Vendor Rules and Regs

 

THE CLOVERDALE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

l. CLOVERDALE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET (CCFM) PHILOSOPHY:

  1. The CCFM is primarily a FARMERS market for the benefit of growers and producers of   agricultural products, and for the benefit of consumers in the Cloverdale and Sonoma County area.
  2. Space preference will be allocated by the Market Manager using the following priorities in the order of their importance:           b. separation of certified and non-certified sellers           d. seniority     3.     To establish and maintain a marketable balance of products, the Market Manager has                       the right to deny a new vendor access to the market.      Section A. BECOMING A QUALIFIED SELLER;
  3. ll. THE FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLY TO ALL SELLERS, AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL.
  4.      4.        The governing body and the designated agents of the market shall implement and enforce all CFM               rules and regulations in a fair and equitable manner.
  5.            e. market availability
  6.            c. overall balance of the market
  7.            a. market safety
  1. Complete and sign a seller’s application form and submit with application fee and copies of all required permits and licenses to the Market Manager. If vendor is an agricultural vendor a current CPC must be submitted to the Market Manager prior to selling at the market.
  2. Read and agree to adhere to the CCFM Rules and Regulations.
  3. Obtain prior permission from the Manager to sell at the Market. All items sold at the Market must be pre-approved by the Market Manager.
  4. Sell at the stall space designated by the Manager.
  5. The term “Seller” or “Vendor” refers to anyone acting on the Sellers’ behalf at the Market. Section B. AT YOUR STALL:
  1. All scales must bear from the county of origin, a current seal from the Department of Weights and Measures.
  2. All scales must face the customer.
  3. All prices will be clearly posted. Collusion among sellers to raise prices or any attempts to influence a seller to increase prices is strictly prohibited.
  4. All necessary certifications will be conspicuously posted.
  5. No bagging or selling of product until market officially opens.
  6. Sellers must maintain their stall space in a clean and sanitary condition.
  7. Containers used in the sale of any produce must have all words of MIS-identification obliterated. Containers such as banana boxes may be used in transporting to the market but not used as display boxes on the market tables.     Section C. ISSUES OF SAFETY:
  1. Any seller not at their stall space 15 minutes BEFORE the opening of the market will park at the edge of the market and NOT drive into the market.
  2. Sellers may NOT move their vehicle within the market until the market is over AND it is safe to do so. Violations of traffic laws (i.e. illegal u-turns) within the Market boundaries is grounds for immediate removal from the Market for the day.
  3. Sellers have the responsibility for the safety and behavior of their own children
  4. All Sellers must be in compliance with health and safety requirements..
  5. Public Health dictates the following regarding sampling of products:
      1. Keep samples in clean, covered containers.
      2. Use toothpicks to distribute samples.

     

  6. Have garbage pail for peels and pits.THE CLOVERDALE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET
    1. RULES AND REGULATIONS
    2.  
    3. Use clean, disposable plastic gloves when cutting produce for samples.
    4. Produce intended for sampling should be washed and free of dirt.
    5. Utensils and cutting surfaces shall be washed and sanitized with chlorine solution of one (1) T. or capful of liquid bleach per gallon of water
    6. Cutting surface shall be smooth, non-absorbent and cleanable.
  8. NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THE MARKET except qualified service dogs.
  9. Public restroom facilities and hand-washing facilities are available on the Plaza. Section D. DEALING WITH MARKET PERSONNEL AND OTHER VENDORS
  1. Civility: Sellers, consumers and Market management are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and to conduct themselves at all times in a courteous and helpful manner. Unreasonable, outrageous or obscene behavior is grounds for a 30 day suspension from the Market.
  2. Compliance: The Market Manager is in charge of the Market and responsible for maintaining a safe, balanced and harmonious Market at all times. Any vendor not complying with the direction of the Market Manager, including but not limited to: location of booth, attendance, payment of fees or type of product sold at the Market, will face immediate removal from the Market for that day. In the event the Market Manager is unable to serve on a Market day, the Market Manager will appoint a Board of Director member to act in his/her place. This acting Manager shall have all the rights and responsibilities of the Market Manager as detailed in this document.
  3. Intoxication by a seller at Market is prohibited.
  4. Sellers must notify the Manager if he/she will not be selling at a given Market. Notification must be given no later than the day of the Market by 4:00 PM, and failure to do so will result in a $10.00 assessment to be paid upon return to Market. For illness or prohibitive weather, the 24 hour notice will be waived, however, a phone call of explanation to the Manager must follow as soon as possible.
  5. Stall fees shall be set by the CCFM board and given to the Manager prior to the close of each Market.
  6. Seller will accompany fee with the Load List/Space Reservation form distributed weekly by the Manager. A new state regulation (AB 593) stipulates that the load list must contain the following information-information which is to be kept in the Market file for not less than eighteen months:             b. quantity of each product sold at the market.       Section E. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
  8.              a. identity of each product sold as it appears on the C.P.C.
  1. No peddling of products uncertified, or certified in violation of California Direct Marketing Law. Violators will be referred to the Department of Agriculture and may be fined and suspended.
  2. Growers may NOT use the word ‘organic,’ either by signage or verbally unless they are registered with the county as organic or are certified with the California Certified Organic Farmers. Their organic registry or certification paper must be displayed at the point of sale.
  3. A certified producer (CP) or his/her employee may sell for up to two other certified producers per year, provided the following criteria is met:
    1. A CP shall not represent, nor be represented by more than two other CPs in a 12-month period.
    2. Each CP’s certified agricultural products to be sold or offered for sale shall be separated and identifiable by each CP’s valid certificate at the point of sale.
    3. The name of the CP for whom another CP is selling shall appear on the certificate of the CP that is conducting sales at a CFM.
    4. The name of the CP who is selling the products of another CP shall appear on the certificate of the person or entity for whom the CP is selling. THE CLOVERDALE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET
    5. RULES AND REGULATIONS
    8. The CP selling for another CP shall be selling or offering for sale, at the same CFM on the same day, certified agricultural products which the CP conducting the sales has produced and which are in greater volume than the volume offered for sale for the other CP.
    9. The producer applying for certification shall obtain and submit to the ag commissioner, prior to certification, written authority from said other CP to sell on their behalf.
    10. Commission sales and buying and selling between CPs is prohibited. Any payment made for the service of one CP selling for another CP shall not be related to the volume or value of the products sold.
    11. The operator of a CFM may prohibit or otherwise establish rules regarding sales permitted under the subsection that are more restrictive, provided that such prohibition or restriction is contained in the market’s written by-laws
    12. A CP who sells certified agricultural products on behalf of another CP or whose products are sold by another CP at a CFM shall keep for a period of not less than three years, the following records relating to such products:
  4. Date of transfer to seller and accurate amount of products, by weight, dry measure, or count, transferred. Each separate product and amount shall be recorded according to variety.
  5. Date of sale and accurate amount of products, by weight, dry measure or count, sold. Each separate product and amount shall be recorded according to variety.
  6. Names of both CPs involved.
  7. A CP subject to this subdivision shall produce, for inspection, records required by this section upon demand of a representative of CDFA or county Ag Commissioner.lll. VIOLATIONS’ PROCEDURE
  1. Whenever the Market Manager, in good faith, believes a seller or his employees has violated the rules and regulations of the Market, or the regulations of Sonoma County Public Health, or State Direct Marketing law; the Manager can issue a written or verbal warning or suspend the seller for one market day, or all of the above listed. As noted in Section D above, not complying with the direction or orders of the Market Manager may result in immediate removal of that Vendor’s booth from the Market for that day.
  2. Upon subsequent violation of the same vendor, the Manager can suspend said seller from the Market for thirty days.
  3. The seller has the right to appeal the removal or suspension to the CCFM Board of Directors at a hearing to be held before the next Market day.
  4. Any serious violation will be reported to the Agriculture Commissioner or Public Health Department, as appropriate.
  5. If the Board, after a hearing, determines that the seller has violated the permit conditions, it may extend the suspension period to a maximum of 60 days. The Board may indefinitely suspend or revoke the privilege of any seller whose privileges have been suspended more than twice in a two year period.
  6. All unresolved disputes between Sellers and the Market officials shall be first subject to Mediation as a means of resolution. If mediation is unsuccessful, all parties shall engage in binding arbitration as defined on the CCFM’s Market Application.

 

lV. NON-CERTIFIED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

  1. Processed foods (non-certifiable agricultural products) may be sold at the CCFM.
  2. The market manager must have copies of all documentation which verifies that sellers of processed foods comply with production requirements of the Sonoma County Health Code.

 

  1. NON-CERTIFIABLE, HAND CRAFTED, NON-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

 

 

 

 

THE CLOVERDALE CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

    1. During the growing season, a few stalls may be assigned, at the discretion of the market manager, for non-agriculturally-related items, i.e. basketry, wreaths, woodwork. The number should not exceed 75% of total stalls occupied.
    2. Any product requiring a Dept. of Health certificate must post that certificate at point of sale.
  • The sale of those products by sellers must take place in the designated non-agricultural area of the Market.VI. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION GROUPS

 

  1.  
  1. Non-profit organizations and community information groups (organizations) shall be allowed

at the market in accordance with current market policies and when space is available.

  1. An organization’s request for a space must be made to the Market Board (on a sign-up sheet       currently located at the Cloverdale Mail Center) prior to Market Day.   Designated spaces for organizations shall be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  2. At the time of signing up for the Market, an applicant must complete a signed application form and provide satisfactory proof of the organization’s non-profit status and of his/her position as a representative of the organization.
  3. Non-profit and community information organizations may not engage in the sale of food, drink or craft items.
  4. Organization representatives shall not interfere with Market operations by aggressively

soliciting signatures, donations or attention. Such activities shall not block sidewalks or access

to assigned stall spaces.

  1. The Market retains the right to regulate the time, place and manner of activities relating to

displays, signs, posters, placards, and other expressions of the interests represented. The use of

fighting words, obscenities, grisly or gruesome displays or highly inflammatory slogans likely

to provoke a disturbance is prohibited at the Market.

  1. Each organization must prominently display its name and must comply with all applicable

Market Rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 Cloverdale Certified Farmers Market Board of Directors                   January 14, 2013

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