as a Non-profit organization, Can I table at the Farmers' market?

Yes, but with restrictions. Please remember that UVFM’s “Raison d’Etre” is to support our vetted Vendors and Farmers, not to become a free site for advertising your business or for protests.

What is allowed:

Who: UVFM gladly provides a designated area at the perimeter of our markets for low-maintenance, un-disruptive, peaceful, civic and community-relevant information sharing, charity of non-profit organizations with 501-C3, (or similar Non-Profit motives) to benefit from the crowds of people that our farmers’ markets draw. Please bring your registration form (link below) and paperwork showing your non-profit status. Verification may be asked for by a market manager at any time.

When: You can arrive and leave from the Free Zone as you please as long as it is not disruptive. No vehicles in the market at any time. Space is 1st come 1st serve. Most of our markets start at 9am so arriving by 8:30 am is ideal if you want to table for the entire day.

Where: Each of our 10 markets has its own particularities, so upon arrival, locate the UVFM INFO BOOTH & on-site Market Manager to show you where the Non-Profit / Free Area is located. While UVFM offers this ancillary portion of their rented territory for this zone, UVFM does not claim affiliation with the content presented in the Free Area, and has the right to ask anyone to leave should they become disruptive.

What: You must bring all of your own comforts. ie: shade, table, chair. You must take any trash you produce back with you. Please be mindful that what you distribute does not become litter that we end up having to clean up at the end of the day. Please do not pass out candy, cookies, or lemonade, as these are things our vendors may be selling.

How: Please email INFO@UVFM.ORG to ask for a Registration Form. Once approved, you will be directed to the designated Free Area of the Market for basic standing or tabling setups that meet all of the above mentioned criteria.

What is NOT allowed :

Guests must remain in one designated place (table or standing) to allow those interested in your cause to approach you for conversation at a speaking volume. You may never roam, approach or walk around distributing flyers to a captive or cornered customer or vendor inside the active market area. No amplification or loud “barking” is permitted. Engagement should never be loud, aggressive, block accessibility to the pedestrian and handicap walkways, or obstruct visibility to our vendors’ booths.

Absolutely NO sales, fundraising, donation collecting, or consumable food/drink items can be sold -OR- given away in this section. This jeopardizes the Farmers Market’s insurance liability policy and jeopardizes our compliance with CA Health Code regulations, as well as directly impacts the livelihoods of our vendor members selling their food or art. This means NO Bake Sales, Girl Scout Cookies, or Boy Scout Lemonade, and No giving away cookies or candy or balloons.

UVFM deeply values free-speech of all opinions when done respectfully. Disruptive behavior, amplification, attention seeking, or shouting hate-speech is not constitutional free-speech; it will be seen as an eminent threat to our safety and peace to our market place, and will not be tolerated at any time.

If your non-profit wishes to benefit from our crowds that our long established events attract, in order to engage in thoughtful dialogue or get your message out, you are welcome to do so, however, please keep in mind that having a cooperative spirit keeps things beneficial for everyone, including you. If our staff is diverted from their jobs in order to field disruptions, you will be asked to leave. The vendors at our markets are all very hard-working people trying to make a living and are dependent on our customers wanting to return each week. The crowd of shoppers who come out to support these local, small businesses deserve to have this space remain safe, respectful and enjoyable. Without happy customers, none of us have an audience. 

For Profit Operations - Can I promote or sell goods & Services as a pop-up at your Farmers' market?

(Some exceptions apply for local San Carlos Businesses attending the San Carlos Farmers Market - email info@UVFM.Org to inquire.)

No. Please remember that UVFM’s “raison d’etre” is to support our juried and vetted local crafts people and Farmers, not to become a free site for advertising. UVFM is a Certified Farmers’ Market (not a Flea Market), Therefore we must adhere to the rules put forth by the Dept of Agriculture and with our own non-profit bylaws and mission which strictly prohibits the sale of goods that are not hand-made or grown directly by the seller, in California. While we deeply value the many amazing Green and Health-forward businesses out there, UVFM does not have the capacity to allow 3rd party, for-profit, promotional booths, commercial resale vendors / distributors, franchises, health or service industry specialists to set up in our markets. Some examples include Cannabis distributors, Bake-sale school fundraisers, Girl Scout cookie sales, fitness/yoga studios, real estate agents, solar panel companies, and chiropractors.

Due to the very limited space within the farmers’ market boundaries and our strict commitment to our own non-profit mission we provide a scarce and much needed “direct-marketing” platform specifically for artisanal, small scale, local producers who cannot, or choose not, to participate in the larger industrialized marketplace. Cities in the Bay Area are largely set up to provide ample platforms for the production, marketing, sales, and 3rd party distribution of larger, national, and international commodities. If your product is wholesome, educational, organic and healthy, we are so glad that you are out there, but the Farmers’ Market is not the platform for your product if it is not entirely hand made here in California, by you and your family. 

If you locally grow or personally make the thing you want to sell, and are interested in renting a full-time spot at the Farmers’ Market, read more on how to Join Us and submit an application.

Who Can sell at one of the Urban Village Certified Farmers' Markets?

We accept applications for Prepared Foods, Artists, and Agricultural products grown by California Certified Agricultural Producers. If admitted into a market, Food, Beverage and Agricultural vendors are given a permanent space and are therefore expected to attend every week, rain or shine, unless otherwise pre-arranged due to seasonality of the product. 

Artisans are accepted under different conditions and are not given permanent spaces. Once approved, Artisans are free to rotate attendance between our various market locations, where approved.

After reading through these FAQs visit our “Join Us” application page and submit an application. Applying does not guarantee acceptance. Space is very limited, we often have waitlists, and we give priority to products that balance a market's current offerings, carefully avoiding commodity duplications of what is already available.

What are the requirements for agricultural products?

All of the products you plan to sell at a UVFM farmers' market must be grown or produced in California via the agricultural arts. Agricultural products such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, dairy, shell eggs, honey, pollen, unprocessed bees wax, propolis, royal jelly, flowers, grains, nursery stock, raw sheared wool, livestock meats, poultry meats, rabbit meats, and fish, including shellfish that is produced under controlled conditions in waters located in California. To sell these products you must be a Certified Agricultural Producer, holding a Certified Producer’s Certificate.  Contact your home county's Agricultural Commissioner if you want to get your operation inspected and certified. All agricultural producers must agree to UVFM's Rules and Regulations and comply with any UVFM request for a farm inspection.

What are the requirements for non-agricultural products?

Farmers markets are primarily designed for Farmers, however they also provide a great platform to the small local artisan and food purveyor. All UVFM farmers' markets have a designated area for non-agricultural food items such as baked goods, specialty foods, or ready-to-eat "hot" foods. In keeping with the spirit of farmers' markets you must be actively involved in the preparation of these products yourself. These food products must be produced in a certified kitchen in accordance with the California Retail Food Code. Should you get accepted into UVFM, you will need to obtain a county health permit for each of the markets that you are approved to attend. You must agree to sell in your spot every week. All non-agricultural producers must agree to UVFM's Rules and Regulations.

What is the application fee?

If approved into one or more of UVFM Markets, there is an Annual Membership fee of $75 to all newly approved and ongoing active vendors which provides priority placement into additional market openings, and access to our online Members Portal.

When are applications due?

We review applications on a rolling admission system and accept new vendors into our markets on an as-needed and availability basis. 

What does UVFM Charge to participate in their Markets?

Stall Fee pricing is per <10x10 booth per market day:

• Agricultural Producer $50
  (+ $30 per market day for 2nd Agricultural Certificate)

• Mini Agricultural Producer (Hyper local/small farm operating as a non-profit) $30

• Prepared Food Producer (Pre-Packaged)  $60

• Hot Food Producer (On-site Processing)  $75

• Arts & Crafts (Non-food Producer) $55

Included in every stall fee is a state-mandated tax of $2.00 per market day that UVFM transfers directly to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

UVFM’s Annual Membership Registration Fee is $75. The enrollment period is every New Year (Jan-Feb) for all of our new and active vendors. Membership gives priority placement into openings in markets and access to our member's resource portal.. Non-Members are charged a $5 fee to the weekly stall fee until registration is completed.

Equipment: All Vendors will need to buy their own Fire rated, 8x8 or 10x10 tent, preferably with vent flaps at the top. All signage, visible prices, furniture, and materials and equipment needed to operate your booth and maintain proper food handling practices if you choose to sample.

What type of insurance Will I need to carry?

Admitted UVFM vendors will need to carry general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000, with Urban Village Farmers' Market Association named as an additional insured on the policy. 

Can I sell items prepared in my home kitchen?

All non-agricultural food products must come from a certified kitchen. While California law allows the limited sale of food products manufactured in a home kitchen per the California Cottage Food Act (AB 1616), we do not currently admit those products from non-agricultural "Prepared Food" producers in our markets.

Can I sell beer or wine?

Alcohol sales and sampling are allowed in UVFM farmers' markets under certain circumstances.

Please note that only California wineries are permitted to sell their wines at Certified Farmers'. They must bottle these wines and make them entirely from grapes or other agricultural products that they grow themselves. Hard cider is subject to the same requirements as wine.

Micro-breweries are also permitted if the brewery can demonstrate that a majority of the harvested ingredients are grown in California.

You'll need a Farmers' Market Sales Permit (Type 79). California Alcoholic Beverage Commission to sell any alcoholic beverage.

Can I sell arts and crafts or other non-food items?

Crafts, jewelry and other handmade artisanal items may be sold at all of our markets with the exception of Montclair Village. Artisans who apply will be reviewed by a committee before approval. Space is limited and not guaranteed each week as Artisans are not given permanent spaces. Once approved into our network, Artisans are free to rotate attendance between our various market locations.

Can I perform music in the farmers’ market?

If you wish to perform music at our farmers' markets, please fill out the musician application.  Be sure to include a link to a sample your music.  If we think your sound would be a good fit in our markets, we will contact you to coordinate performing dates for the markets you select. Musicians keep 100% of all tips and gratuities earned.

UVFM does not permit un-scheduled busking at our markets specifically so as to protect the earning power of the working musician that is booked to perform that day. Please respect your fellow musicians by simply applying and we will do the same for you when you are booked to play.