HOPE STREET FARMERS MARKET
2017 PRODUCER APPLICATION due February 1, 2017
Information for Applicants
The goal of Hope Street Farmers Market is to foster a market with a diversity of locally grown
and produced foods that are accessible to all segments of the community and unrivaled in
quality and freshness.
The Hope Street Markets are held at Lippitt Park in Providence, beginning in May and
running to the end of October. The Saturday market is one of the busiest in Rhode Island
and adds only a few vendor spaces each year so that market growth is thoughtful, manageable
and sustainable. In 2011 the market members opened a Wednesday afternoon market and in
2013 a once-per-month Saturday market guest vendor program was introduced. Priority for
new vendors is given to products not already offered at the market.
The market was conceived as a cooperative venture by the first members and has continued in
this tradition. All members participate in some aspect of market management, from serving
on a committee to organizing a special event, or assisting with marketing. Members are
expected to attend the meetings that open and close each season.
Email is used as the primary form of communication on market matters. Business or farm
principals are encouraged to attend the market at least once per month, and when not
attending are required to pass on market information to their staff in a timely manner.
Each week market vendors make a contribution of their goods in appreciation of market
musicians, who donate their time. Occasionally we ask for a product gift as recompense for
professional services, such as legal fees, in order to keep seasonal vendor fees as low as
possible.
Please read the Market Rules carefully to make sure you understand the structure and
expectations of acceptance into the market.
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APPLICATION PROCESS AND CRITERIA:
The Hope Street Farmers Market Association accepts applications from farmers and food
artisans in RI, MA or CT.
All prospective new vendors must provide current proof of insurance, with business name and
liability coverage. A current copy of RI Retail Sales Permit, if applicable, and any other
relevant permits/licenses, Health Dept., etc. Applicants must read and agree to our market
rules and food safety rules. They must fill out our vendor application and submit it along with
the application fee by the stated due date. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Hope Street Farmers Market is a juried market. A submitted application does not
guarantee approval into our market. That is determined by our market association's members
via an application committee review process and full general membership vote which takes
place in the spring. Applicants are then informed by mail of the market's decision as to
whether or not their application has been accepted for the upcoming market season.
7 ways we determine if a potential vendor is correct for our market:
1. Does the applicant have all the correct licensing, insurance and permits to sell and has
paid the application fee by the designated due date?
2. Does the applicant have a product that will add to the overall diversity of the market
without negatively impacting the financial success of current full time vendors?
3. Does the applicant have a cooperative and supportive spirit and reputation that will
serve this organization?
4. Does the applicant have a good reputation with other vendors and market managers in
the state and region?
5. Can the applicant sustain the level of product production to service an entire season of
the farmers' market?
6. Does the applicant have the ability to pay all fees and volunteer his/her time to assist
with the growth of the market?
7. Is the applicant's product raised, grown and/or made from locally harvested sources?
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2017 Hope Street Farmers Market Vendor Application
Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., May 6 – October 28
Wednesdays 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., May 31 – October 25
Check if you are applying to be a new vendor
Check if you are a current vendor
Check if you are applying to be a Saturday only full-time vendor
Check if you are applying to be a Wednesday only full-time vendor
Check if you are applying to be both a Saturday and a Wednesday full-time vendor
Check if you are interested in applying as a Saturday market guest vendor if not
accepted as a Saturday market full-time vendor
Check if you are growing organically
CONTACT INFORMATION
Farm/ Business Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Farm or Business Address _____________________________________________________________________________________
City, state and zip ________________________________________________________________________________________________
E-mail ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Website ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Cell ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Other _________________________________________________________________________________________________
How many 10 foot tent spaces would you like? Saturday and Wednesday full-time vendors:
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1. PRODUCT INFORMATION
Please attach a list of foods and products you propose to sell. Returning vendors,
please clearly mark or highlight all new products you wish to sell. Include all
products, be specific, and write legibly. You may only sell products listed on this
application and accepted by the Membership/Application Committee. Please read the
following information specific to your products to understand what information to
include.
Farmer Members admitted prior to 2010 are allowed to buy in 20% of what they sell at
the Saturday market only, if purchased from farms in RI, MA or CT. The farm name &
state of origin must be clearly labeled on bought in products.
Members admitted after 2009 are required to grow or produce 100% of what they sell.
Artisan food products must be crafted in RI, MA or CT and made with local
ingredients if those ingredients are available locally. We require the display of the farm
name and state origins for locally sourced ingredients.
Local ingredients market policy:
The market has implemented a new requirement for all Prepared Food and Food &
Drink Artisan vendors to follow. This policy now requires that a majority of all
ingredients that are available locally must be purchased from a local source (Rhode
Island and/or up to 150 miles). This percentage does not include ingredients that are
not available in our region. Grains and flour are excluded, however, we encourage their
use if available locally.
Full details will be provided to all prepared food vendors regarding this requirement if
accepted into the market for the upcoming season.
PRODUCT LIST FOR FARMERS ONLY
Returning Farmers: please clearly mark all new products you wish to be sell in 2017
 List of products grown on your farm
 List of products grown on land other than your farm
 List of products bought by you for resale (pre-2010 members only)
 List location(s) where you grow and what is grown at each location
PRODUCERS AND FARMERS SELLING VALUE ADDED/ARTISAN PRODUCTS
Returning Vendors: please clearly mark all new products you wish to sell in 2017
 List local ingredients you intend to use
 List all products you intend to sell
 List all products not made by you that you intend to sell (pre-2010 members
only)
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PRODUCT LIST FOR PREPARED FOOD VENDORS
Returning Vendors: please clearly mark all new products you wish to bring in 2017
 Explain how your products support local agriculture
 List local products used in your menu
 List your proposed menu
 Describe your availability during the market season
2. MARKETING INFORMATION
For new applicants only: Include a descriptive paragraph about your business in your
application packet, and also email it to [email protected] for use in our
publicity and marketing.
3. LIABILITY INSURANCE
Each market participant must carry liability insurance (you may have coverage under
your home owner’s policy, renters or business policy – please check with your
insurance agent.) Please attach a copy of your certificate of insurance or a copy of
your insurance policy and make a calendar note to send in your new certificate if it
renews during the market season.
4. SALES TAX PERMIT
Please include a copy of your current Permit to Make Sales at Retail Certificate, which
is renewed annually in June. Please go to www.ri.gov/taxation/BAR/ for more
information on this form or to register your business.
5. HEALTH DEPARTMENT CERTIFICATION
Any prepared or processed foods must show proof of RI Health Dept. certification for
the facility in which the product was prepared. We require the display of the farm and
state origins for locally sourced ingredients. In addition, all new prepared food vendors
will need to provide us with an operational plan which has been approved by the
Health Dept.
6. VENDOR FEES
 The annual membership fee of $50 is due with your application
 Saturday season dues: $650 per 10 foot tent. ½ Payments are due on May 6th and
July 29th. (Fee subject to change)
 Wednesday season dues: $400 per 10 foot tent. ½ Payments are due on May 6th
and July 29th. (Fee subject to change)
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
Saturday market guest vendor fee: $40.00 per market. Payment due 2 weeks before
scheduled market date. (Fee subject to change)
7. REQUESTED MARKET DATES (Saturday market guest vendor applicants only).
Please select the Saturday market dates you are available to participate in.
May
June
July
August
September
October
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13
20
27
3
10
17
24
1
8
15
22
29
5
12
19
26
2
9
16
23
30
7
14
21
28
8. New applicants - Please provide a list of current or past farmers’ markets attended:
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FOOD SAFETY RULES - 2017
Section 1: Temperature
Seafood: All fish and shellfish must be at 41 degrees or less. Shellfish should never be in
contact with pooling water.
Eggs: All eggs must be at 41 degrees or less.
Bakery items such as sandwiches or calzones must be at 41 degrees or less.
All frozen items such as meat, must be kept frozen.
Section 2: Display of Bakery Items
All bakery items must be either behind a sneeze guard or individually wrapped. Any
individually wrapped item must contain a list of ingredients.
Section 3: Sampling
a) All self-serve samples must be in individual serving cups and protected by a sneeze
guard. Self-serve samples may also be in a sample dispenser.
b) Vendors passing out samples of their wares must have samples protected by a sneeze
guard. Vendors must wear clean food grade non-latex gloves while passing out
samples.
c) All vegetables and fruits cut for sampling must be clean. The preparer must have clean
hands or clean non-latex food grade gloves and use a clean cutting board and knife. If
cutting is to be done at market, vendor must have a way to clean cutting boards and
knives or bring extra cutting boards and knives. If cutting is to be done at home,
samples must be transported to market in a clean or sterile container.
d) Any product requiring refrigeration (see section 1) must be kept at proper temperature
for sampling.
Section 4: Storage
All vendors under the jurisdiction of the Health Department must keep their product six
inches off of the ground.
All vegetable and fruit farmers must keep their product off of the ground. A tarp is sufficient if
you cannot adhere to the six inch rule.
Section 5: Sanitation
All vendors who take a break to eat, smoke or to use the bathroom must wash their hands
before returning to market. Wash stations are required for vendors dealing with unpackaged
fish and shellfish. In addition, other vendors are encourages to set up their own hand washing
station. Note: hand sanitizer does not take the place of washing hands with soap and water.
Section 6: Licensing
All vendors must have the appropriate licenses for their business.
All meat must be processed in a USDA facility. All poultry must be processed in a USDA
facility unless that farmer has a USDA poultry exemption.
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HOPE STREET FARMERS MARKET
2017 MARKET RULES AND CONTRACT
Farm or business name: __________________________________________________________
Your name: ___________________________________________________________________
I/we would like to participate in the Hope Street Farmers Market 2017 season.
I/we have read, understood and agree to abide by the Hope Street Market Rules,
Food Safety Rules; cooperate with the Market Manager and the Board; pay the
required fees and submit all required certificates as they are required and/or renewed.
I/we agree to observe safe food handling practices.
I/we agree to attend all markets regardless of weather.
I/we agree to make every effort to make the market a success and a positive
experience for the customers, vendors, and the host location.
Signature ___________________________________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________________________________
Required documents and fees are enclosed in the amount of _____________
Checks should be made to Hope Street Farmers Market Association.
*The Hope Street Farmers Market Association reserves the right to deny any vendor application.
**Applicants who have not been offered a space at the market as a full-time vendor or guest vendor for the 2017
season will have their application fee refunded minus the $10.00 administrative fee.
Send complete application packets to
Hope Street Farmers Market Association,
PO Box 41516, Providence, RI 02940
Email any questions to market manager at [email protected]
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APPLICATION PACKET CHECKLIST
**an administrative fee of $50 will be charged for incomplete applications.
Application and product list, availability and acreage
Descriptive Paragraph of your operation (new vendors only)
Any promotional article about your products or business
Application fee ($50.00) [includes a non-refundable $10.00 administrative fee.]
Market Rules and Contract Signature Page
Food Safety Rules Signature Page
Current proof of insurance, with business name and liability coverage
Current copy of RI Retail Sales Permit, if applicable
Any other relevant permits, Health Dept., etc.
Current Organic Certificate if marketing products as organically grown
Products offered are not currently available at the Hope Street Farmers Market
Please keep a copy of the application materials for your records.
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