Farmers Markets, Public Markets

Contents

• About Farmers Markets
• Local Government Regulations
• Sample Market Regulations
• Other Related Regulations
• Marketing and Tourist Promotions
• Farmers Markets and Food Security
• Reference Sources

About Farmers Markets

Farmers markets are an integral part in the urban/farm linkage. They are businesses that contribute to local economic development and offer a tourism attraction. Farmers markets have risen in popularity, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm. The number of farmers markets in the United States has grown dramatically, increasing 79 percent from 1994 to 2002. According to the 2002 National Farmers Market Directory, there are over 3,100 farmers markets operating in the United States.

• Farmers Market Facts - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Fact Sheet
• The Great Revival of Public Markets - Project for Public Spaces, October 2005 

Local Government Markets and Regulations

• RCW 36.71.090 - Farmers and gardeners exemption from licensing
• Burlington Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 - Burlington Farmers Market Department
• Edmonds Municipal Code Chapter 4.90 - Community Oriented Open Air Markets (Licensing of Market Site)
• Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 5.18 - Farmers Market (Master License)
• Pierce County Code, Section 5.10.020 ( 3 67 KB) - Farmers Permit
• Poulsbo
  • Poulsbo Ordinance No. 2004-02 ( 22 KB) - Grants  license to the Poulsbo Farmers Market to conduct a farmers market on private property from July to October 2004, 2-04.
  • Poulsbo Resolution No. 2004-03 ( 15 KB) - Establishes conditions for granting license to the Poulsbo Farmers Market, 2-04.
  • Poulsbo Resolution No. 2005-1 ( 14 KB) - Grants an ongoing license to the Poulsbo Farmers Market, 1-05

Sample Market Regulations

• Burien Farmers Market Rules ( 142 KB) - Discover Burien
• Carnation Farmers Market
  • Carnation Farmers Market 2007 Guidelines and Policies
  • Vendor Application (2007)
• Duvall Farmers Market - Policies and Vendor Application
• Port Townsend Farmers Market Vendor Page - Market Guidelines
• Tacoma Farmers Market
  • Tacoma Farmers Market Vendor Rules ( 50 KB)
• Handbooks and Guides
  • Farmers Markets Rules, Regulations and Opportunities ( 125 KB), by Neil D. Hamilton, National AgLaw Center Publications
  • The Handbook of Regulations for Direct Farm Marketing, “The Green Book” (1.03 MB), Washington State Department of Agriculture, 2006
  • Market Membership Guidelines - Washington State Farmers Market Association

Other Related Regulations

• Special Events Permits, MRSC
• Street Banners, MRSC
• Health Regulations
  • King County Board of Health, Title R5 - Food Establishments ( 78 KB) See R 5.08 Produce Stands and Vehicles and R 5.65 Food Demonstration and Food Promotion
• Sale of Washington Produced Wine at Farmers Markets  Liquor Control Board Brochure ( 72 KB) 
• Temporary Use Permits that Include Produce Stands
  • Oak Harbor Municipal Code, Ch. 19.35 - Temporary Use Permits
  • Puyallup Municipal Code, Section 20.70.016 - Temporary Uses 
  • Redmond Community Development Code, 20D.190.10 - Temporary Uses  
  • Vancouver Municipal Code,  Ch. 20.885 - Temporary Uses  

Marketing and Tourist Promotions

• Directory of Washington State Farmers Markets - Washington State Farmers Market Association
• Puget Sound Fresh, King County
• Bellingham Depot Market Square 
  • Brochure ( 421 KB)- City of Bellingham 
  • Mayor Announces Plans for Depot Market (2004) - City of Bellingham Feature Stories
  • Depot Market Dedication (2006) - City of Bellingham News Feature Stories
  • Bellingham Farmers Market
• Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets - Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
• Vancouver Farmers Market

Farmers Markets and Food Security

• Farmers Market Nutrition Program - Washington State University
• WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program - US Department of Agriculture
• Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - U.S Department of Agriculture
• National Association of Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs

Reference Sources

• Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook - University of Arizona Dept. of Agricultural & Resource Economics
• Establishing and Operating a Community Farmers Market ( 155 KB), University of Kentucky, Cooperative Extension, AEC 77
• Farmers Markets and Direct-to-Consumer Marketing - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
• Farmers' Markets and Rural Economic Development - Community Economic Development Tool Box, joint collaboration between Cornell University and Penn State University and is maintained by the Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) located at Cornell University
• Farmers Markets in Washington State: Survey of Operations and Activities ( 51 KB) - WSU Extension Benton Franklin County, 1996
• Puget Sound Area Farmers Markets - King County
• Resources and Information About Farmers Markets - USDA Agricultural Marketing Service  (Note to User URL to change mid-August 2006)
• Marketing at Farmers Markets ( 83 KB), King County Extension, Agricultural and Natural Resources Fact Sheet 527  See also other Marketing Fact Sheets (Scroll down page)
• Market Resource Library - Oregon Farmers' Markets Association
• The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association (FARMA)
• Planting a Seed:  Urban Farmers Markets, by Lory Pendergraph, PAS Memo, American Planning Association, December 2003.  Library Loan. 
• Washington State Farmers Market Association - Includes directory of farmers markets