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Enclosed Retail Building Operational Guidelines
Farmers Area Rules of Operation (effective March 22, 2005)
To permit fair and equal opportunity for all sellers and to ensure quality products for buyers, basic rules of operation must be followed. The following rules have been developed. They will be revised and updated as needed and may be modified according to the season and products being sold.
Use of the Farmers Area is for growers only. In order to sell in this area, the growers must submit a Growers Certification Form to be approved by the market management after the local Extension Agent certifies the products to be sold. Growers that wish to do so may sell produce (fruits and vegetables only) for up to three other certified North Carolina growers as long as one half of the product being sold is produced by the grower/seller at all times. Plant sellers may sell only plants they grow themselves and may not sell for other plant growers. Market personnel may visit your stand at anytime, make a count and visit your farm to verify. Those wishing to supplement the sell of their produce with other certified North Carolina growers produce must first visit with the Market Management to request and explain the situation and provide the necessary information to certify all products (growers certification permits, commodities to be sold, invoices, etc.). Growers who designate another grower to sell for them are giving up their privilege to sell on the Market themselves for the season. Growers who are designated to sell produce for other growers and those designating another grower to sell their produce for them must submit new Growers Certification forms each year. Sellers are not to purchase products from wholesale houses, the Enclosed Retail Building F, nurseries or other outside sources for reselling the items in the farmers area.
We want to work with you and welcome your concerns and ideas at anytime. To achieve maximum benefits and provide the best Market, all of us - growers, sellers, customers and market management must share and work together.
- All vehicles with product are to stop at the gatehouse, pay their appropriate gate fee and provide an accurate count of products being brought into the Market. Sellers are not to occupy a space until the gate fee is paid and a space selection is approved by gate personnel. Fees are to be paid with cash and on a daily basis. Sellers select spaces on the basis of first come first serve. All spaces must be rented at the gatehouse before they are claimed. Spaces cannot be transferred from one seller to another. Gatehouse personnel will make the placement. All sellers who wish to claim a space must have product and be prepared to sell. Sellers are not to rent a space without product to sell, intending only to reserve the space. Any products displayed beyond the yellow lines will require payment for an additional space and must be approved by market staff.
- Farmers Areas 1 & 2 are open to the public from 6am – 6pm Monday – Sunday, except during the Christmas tree selling season when selling hours are extended until 8pm. Growers may rent space from 5:00am until 6:00pm each day. Growers with rented space may restock outside of these hours with the approval of the gate personnel on duty at the time. At peak season, sellers may experience a shortage of selling spaces under shelters. Additional outside spaces adjacent to the farmers areas will be identified to handle any overflow. The number and location of spaces available to sellers may be restricted depending upon the type of products to be sold, number of weeks one has sold, amount and variety of produce being sold and the season. Growers may sell in only one area of the Market and all spaces rented must be adjoined. Growers are limited to two spaces on the aisle in the Farmers Sheds. In order for a grower to rent a second (A – aisle) space, the grower must first also rent all spaces behind the A space. In Farmers Area 1, AB&C must be rented before a second A can be rented. In Farmers Area 2, A&B must be rented before a second A is rented. For sellers who hold space from one day to the next, rent is to be paid for all days the Market is open. To hold these spaces sellers must have product available for sale and must have personnel and a licensed vehicle with the space. Growers are expected to actively utilize their rented spaces each day (excluding Sundays). HONOR BOXES ARE NOT TO BE USED. Growers will be charged an additional load fee of $6.00 in addition to the normal space fee when additional product is brought into the Market to re-supply their spaces. At the time all products are sold, seller is to notify the gate personnel if they wish to hold the space or clean and vacate their spaces if they are vacating the space (everything -- vehicles, trailers, tables, containers, waste, etc. must be removed from the Market). Growers are not to hold spaces with vehicles, trailers or small amounts of produce. Such items may be removed by Market personnel. Market users are to remove vehicles, products or property as directed by the Market Management.
- Sellers may not offer for sale produce that is unsound, unwholesome or which fails to meet the requirements of federal, state or local laws. Sellers may sell only food or plant items and other items that are handcrafted from natural products of the farm. Growers with perishable products such as fresh produce or plants may supplement the sell of these products with their farm type crafts, which might include for instance, items made from plant products such as handmade birdfeeders, baskets and dried flower arrangements, but would not include items such as ceramics, plastic picture frames or clothing items not hand spun at home or on the farm. Commercially manufactured farm, craft and baked good items are prohibited in the farmers areas. In order for growers to sell baked goods and canned items sellers must provide proof of kitchen inspection and label products. The Food and Drug Protection Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services handles the inspection. Contact Danny Huffman at 9l9-733-7366. Growers wishing to sell craft or baked good items must meet with Market Management prior to offering them for sale. No canned vegetables are to be sold.
Sellers that plan to use the words “organically grown” or “pesticide free” must meet with Market Management to discuss their intentions prior to using them on signs in their spaces. In the event no one is in the office at the time you wish to sell, products could be sold, but without the use of the words “organic” or “pesticide free” until a meeting is scheduled with Management.
Plants needing to be sprayed should be returned to the farm for treatment.
All live nursery stock (winter hard trees, shrubs, vines, perennial bulbs, turf grass, narcissus bulbs, strawberry plants, iris and daylily plants, rose plants, etc.) offered for sale must be properly certified by the state where they were produced to be apparently free of injurious plant pests and free of quarantined plant pests. Certificates making these statements must be maintained on-site for all nursery stock on hand and for non-nursery stock plants originating out-of-state. Contact Dan Wall at 9l9-733-6930 with the Plant Protection Section of the N.C. Department of Agriculture.
No live animals or birds may be sold in the farmers areas. No seafood, meats or eggs may be sold from ice chests. In order to sell meats or seafood in the farmers areas, growers must request a copy of the SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR SELLING MEAT, POULTRY AND SEAFOOD IN THE FARMERS AREAS, then meet with market management to discuss the methods intended for transporting, handling, storing and displaying of the products.
Customer Complaints: It is the responsibility of the market user to satisfy customer complaints. Upon receipt of numerous complaints about the same Market user, this person may be denied privilege to use the Market. If anyone has a complaint about another grower, be specific – write information and give to Manager. Market Manager may deny any person the privilege of operating on the Market who is using methods that are detrimental to the Market including the violation of Market rules.
Sellers are not to use a false pack (facing or topping of containers with the best products exposed and poor products underneath) or to knowingly pack products that are short in weight.
- All sellers who retail must display their name (or farm name) and address. All other signs must be approved by the Market office. All displays and signs for retail sales must be oriented towards the center aisle. Use of price cards are encouraged and may be purchased at the gatehouse for a small fee.
Sellers are responsible for accidents or injuries that occur within their rented space or involving their displays or equipment (trailers, tables, signs, umbrellas, etc.) and may want to purchase a liability insurance policy. Sellers may be asked to sign a statement about their use of and acceptance of responsibility for potentially dangerous items used in their spaces. Example: use of chain saws for Christmas trees.
No user of the Market shall enter into price agreements to raise, lower or fix prices for products on the Market. Sellers are not to influence other sellers to sell lower or higher. Each one sells as they wish without interference.
Electricity - No charge for scales and cash registers. Televisions are not permitted. Check with office or gatehouse regarding any use of electricity. Electrical charges: $l.00 per day for each small cooler, coffee pot or fan, $2.00 per day for each heater or bean and pea sheller.
Growers with product being delivered to Building F (Retail) must pay a Retail Building delivery fee. Certified growers from out-of-state will pay a double rate and must sell only their own products (Only the grower and his or her spouse or their children, living with them may sell). Out-of-state growers are not allowed to designate other growers or employees to sell their products and may not sell to other growers within the farmers areas. Sellers are to stay with their products and are not to approach or call out to buyers who are at the location of another seller.
Sellers who give out samples must be responsible for the seeds, skins, pits, rinds or juice.
No disruptive or loud noise makers are permitted. Examples: radios, tape decks, drums, musical instruments, etc.
Parking spaces and gravel areas are not to be used to store chairs, tables, baskets, trailers, etc. Please help the Market maintain and keep restrooms clean. Report dirty or unclean conditions to the gatemen or maintenance personnel.
Market users, sellers or buyers are not to use profanity, abusive language or verbally abuse other Market users, customers or staff.
No dogs or pets are to be kept on the Market or in buildings.
Children must be supervised and not allowed to roam or interfere with other sellers.
Unsold produce should be carried home, donated to Food Programs, or offered to livestock feeders. Seller’s produce, plants, packaging or other trash should not be placed in dumpsters or trash cans on the Market. Aluminum cans are not to be mixed with other trash. North Carolina State law requires that these cans be stored separately and recycled.
Vehicles must be driven only by licensed drivers who observe the speed limit and posted signs.
No person shall deface or damage the Market buildings, pavement or other equipment.
Gambling, the use of alcohol or other controlled substances is prohibited and persons under the influence of intoxicants or exhibiting disorderly conduct can be removed. Sellers are not to possess firearms or fireworks on the Market.
Users must keep their areas clean, sanitary and orderly. No homesteading is allowed.
Salamander heaters will not be permitted.
Sellers in the farmers area are not to use the coolers of wholesale or enclosed retail tenants.
Notify the office if you discover product is missing and appears to have been stolen.
These guidelines are authorized by the North Carolina Administrative Code governing State Farmers Markets and have been recommended by the Market Operational Advisory Committee.
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