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NIFF Coalition Offers Workshop for Farmers Market Vendors

Posted: March 8, 2010

CALMAR -- The NE Iowa Food and Farm Coalition (NIFF)  hosted a workshop on “Preparing for the Farmers Market Season” on March 23 at the NE IA Dairy Foundation Center in Calmar.  The workshop featured two speakers and a producer panel. 

In the morning session, participants learned about the state rules and policies of selling at farmers markets from Bob Haxton of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.  Mr. Haxton is program manager for the Food & Consumer Safety Bureau.  Haxton explained the food handling and food safety rules for selling potentially hazardous and other food products in farmers markets. 

The focus of the afternoon session was on marketing and merchandising at farmers markets.  Andy Larson, ISU Extension Specialist in Small Farm Sustainability, discussed practical ways farmer-vendors can present themselves and their products to sell at farmers markets. 

Resources & Handouts:
Slides: Marketing & Merchandising to Improve your Success at Farmers Markets: Andy Larson, ISU Extension
Growing for Market (pdf)
2009 Iowa Farmers Market Vendor Survey (pdf)
2009 Iowa Farmers Market Customer Survey (pdf)
Farmers Markets: Marketing & Business Guide (pdf)
Iowa Sales Tax on Items Sold at Farmers Markets (pdf)
Maximizing Your Sales (pdf)
Questions Farmers Should Consider When Joining a Farmers’ Market (pdf)


Are you a vendor or thinking about selling at a farmers market?

Here is information, contacts, and materials that will help you get started.

Vendors must contact the market manager of each market they wish to vend to find out about availability of vending space, vending fees, insurance requirements, what products are acceptable to sell at that market, the market rules and any other information pertinent to that market. The Farmers Market Directory lists all the markets with contact names and phone numbers.

State of Iowa: Farmers Market page
Iowa Farmers Market Development Manual
Iowa Farmers Market Directory
Vendor Resource Information
Selling Fruits & Vegetables (pdf)