Farmers Markets, Public Markets

Contents

• About Farmers Markets
• Regulations Relating to Farmers Markets
• Local Government Sponsored Farmers Markets
• Farmers Market Facilities and Contracts for Facility Use
• Farmers Markets Licensing, Permitting, and Policy
• Sample Farmers Market Rules and Regulations
• Marketing and Tourist Promotions
• Farmers Markets and Food Security
• Additional Reference Sources
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Special Events Permits 
  • Street Banners

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 USDA Marketing Service, as of mid-2010, there were 6,132 farmers markets operating throughout the U.S. This is a 16 percent increase from 2009.

• Farmers Markets - U.S. Department of Agriculture,  Agricultural Marketing Service
• Farmers Market Search - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service
• Local Harvest - Maintains a public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources
• Markets - Project for Public Spaces
  • The Great Revival of Public Markets, by Steve Davies, Project for Public Spaces, October 2005
    

Regulations Relating to Farmers Markets

• Farmer and gardener licensing exemptions -  RCW 36.71.090
• Health Regulations  - See individual county health regulations
  • Washington State Department of Health Food Safety
  • King County Board of Health Title R5 - Food Establishments () See R 5.08 Produce Stands and Vehicles and R 5.65 Food Demonstration and Food Promotion
• Music at Farmers Market may require licensing for use - There are three performing rights organizations, each of which administers a separate catalog of musical works. ASCAP, BMI and SESAC  have substantial rosters of composers, authors, and publishers. 
   
  • American Society Composers, Authors, and Publishers  (ASCAP)
    • ASCAP Licensing FAQs - Licensing of music played at farmers markets
    • Why a Local Government Needs a License to Play Music () - Brochure and description of model license developed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in conjunction with the International Municipal Lawyers Association
  • BMI Licensing
  • SESAC Licensing
• Sale of Washington Produced Wine at Farmers Markets - Liquor Control Board Brochure ()

Local Government Sponsored Farmers Markets

• Auburn International Farmers Market (Auburn, Algona, Pacific)
  • Auburn Municipal Code Ch. 2.96 - Auburn International Farmers Market Advisory Board
• Burlington Municipal Code Ch. 2.30 - Burlington Farmers Market Department
• Issaquah Farmers Market  - Parks and Recreation
  • Issaquah Farmers Market Application Guidelines ()
• Kirkland Juanita Friday Market - The Juanita Friday Market (JFM) is operated by the City of Kirkland, Parks and Community Services Department
  • Juanita Friday Market Rules and Regulations ()
• Si View Metropolitan Park District  North Bend Farmers Market– The North Bend Farmers Market (NBFM) is sponsored by Si View Metro Parks. The Market has been established for the  benefit of the community, the vendor and the consumer alike.
  • North Bend Farmers Market Information Packet ()
• Snoqualmie
  • Snoqualmie Personal Services Agreement  with Trinity Lavender Farm, LLC to to plan, produce, and oversee the operation of all aspects of the 2008 Snoqualmie Farmers Market on behalf of the City of Snoqualmie
  • Responsibility of Contractor ()
  • Bylaws of Snoqualmie Farmers Market Association
• Steilacoom Market Guidelines - The Steilacoom Farmers’ Market (the Market) is facilitated, coordinated, and managed by the Town of Steilacoom

Farmers Market Facilities and Contracts for Facility Use

• Bellingham
  • Bellingham Depot Market Square 
    • Market Depot Brochure ()
    • Bellingham Farmers Market
    • Bellingham Depot Market Square Facility Use Agreement () with Bellingham Farmers Market Association, term 2009-2016
  • Bellingham  Facilities Use Agreement Bellingham Farmers Market at Fairhaven (), term ends 9/11
• Olympia
  • Olympia Municipal Code Ch. 5.18 - Farmers Market (Master License)
  • The Farmers Market agreement  () for operation and maintenance, Term 2/2006-2/2010
  • Olympia and the Olympia Farmers Market operations and maintenance agreement (),Term 3/2010-3/2015
• San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild Friday Harbor Brickworks Project - A project to help local farmers establish a Permanent Farmers’ Market (PFM) as a major component for successful marketing of local agricultural goods in the islands
  • Brickworks Business Plan Permanent Farmers‘ Market and Event Center (), A project of the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, August 2010
• Snohomish County - Reardon Unveils Concept for Premier Ag Market Center, Media Advisory, 1/7/11  -  Creation of a 60,000 square-foot agriculture center that will house a full-time, year-round indoor farmers’ market, commercial kitchen and processing facility as well as farm-product distribution hub.

Farmers Market Licensing, Permitting, and Policy 

• Zoning for Public Markets and Street Vendors, Zoning Practice, February 2009  -  APA Member Log In   and MRSC Library Loan
• Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 4.90 - Community Oriented Open Air Markets (Licensing of Market Site)
• Pierce County Code, Section 5.10.020 () - Farmers Permit
• Poulsbo
  • Poulsbo Ordinance No. 2004-02 () - 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 () - Establishes conditions for granting license to the Poulsbo Farmers Market, 2/04
  • Poulsbo Resolution No. 2005-1 () - Grants an ongoing license to the Poulsbo Farmers Market, 1/05
• Seattle Farmers Markets - Department of Economic Development
  • Seattle Ordinance No. 123090 - Adopts and authorizes the establishment of a program regarding farmers markets, 9/21/09

  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 Zoning Code Ch. 21.46- Temporary Uses (see Sec. 21.46.030(B)(8))
  • Vancouver Municipal Code  Ch. 20.885 - Temporary Uses

Sample Farmers Market Rules and Regulations

• Carnation Farmers Market
  • Vendor Information-  Guidelines and Policies
• Duvall Farmers Market - Policies and Vendor Application
• Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets - Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
• Tacoma Farmers Market
  • Tacoma Farmers Market Vendor Information  

Handbooks and Guides

• Farmers Markets Rules, Regulations and Opportunities (), by Neil D. Hamilton, National AgLaw Center Publications via Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, July 2001
• Small Farm and Direct Marketing Handbook: Regulations and Strategies for Farm Businesses in Washington State, “The Green Book” - Washington State Department of Agriculture, 2010
• Parkland/Spanaway Farmers Market Guide and Policy Manual (), produced by Pierce County Parks and Recreation, 2007 
• Market Membership Guidelines - Washington State Farmers Market Association

Marketing and Tourist Promotions

• Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook - University of Arizona Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics
• Farm Markets and Local Food Marketing - U.S. Department of Agriculture, gricultural Marketing Service
• Market Member Directory  - Washington State Farmers Market Association
• Marketing at Farmers Markets (), King County Extension, Agricultural and Natural Resources Fact Sheet 527  See also other Marketing Fact Sheets (Scroll down page)
• Puget Sound Fresh -  King County
• Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets - Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
• Vancouver Farmers Market

Farmers Markets and Food Security

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

Additional Reference Sources

• Establishing and Operating a Community Farmers Market (), University of Kentucky, Cooperative Extension, AEC 77
• Farmers Market Coalition - A nonprofit membership organization dedicated to strengthening farmers markets across the United States so that they can serve as community assets while providing real income opportunities for farmers. See About FMC 
  • Farmers Market Coaltion Resource Library
• King County Farmers Market Report - King County Agriculture - Summary and Supplemental Information
  • King County Farmers Market Report (), prepared by King County Agricultural Program, Department of Land Resources and Parks, February 2010
• Market Resources - Oregon Farmers' Markets Association  
• Planting a Seed:  Urban Farmers Markets, by Lory Pendergraph, PAS Memo, American Planning Association, December 2003.  Library Loan. 
• Puget Sound Area 2010 Farm Guide () - King County Farm Fresh
• Washington State Farmers Market Association - Includes directory of farmers markets

Farmers Markets, Public Markets Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Public markets, Farmers Markets, Saturday markets