Market Cooperative
NELSON FARMERS MARKET COOPERATIVE
2018
Introduction
The Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative (Market) is a PRODUCER ONLY market. The Market was incorporated December 2, 1997, a result of collaboration among a small group of Nelson County farmers. This group wanted to provide a place where local farmers could sell high-quality produce directly to customers and promote their individual businesses. They set up their first market on property owned by Joan Gibson in Nellysford. When Joan passed away, Wintergreen Realty Company permitted the farmers to move to their property. Today, High Country Associates and Wintergreen Property Owners Association generously allow the use of their land at the entrance of Stoney Creek/Wintergreen Resort as home to the Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative. The Virginia Extension Office assists with promotion of our market.
The Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative is a for-profit association of farmers. The Market’s purpose is to promote sales of high-quality, locally grown produce in a family-friendly atmosphere.
The following rules, regulations and guidelines are intended to make it as easy as possible for local farmers to sell their products directly and legally to the general public. The success of our Market depends on a good growing season as well as the active participation and cooperation of our many and varied Producers. The Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative welcomes local producers to apply to become part of our market.
The Board of Directors of the Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative oversee the business operations of the market on a volunteer basis. The Market is run by and for our Producers with no support from the county or state. Nonprofit entities and organizations are not allowed as vendors. All Producers are encouraged to participate. Fees collected by the Market are for the express purpose of promoting and operating the Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative. This includes normal administrative expenses such as tent maintenance, market manager expense, advertising and operating fees.
Rules, Regulations and Guidelines
SELLING SEASON
FEES AND REGISTRATION
1) follow these rules; and
2) allow full production site inspections upon request of the Board of Directors
The certificate states that all products offered for sale are grown, raised or made by the vendor, his or her immediate family, and/or employee(s) or partner(s). The Board of Directors retains the original certificate, which is valid for one season. When a current Producer sells his/her business, a new application must be submitted by the new owner(s).
SPACE ASSIGNMENTS AND RESERVATIONS
RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Only PRODUCERS within a 50 miles radius of the Market’s sales location may sell at the market.
Producers are defined as follows:
2. All goods sold at the market must be grown, raised or made within a 50 mile radius of the
Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative.
3. Vendors must check out by 12:30. If you make sales after 12:00, you can add them to the following week’s sales total. All debris, boxes, containers, etc. must be loaded for removal within one hour of Market closing time. All vendors must bring their own trash cans and nothing can be left under the tents.
4. ARTS AND CRAFTS may be permitted for sale at the Market with approval of the Board of Directors to be a Guest vendor. All art and crafts must be made by the Guest vendor, immediate family or employees and must be produced within a 50 mile radius of the Market. No reselling is allowed at the Market. No items purchased for resale or commercially produced products are permitted. Any questionable items shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Because the Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative is primarily a market for agricultural products, the Board of Directors reserves the right to limit the number of Guest vendors. In the event space is needed for a Nelson County bona fide agricultural producer, preference shall be given to the bona fide farmer and implementation of “last-in, first-out” shall apply to all Arts and Crafts Guest Vendors.
5. Vendors may sell produce by piece or by weight and shall be in compliance with VDACS guidelines.
6. Fraudulent, dishonest or deceptive merchandising or collusion to set prices between or among vendors will be grounds for forfeiture of the right to do business of any kind in the Market for a length of time to be determined by the Board of Directors.
7. Generators are not allowed at the market. Batteries are allowed to run equipment, as long as they do not produce noise.
8. Solicitation, canvassing or petitioning for products, services, causes, organizations or charitable contributions not specifically addressed as a market commodity by any persons present at market is not permitted without written permission of the current season’s Board of Directors.
9. Master Gardeners may set up a tent outside of the main tent, if space is available. The Market Manager shall direct location/times for setup and oversight.
10. Children under the age of fourteen may not be vendors. However, younger children are welcome and encouraged to participate when directly supervised by an adult responsible for the child’s conduct and safety.
11. No cooking within the Market area is permitted without prior written approval of the Board of Directors.
12. Commercial enterprises such as area restaurants, bed & breakfasts and bakeries may sell baked goods if they make/bake them. Nurseries may sell beddings plants and houseplants if they grow them. Other agricultural items that may be processed by commercial enterprises (flour mills, coffee roasters, peanut roasters, etc.) may be sold at the Market only after approval by the Board of Directors.
13. Wildflowers or native plants sold at the Market must not be on the state’s list of rare wild plants, which is published by the Division of Natural Heritage. No plants may be sold that were removed from public lands. ALL PLANTS AND FLOWERS FOR SALE MUST BE GROWN BY THE VENDOR.
14. All displays, including umbrellas and canopies, must be securely anchored, must not extend beyond the limits of the assigned space and shall not be attached to the Market tents. Failure to secure the canopy makes it susceptible to taking flight and injuring vendors or customers and creates a liability issue for that vendor. If it becomes windy and the canopy is not securely anchored, the vendor will have the option to take the cover off the canopy or leave for the day. It is required that all vendors use safe displays and be aware of tripping hazards.
15. Vendors are not allowed to bring pets.
16. Public restrooms are available. Water is available.
17. The sale and/or use of alcohol and/or drugs is prohibited on the Market site/grounds/fields. Any vendor or workers found with an open container of alcohol or exhibiting behavior consistent with the use of alcohol or drugs will be issued a written warning, asked to leave that day and suspended from the market for the following week’s market. The issuance of three (3) written warnings pertaining to this rule will automatically prohibit the vendor from participation in the Market permanently.
18. Three Strike Rule: If a violation of any of the rules, regulations and/or guidelines occur, the Producer shall be notified of the violation via written warning from the Market Manager. Should a second violation occur (of the same or any other rule, regulation and/or guideline), the Producer shall be notified of the second violation via written warning from the Market Manager. Should a third violation occur (of the same or any other rule, regulation and/or guideline), the Producer shall not sell any product for the remainder of the season and shall forfeiture participation privileges as a vendor for the remainder of the season and not be entitled to a refund of any fees paid.
19. Disruptive, unprofessional or abusive exhibited behavior will not be tolerated. The Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative’s Board of Directors reserves the right to enforce the dismissal of any producer, vendor, exhibitor, employee or guest whose actions are deemed to be detrimental to the operation of the Market
20. The Market Manager will have the full power to enforce all rules, regulations and guidelines on the day of the market. For that day, the Market Manager’s decision is final. Appeals may be brought before the Board of Directors. All complaints concerning other vendors must be given to the Market Manager in written form – signed and dated. Failure to comply with any of these rules, regulations and/or guidelines may result in the forfeiture of the right to do business of any kind in the market for a length of time determined by the Board of Directors, at its discretion.
Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative
P. O. Box 622
Nellysford, Va 22958
VDACS Bureau of Food Inspection (540) 562-3641
Department of Weights and Measures (804) 786-2476
Organic Certification – Kent Lewis (804) 371-6098
VA Dept. of Taxation (ST-9 form) www.tax.virginia.gov