Melrose Farmers’ Market 2024 Market Rules

Site: Bowden Park, Jct. of W. Emerson and Cedar Park, Melrose

Dates: Thursdays June 6 - October 31, 1pm-6pm 

Purpose:

The mission of the Melrose Farmers Market is to promote the creation and consumption of locally produced foods; to make such foods accessible to all; to educate participants about the nutritional, environmental and economic implications of the food we eat; to provide a forum for issues of local importance, including educational and non-profit groups; and to foster community.

Market Policies:

Application: All vendors wishing to sell at the Melrose Farmers’ Market must submit an application along with other required documents, which may include proof of liability insurance and a Board of Health Certificate for prepared food items. 

Attendance: All vendors must attend every week they signed up for, unless other arrangements have been made with the Market Manager or Executive Director. The Market Manager or Executive Director has the authority to cancel a vendor’s participation if this Attendance Policy is violated. Extenuating circumstances can be discussed with the Market Manager or Executive Director. 

Hours: The Melrose Farmers Market will operate every Thursday from June 6 - October 31, 2024,  from 1pm - 6pm in Bowden Park at the corners of W. Emerson Street and Cedar Park in Melrose. Vendors can show up any time after 11am and must complete setup by 1pm. Vendors are expected to shut down promptly after the market closes. Sales may begin at 12:30pm (soft opening), but the market is officially open at 1pm.

Rain or Shine: The Melrose Farmers’ Market is open rain or shine every week. In the case of extreme weather, the Market Manager may cancel the market for safety concerns. No refunds will be given due to weather cancellation. 

Space Fees: There is a weekly space fee of $40 per 10x10 tent (2 tents max). Additional space behind forward-facing tents may be purchased for $30 per tent (2 tents max). We encourage you to pay in full for the season, 4 weeks in advance of your FIRST scheduled market date. If you pay in advance, you will receive a discounted rate of $35 per market. However, if you choose to pay monthly, you may make payments by the 1st of each month for that month's vendor fee at the $40 rate per market. All space fees must be paid at least two weeks prior to your scheduled market or your space may be terminated, unless other arrangements have been made with the Market Manager or Executive Director.

Vendor Parking: Parking must be outside of the market area. Prompt loading and unloading immediately adjacent to the park will be permitted only. Vendors may park in the neighborhood streets a few blocks from the park or in the Trinity Church parking lot. ***PARKING IN THE TRAIN STATION PARKING LOT OF OR THE STREETS NEAR THE MARKET IS NOT PERMITTED.***

Utilities: Limited electrical utilities are provided, subject to electrical updates in the park. If you need to use electricity, you must get permission from the Market Manager at least two weeks prior to your scheduled market. A fee may be charged for the use of electricity. Toilet facilities are available via an outdoor porta-potty. 

Setup: Please bring your own tent and table. We strongly recommend you have a tent to shade you from the sun or protect you from any inclement weather, as we cannot guarantee spots in the shade. You are required to adequately anchor your tent with weights according to manufacturer’s recommendations for safety - YOU MAY NOT USE STAKES TO ANCHOR YOUR TENT DUE TO A SHALLOW IRRIGATION SYSTEM. If you need to rent a table and/or tent from the market, you will be charged a $15 setup fee. Please let the Market Manager know in advance if you need to rent a tent by emailing melrosefarmersmarket@gmail.com. 

Carry In, Carry Out: All vendors are required to honor our carry in - carry out policy. Please clean your area and do not leave garbage. If you are selling prepared food, please provide a receptacle for customers to dispose of their food waste.

Compostable and Reusable Containers: Where possible, we request that food vendors use compostable containers or give a discount to customers for bringing their own containers. 

Liability Insurance: Vendors must show proof of their own liability insurance. 

WIC Coupons & Senior Coupons: WIC and Senior coupons are made available to qualifying families and seniors. Produce vendors may accept the coupons and will be reimbursed by the state dollar-for- dollar. We strongly recommend that farms get certified to accept these coupons. Farmers must apply to MA Dept of Agricultural Resources by mid-May. Call Lisa Damon at 617-626-1731 for more info. (Reminder -- only farms may accept Farmers’ Market coupons and only for fresh produce). 

SNAP Benefits and Market Money: The market accepts SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and EBT cards. We provide customers with SNAP benefits with a Melrose Farmers Market laminated scrip in $1, $5 and $10 denominations (“Market Bucks”). Market Bucks may be used to purchase all food intended to be eaten at home including breads/cereals, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, nonalcoholic beverages, snack foods, soft drinks, candy, ice, seeds and plants intended to grow food (but not for growing flowers or feeding to birds). SNAP Market Bucks cannot be used to purchase alcohol, foods that are hot at the point of sale, food to be eaten at the market, pet foods, non-food items such as soaps, cosmetics, or other household goods. 

The Melrose Farmers’ Market no longer provides $2 and $5 scrip denominations to market goers paying with credit and debit cards. However, vendors may still accept old Market Bucks in these denominations. 

Vendors are required to return Market Bucks to the Market Coordinator at the end of each market. A receipt will be provided for your records. Market Bucks reimbursement is made every 2 weeks and is done using electronic checks from the bank’s online bill pay. You must provide a mailing address to which checks will be mailed. Non-SNAP-approved vendors will not be reimbursed for SNAP Market Bucks so please make sure that you are an approved SNAP vendor prior to accepting SNAP Market Bucks.

Children’s Activities: Each week different local businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor the materials and/or volunteer to run the Children’s Activity Tables. Please submit requests including the proposed activity, the materials needed/provided, and the requested date to melrosefarmersmarket@gmail.com 

Local Farms: Produce must be locally grown from the farmer’s land (no commercial resellers) or from a local farmer’s agreement, by permission of the Market Manager. Produce not grown on the farmer’s land shall be labeled at the market with the farm the product was from. All vendors are required to label how their produce is grown using the following statements “grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides or artificial chemical fertilizers” or “Grown with IPM.” Only vendors that are certified organic under the USDA’s National Organic Program may label their produce “Organic”. In keeping with our mission to connect citizens of Melrose with the farmers who grow their food, we recommend that someone who assisted in the growing of produce be present at the market to answer questions and participate in discussions about the growing process from experience working on the farm. 

Locally Prepared Foods Only: Prepared foods may only be sold at the market if prepared by the vendor. All prepared or ready to eat foods require a permit from the Melrose Health Department. A copy of this permit must be on site for each market. 

Personal Care Products: Each week the market reserves space for 1 personal care products vendor. Personal care products at the market must be of high quality and made by the vendor. Preference will be given to personal care products that use natural materials. All market policies apply. 

Craft Vendors: Each week the market reserves space for 2 crafters or artisans. Crafts/art at the market must be of high quality and made by the vendor. Preference will be given to crafts/art that use recycled, natural, and local materials. All market policies apply. 

Local Business: Each week the market reserves space for 1 local business. Preference will be given to local businesses that share the market’s mission. All market policies apply. 

Non-profit: Each week the market reserves space for 1 non-profit. Preference will be given to non-profits that share the market’s mission. All market policies apply, however, there will be no space fee charged. 

Musicians/Bands: All local bands/musicians wishing to perform at the market must have their own equipment and be able to play two 45 min sets. To apply, fill out the application at https://melrosefarmersmarket.org/music-at-the-market. Then submit a link to your website, Facebook page, or Youtube performance to melrosefarmersmarket@gmail.com along with available dates and times. All local bands/musicians will be able to sell their merchandise at the market on the day of their performance. A tent will be provided by the market and electricity will be available. Musicians/bands will be provided with a gift. To comply with grant funding, we request that you sign a form confirming your performance on that specific date.

By checking 'I agree', you acknowledge that you have received and read a copy of these Market Rules and agree to abide by them as well as any other guidelines and decisions of the Melrose Farmers' Market (MFM) Executive Director or other representatives of the MFM, including but not limited to the Market Manager. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the MFM and its employees and volunteers from any and all causes of action which may arise from the operation of this market. You grant permission for MFM and its sponsors to use any photos, videotape, etc. taken of you or your products in any and all publicity and advertising promoting the market. You acknowledge and understand that no refunds will be given due to weather cancellation or any cancellation.