Market Policies
Farm and Fish Vendors
Prepared Food Vendors
Non-Food/Craft Vendors
Education Organizations
Kids Activities
Exceptions

Click here to download a vendor application

Market Policies

Applications: Anyone wishing to set up a booth must submit the attached application with a $50 Membership/Application Fee.

Attendance: Farm and fish vendors are expected to attend every week. If two markets are missed during the season the Market Manager has the authority to cancel a vendor’s participation and offer the space to another vendor on the waiting list. The Market Manager will handle extenuating circumstances as they arise. Depending on interest from community crafters, participation of craft vendors will rotate to create a diversity of products.

Start and Stop times: The Market will open at 3:30 p.m., which will be signaled by the ringing of a bell. No sales are allowed before the opening bell. The Market will close at 6:30 p.m. All vendors are expected to shut down promptly. Vendors may arrive anytime after 2:30 p.m. to set-up, must be fully set up by 3:30 p.m., and must stay until the close of the Market.

Rain or Shine: The market will be held “rain or shine” – unless the weather is dangerous. The Market Manager will notify vendors of a cancellation due to extreme weather.

Booth Fees: The Market Manager will collect booth fees during the last hour of each Market. The price is $25.00 per 10 x 10 space per week: 10’ x 10’ ($25/week) 10 x 20 ($50/week) 10 x 30 ($75) 20 x 30 ($150/week) Additionally, there is a $25 fee for parking your vehicle at the booth site.

Utilities: We can provide limited electricity with advance notice. We will also make available warm & cold water, soap, paper towels, and restrooms.

Tent Rentals: We have a limited supply of tents available for vendors who come to the market occasionally. Rental fees are $10.00 per day.

Liability Insurance: Vendors must show proof of their own liability insurance; some cottage industries buy liability insurance through associations or guilds, other through homeowners. If you would like more information please contact the Market Manager.

Parking: Due to limited space and safety issues, vendors’ vehicles are not allowed on-site during the market. (Special arrangements can be made with the Market Manager on as needed bases). Vehicles will be allowed on the market site for loading and unloading before and after the Market. Parking is available in an adjacent lot.

No Hawking: Business must be conducted from inside the booth. Performers may wander the field.

Gratuity basket for performers: The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market is eager to have performers, such as musicians, clowns, jugglers and storytellers perform at each market. Since they are not paid and they bring more business to the market, all vendors will be asked to contribute goods to a gratuity basket that the Market Manager or a member of the CAFM Advisory Committee will collect at each market and give to the performer as payment for performing at the market.

Product Diversity: To promote product diversity and the profitability of existing vendors the CAFM reserves the right to restrict the number of vendors selling similar products. We will give preference to the products that are the most local and sustainably produced, and to seniority at the market.

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Farm and Fish Vendors

Local Food only: All produce must be from your farm or a neighboring farm. Up to 25% can be from neighboring farms, but no GMOs. The Market will provide signs to hang on your tent above produce that is “Grown without the use pesticides or chemical fertilizers”. We will also provide signs that say “Grown with IPM”. These are designed to promote conversation about the health and ecosystem advantages of different growing methods. Only locally landed fish should be sold at the market.

Farm Booth Workers: We want citizens to learn about where their food comes from. Towards that end, we ask that at least one person from the farmers’ immediate family or an employee who works on the farm at least half the time be present at the market. This person should be able (and thrilled) to speak knowledgably about the growing process from experience working the farm. We recognize the difficulty of having growers at the market and ask you to talk to the Market Manager if this presents a problem.

Coupons: We recommend that farms get certified to accept Massachusetts Farmers’ Market coupons. Farmers must apply to MA Dept of Agricultural Resources by mid May. Call Lisa Damon at 617-626-1731 fo r more info. (Only farms may accept Farmers’ Market coupons, and only for fresh produce)

Backyard Growers: We are strongly interested in promoting backyard growing at the market towards building a sustainable food system on Cape Ann. Backyard growers are not allowed to undercut the prices of professional farmers. However, given that they only have one opportunity each week to sell the produce they have harvested, the backyard growers will be allowed to discount their produce during the last ½ hour of the market. If the professional farmers wish to do so as well this would support our efforts to get good local food in the hands of the low income people in our community.

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Prepared Food Vendors

Local Prepared Food only: Baked goods, jams, jellies, and similar prepared foods may be sold if made by the vendor. The maker should be at the market.

Health/Food Permits: Vendors of any prepared or ready to eat foods must provide a copy of their health permit from their hometown; preferably with this application. Generally, health departments require that prepared food be made in a commercial kitchen. In addition, the Gloucester Board of Health requires vendors to fill out the attached Mobile Food Unit form. Food must be served using ServSafe methods. Visit the Gloucester Health Department (at the CATA building, 978-281-9771) for permits and ServSafe instructions.

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Non-Food/Craft Vendors

Locally made items only: Crafts at the market must be high quality, locally made, take skill and creativity. Preference will be given to crafts that use recycled, natural and local materials.

Artist sellers: We ask that the artist/maker of the goods be at the market though we do expect that many crafts people will cooperate to sell each other’s work on a rotating basis.

The Farmers’ Market Committee Sales: The CAFM may sell t-shirts, water bottles, bags and other products to complement the market and help pay for the market operations.

Visiting Vendors: Any vendor wishing to participate in one to three markets will be considered a visiting vendor and does not have to pay the $50 membership/application fee. If a group of artisans self organize and collectively sell throughout the market season we would ask them to join the CAFM and pay the $50 registration/membership.

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Education Organizations

The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market will make 1-3 booths available for free each week to educational non-profit organizations. Preference will be given to the following topics:
Agrarian Living: organic gardening, backyard chickens, backyard composting, local/bioregional food systems and fair trade, green lawn care, native plants, invasive plants, local birds, rain barrels etc
Sustainability: alternative energy (wind, water, solar, bio-diesel, etc.), green building, carbon footprint, recycling, etc.
Local Fisheries: fisheries practices, boats and ropes, sustainable fisheries, fisheries economics, etc.
Nutrition: healthy eating, canning and preserves, etc.
Cape Ann History: arts, culture, people, etc. We encourage activities that promote community based, civic engagement.
Petitions and issue focused campaigns are encouraged. Partisan and candidate focused politics are discouraged. Any sales or fundraising activity must be clearly identified on the application and must be approved prior to the market.Educational organization that are selling or fundraising will be charged the standard $25 for a 10x10 booth. However, if the primary purpose is to sell the organization's goods (e.g. raffle tickets) or to solicit contributions, the application is likely to be rejected.

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Kids Activities

The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market strives to have a kid's activity at 4:00 p.m. at every Farmers’ Market. Community organizations or businesses are invited to sponsor and organize an interactive activity appropriate for kids ages 3 – 10. Activities should engage the arts, food, gardening or physical activities consistent with a farmers’ market.

Exceptions: The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee may make exceptions to any of these policies, but is expected to do so very rarely.

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