What's the rules about who can run a stall at a Farmers' Market?

Rules for Farmers Markets run by Made in Stroud Ltd

• All produce must be locally grown or produced. By local, we mean within 30 miles of the market, although applications will be considered from those within 50 miles of the market if the product is not available locally.
• Producers must only sell their own produce. All produce must be detailed on the Application Form. A change of produce on sale at your stall is not permitted without re-application.
• Stalls must be staffed by the producer, their family or a representative with a working knowledge of the growing/production of the food on sale.
• No bought in or repackaged goods may be sold at the Farmers’ Market.
• Country Markets Ltd – producers selling through this co-operative will be considered as one stall per venue, and will be required to apply for accreditation as one stall per farmers market attended. (For example, Country Markets at Stroud Farmers Market will apply for accreditation).
• Shared stalls – producer co-operatives (not marketing co-operatives), smaller seasonal producers, local groups and allotment holders will be allowed to share a stall on condition that;
• The origin and nature of the goods is clearly marked
• Each of the producers represented on a shared stall has applied and been accepted to sell at Fresh-n-Local Farmers Markets.
• Guest Stalls – up to three guest stalls may be permitted at a market. The stall holder may be a genuine producer selling products from outside the area which are not available locally, or a local charitable organisation promoting or fundraising their activities.

Primary produce

• Including meat and meat products, poultry, fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, plants, eggs, fish.
• Primary Produce must have been grown/reared by the stallholder. In the cases of beef and lamb, it will be considered appropriate for livestock farmers to finish beasts bought-in from neighbouring farms, using the criteria laid down by FABBL, 180 days for cattle and 90 days for lamb.

Game

• Game shot or caught within the local area may be sold at farmers markets by the person licensed to hunt the game or a dealer who can produce receipts from a local, licensed hunter.

Secondary produce

• Including bread, baked confectionery, jams and preserves, ready meals, juice etc, must be made using locally grown ingredients where available. For example, local free range eggs must be used for all cakes and baked products. No mixes or pie fillings will be accepted.
• Where coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar or bananas are the main ingredients, these must be fairly traded.

In order to foster and maintain local agriculture and horticulture, priority will always be given to those processors using their own or locally sourced raw ingredients. Please call us for more information on locally available eggs, flour and other ingredients.

Where no locally grown ingredients are sourced, producers may be accepted on a case by case basis, taking into account the above.

The use of GM ingredients (e.g. in margarine oils and soya products.) is not permitted.

Plants

We encourage the sale of plants grown from seed or cuttings, where some degree of skill is involved in the growing.

Plugs of small plants may be purchased and potted on, but must not be sold until they are well established and their roots are visible at the bottom of the pot. Under no circumstances may producers buy in mature plants for immediate resale. Some skill must be used in improving these plants prior to resale. It is an offence to take cuttings for eventual resale from plants protected by Plant Breeders’ Rights. These plants are copyright.

Please note;

• Only farms and processors registered with an approved sector body may use the term “Organic” to describe their produce. Ignoring this guideline is a contravention of Trading Standards Legislation and will result in being excluded from the market. Organic certificates must be displayed at the market.
• Any stallholders intending to sell alcoholic beverages need to check locally for information about licensing legislation.
• Fresh-n-Local Farmers' Markets will not permit the sale of any Genetically Modified products.
• The allocation of stalls remains at our discretion, taking into account the mix of the market and local licensing legislation. Please note that the sale of hot food for immediate consumption is not allowed at Swindon farmers' market, although it is permissible to give away free samples.
• Local craft stalls and artists may be accepted at some farmers markets at our discretion. A separate application form is used and priority is given to makers using locally sourced raw materials.
• Any stallholder considered to be flouting any of the above regulations or of behaving unacceptably will receive a written warning about their conduct. Any further disregard for the rules or uncooperative behaviour may result in a stallholder being excluded from the market.
• Trading Standards and Environmental Health Officers will make unannounced visits to farmers markets.
• If meat and vegetables are to be sold on the same stall, separate scales must be used to weigh the different produce.
• Stalls will be allocated by the Market organiser and we reserve the right to move stalls for the benefit of the market.