the 5%. I worked a new one last year held on Thursday afternoons. It was a flat $20 per day. I believe it was a little less if you signed up and paid for the whole season in advance.

our market requires that you fill out the contract and show your insurance policy at least 7 days prior to marketing.

marla

and how much is your insurance

Mine was based on the previous years sales. Minimum was $125/yr and that took us up to about $20,000 in sales.

Marla

No insurance required at any of my markets. I should probably look into it.

At one market it is $10 to be a voting member and $5 a market for each 10 by 10 space.

At my hometown market, started charging fee's two years ago, first two markets free. Then $5 for each market up to $25 or $25 for the season.

I don't understand the % of sales. In my opinion, it is no ones business other than my own what my sales are each week. I understand then the bigger producers pay more, and the smaller ones pay less, but I can see the opportunity for lots of "rounding down". Also, I never count my money at the market. I would like to know others thoughts.

Jay

I don't have a final count until I'm all packed up. I would tell anyone, outside of the family, what my sales were. I would definitely be one of those that rounded down. There are times that I don't count down until I get home, depending upon how tired I am. My final sales is not my profit, since I buy some items. And there are times when I have over-purchased and barely made enough to cover my checks.

So NO I would not go to markets that charge a % for the market fees.

Marla

I haven't received the info and contract for this year yet but the market that I go to charged 1250.00 for a 10' stall for the whole year. The market is open all year.The rate for May 1 to Dec. 31 was 1000.00 Now that I've gotten so old and cut back I only went from May 1 to Oct. 31. For two stalls it cost me 1600.00 rent.

This is a big and very busy market and is open three days a week. I usually only go on Saturday. This will be my 34th year selling there.

The daily rate for the newcomers and part-timers is 75.00 per stall.

I guess I won't complain, and I'm definitely not telling my market people about your rate because they will try to raise ours up to that. Now I understand why you grow SO many peppers.

If I might ask, do you have workers/helpers for the on farm labor? If not, how do you do it all???

Marla

My farmer's market is $50 for the season and since it's downtown and run by the city they have what they call an 'umbrella policy'? I did have to give my home owners insurance info when I filled out the paperwork.

Is a city business license required in any of your markets?

gponder, there never should be any reason of a business license at a farmers market as that is one of the things a market should be doing, getting all licensing the city requires for people to sell within the city limits such as business license or vendor's/peddler's license. if you sell on the the farmers market property you do not need a license but if you try to sell just a few inches away from the FM and are not properly credentialed than you can be cited and told to cease and desist.

I remember we had a reseller try this one morning-he was quickly escorted away by the local cops and went to the other farmers market in town which does allow resellers but I guess he PO'ed the management at that FM as he was arrested there.

Insurance is another matter

Our market used to be 5 dollars a day with over 50 people a saturday ,which was huge for us - but we were recently told that we were not welcome back next year due to many of the other 12 vendors said we were no-it-alls and that we were unsanitary. Mark

Our board of health visits our market on a regular basis. She even sits in on our meeting, in case there are questions that she can help with. Our biggest problem with health is vendors placing produce on the ground. Regulations state 'at least 6" off of ground or floor'. I've only had 1 response from the board of health and that was boxes/buckets of non-sellable sitting on ground. She asks about it, and I told her they were not for sale and was headed for the compost. She said 'as long as it's not for sale/human consumption.'

I've also heard a couple of times people worried about using manure, they weren't aware of the composting action. Usually after a report on TV regarding improperly composted manure causing health concerns.

Marla

Marla,

I have heard about rules like that. We don't have one here in Kansas that I know of. It is really funny if you think about it. Hmm, here sits a bucket of potatoes, 2 hours ago they were in the ground, now they are unsanitary and not fit for consumption. What about a melon that grows on the ground?

Just a funny observation.

Jay

Our produce is top notch and grown and processed under very sanitary conditions. Whomever posted the note on our door when we were gone meant it as an attack on our personal hygiene I think. Its probably just a jealous vendor. Until we hear from our market supervisor - I am planning to attend the market (75.00 each saturday is a fortune to us and we can not afford to lose this). We have our stand out front but I think the neighbors are trying to shut our farm-stand down. If were let go officially we will find a new market that accepts us. Its a tough world! Nick/Mark

Jay, It doesn't make sense to me either. Our market is on the street and the things that end up on that street, I wouldn't want anywhere near my food either. Vehicles that leak fluids, drunks from the bar and their residue, along with animal droppings, definitely need some distance between my food and the street.

Cowpie, I understand the concept of composting, but several people don't. I'm sorry that some so-and-so would be mean enough to post a note on your door. It probably was a jealous person. I also remember the $75/Saturdays and was very glad for them. I felt like I needed to be stricter with myself on anything when I was the 'new guy', I am also known as a 'know-it-all', but in a good way. Other vendors send people down to me for information, because if I don't know the answer, I can find one for them or send them to someone that I think should. Of course, I don't know it all, but some things I have done alot of research on.

Good luck, hopefully your market master will overlook the meanie.

Marla