Interested in Becoming a Vendor?
If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the North Atherton Farmers Market (NAFM), read through the information on this page before you apply.
Step 1: Learn about the North Atherton Farmers Market
- Review this website to get a sense of how our market works and what we are all about.
- Talk to other vendors who are already vending at the market and ask lots of questions!
- Pay a visit to the market and introduce yourself to one of the officers of the market so that we can meet you and get a sense of your farm, products and interests.
- Non-producers need not apply! The North Atherton Farmers Market is a producer-only market which means that vendors that are interested in vending at the market must produce or grow the agricultural products they intend to sell at the market. Do you produce your products? If so, keep reading. If not, this is a good place to stop.
- Review the NAFM By-Laws to understand how we are organized and how we function as a group.
- Review the NAFM Rules to understand how we function on market day and as vendors at the market.
Step 2: Before Applying, Understand the Financial, Inspection and Insurance Requirements
- All vendors pay fees to the market. The money collected is handled by the Treasurer of the market and is used for advertising, permit fees, insurance, needs of the market (e.g., garbage bags, central/info tent), etc. The fees are currently $300.00 per market season for full-time vendors. Pro-rating of market fees based on start time is handled on a case-by-case basis as is inclusion of part time vendors. The market is interested in vendors who are interested in long-term/full-time vending at our market and investing in our mission.
- All vendors are required to comply with Pennsylvania Act 106. Vendors are required to complete a Retail Food Outlet License for Patton Township, PA and provide the completed form to the market manager along with copies of appropriate permits, licenses, etc. The market manager will submit this information to the State College Health Inspector who enforces Act 106 for most of the farmers markets in the area.
- All vendors are required to provide a certificate of insurance (COI) showing that their policy provides for $1 Million/Occurrence and $2Million/Aggregate coverage in the case of an unfortunate event. Amish vendors are allowed to submit/provide certification of support from the Order of Brotherly Aid in lieu of formal insurance, depending on their district standards.
Step 3: Fill out an Application
- Fill out an application to be considered by the NAFM.
- Submit completed application to nathertonmarket@gmail.com.
- Hang tight! We small farmers and producers are busy people (as you know first hand). Add helping to run a farmers market to the list of things we need to do every day and we get behind sometimes. We'll get in touch with you as soon as we can. That's not always the next day or the next week, but it will be as soon as we can. Feel free to follow-up if you feel like you need to, but we promise, we'll get back to you!
Step 4: Application Review
- Your application will be reviewed by the Markets Co-Managers/Co-Presidents who will discuss the application with the Board of Directors/Officers. The Board of Directors/Officers vote on the inclusion of new vendors to the market.
- New vendors are admitted to the market based on space availability and the vendor's ability to meet the requirements listed above and the standards of the market.
- At this time, NAFM attempts to *not* exclude vendors from the market based on product line. We feel that it is better for business to have competition and more variety for customers. There will come a day due to space limitations or product issues that will force us to consider this more fully, but at this time we are able to accept most vendors.
- A market officer will get in touch with you after your application has been reviewed and a decision made by the Board of Directors/Officers.
Step 5: Admittance to the Market as a Provisional Member
- The Market Manager/President will meet with the new vendor to go over all of the information listed above, all of the information on the application, the by-laws, the rules, etc. It is at this time that the market fees are due and the paperwork requirements must be completed.
- New vendors are admitted into the market on a provisional basis for the first year. This gives the market and new vendors an opportunity to make sure that the match is a good fit for both parties. Provisional vendors do not have voting rights.
Step 6: Transition from Provisional to Full Member Status
- Between the end of the market season and the Annual Member Meeting, the Board of Directors will meet and discuss the provisional members. At that time, they will make a decision if the provisional members will become full members. This decision is based on performance, adherence to the by-laws and rules, customer feedback and full vendor feedback. Those that become full members are welcome back to the market. Those that are not voted in as full members are not welcome back to the market the following season.
