OFM Vendor Application
The 2023 Owosso Farmers Market season starts the first Saturday of May and ends the last Saturday of October
An Owosso Farmers Market vendor is any individual person or business that is approved and leases booth space(s) provided by OFM within the space of the market event. Farmers Market applications open in February each year. Applicants are reviewed in the order they are received. Full season and Summer vendor applications close April 1st. Daily vendor applications close September 1st. Please read the following information before filling out an application.
All returning and potential vendors must apply each season to participate in the farmers market for the year. Completing the application does not guarantee vendor approval. Applications submitted AFTER May 1st will be notified of approval, waitlist or denial within 2 weeks or as time permits.
WE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING FARMERS MARKET VENDOR CATEGORIES
PLEASE NOTE: Vendor space per market is limited for any business or organization outside of the Agricultural/Farmer and Food category, to uphold the OFM mission and reduce vendor redundancy. We receive many new applications each season and maintain a waitlist. We will continue to accept new applications and pull from the waitlist throughout the season based on a balance of space & category availability.
The following categories qualify as a farmers market vendor:
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Agricultural/Farmer – farmers and growers who raise, harvest and cultivate their produce, herbs, nursery crops, meat and flowers or plants in the state of Michigan. This includes beekeepers, dairy, eggs, and fish producers who process their own local raw product to sell. Agricultural & Farming vendors must produce or grow at least 80% of their products. No more than 20% of their products can be included as the following categories:
1. Representative Vendor: agricultural products purchased for resale from Michigan wholesale farms and greenhouses. These items must be grown and/or produced in Michigan and labeled with business name and/or location.
2. Farmer Direct: purchased directly from the farmer who grew it, vendors must provide the farm name and/or location.
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Prepared Food & Beverage – Businesses that process food items for sale. Processed food items or pre-packaged food must be made in a commercially licensed kitchen or made under Cottage Food Law per the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Concession vendors providing prepared or cooked for consumption on site, including beverage items, with or without food trucks/trailers are under the jurisdiction of the local health department in their county. To participate in the OFM, you must submit a copy of your inspection document or certification and have it with you. All food truck vendors are required to provide their own waste bin and dispose of their trash off site at the end of each market. No more than 20% of your products sold can be wholesale, value-added.
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Artisan Makers – handcrafted, non-edible products that are built, designed or crafted by you. These products cannot be brokered or wholesale only items. Limited number of spaces per farmers market season are open to reduce vendor redundancy.
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Other – Vendors wanting to re-sell unique items or provide a specialty service. No more than 50% of your products can be direct or wholesale items and must fall under the following categories: refurbished, antique, second-hand, value-added. This category does not qualify for a full season vendor pass. A very limited number of spaces per farmers market season are open for this vendor category.
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Local Business – Michigan based organizations and/or a local business that support the mission, vision and purpose of OFM. These local businesses should have a focus on: educating the public about sustainable food access, serving low-income communities, providing an engaging and relevant activity for families. Nonprofits and/or local businesses cannot sell any products. This category does not qualify for a full season vendor pass and is limited to 1 single booth space per month.
We encourage any local businesses or nonprofits to check out our opportunities specific to supporting OFM as a sponsor during the market season. If you are a local community group or non-profit interested in hosting your event within or participating at the market, please contact us directly.
A single vendor booth space for the OFM is 10’x10′. Full Season and Summer Pass vendors will be given a designated space, all daily vendors will be directed to their space upon arrival at each market, daily vendor spaces are not reserved. Vendors are required to supply their own tables, table coverings, and marketing materials. A tent with a minimum of 25 lb weights is required. All farmers market events are rain or shine. In the chance there is inclement weather for a majority of a Saturday, we may have a limited number of vendors set up inside the main floor of The Armory, otherwise we stay open outdoors in the rain.
Regular attendance is expected for seasonal vendors. Any vendor committing to a full season is allotted up to 6 missed farmers market Saturdays. Summer Pass vendors are not allowed to miss a date, but may transfer only one date to avoid an absence if needed. If a seasonal vendor misses more than the allotted amount, they will be subject to loss of their designated space. Attendance is a vital requirement for our vendors, this provides consistency to our market customers and overall success of the farmers market as a whole.
General Operations: The OFM prohibits vendors from any sales of raffle tickets, all forms of organized or intended soliciting and/or political activity or displays. Distribution of content-based literature or marketing is not permitted within the market. No soliciting is permitted at or in the Farmers Market space.
OFM has a zero tolerance policy for any form of discrimination and harassment towards any staff member, volunteer, vendor or customer. All vendors, staff, and volunteers are expected to act in a professional manner and to treat one another with respect, contributing to a welcoming and positive atmosphere. Vendors and their staff shall lead by example and uphold the OFM mission. Use of profanity, vulgar language, or gestures will not be tolerated.
Smoking anywhere inside the Farmers Market is prohibited.
There are no refunds for approved vendors under any circumstances.
2023 Vendor Fees
Full Season Pass
$350
Set up at the farmers market for the full season – 26 Saturdays in total. Pricing equals out to just $13 per Saturday. This is a designated spot for the farmers market season. A 10% discount applied for 3+ spaces for full season passes.
Summer Pass
$150
Set up at the farmers market during our peak, busy summer Saturdays! This pass will get you two (2) pre-selected dates in June, July, AND August with a designated space – 6 dates in total for the Farmers Market.
Daily Pass
$30
Single day rate for market vendors. Approved daily vendor spaces are placed as first-come, first-served at each Farmers Market by the Manager. Please pre-select the dates that you would like to attend during the market season.
Food Truck & Concession Vendors
Daily Pass
$50
Set up your food truck or concession stand at the Farmers Market! Sell your food or beverages to thousands market goers in Downtown Owosso. This fee does not include power-hookup, limited power available upon request ($10/day). Waste removal must be the concession vendor’s responsibility.
Full Season Food Truck
Inquire for Pricing
Become a permanent fixture at the market! Perfect for coffee trailers, breakfast and brunch trucks, and anyone looking to build their food or concession business. Waste removal must be the concession vendor’s responsibility. Price is dependent on total set up days and truck/trailer size for the farmers market season.
2023 Farmers Market Vendor Application
PLEASE BE THOROUGH AND ACCURATE WHEN COMPLETING YOUR VENDOR APPLICATION! THE INFORMATION PROVIDED AND PRODUCT DETAILS YOU LIST ARE WHAT WE BASE QUALIFICATION & ACCEPTANCE on.
Application review & Decision process
Each application is reviewed by our vendor jury team, in the order they are received to ensure the following: your business aligns with the mission of the Farmers market, your products meet the criteria above per your category and to limit vendor redundancy. We have the right to approve or deny any vendor application. All “Daily”, “Full Season” and “Summer Pass” vendors that are approved will be contacted starting the first week of March and no later than April 8th. Approved vendors will be contact you via email and require the following: any necessary permits/insurance information, a signed market agreement with your vendor fee. Waitlisted vendors will be notified of openings throughout the entire farmers market season. If your application is declined, you may appeal this decision by emailing OFM within 24 hours of notice. Applications submitted AFTER May 1st will be notified of approval, waitlist or denial within 2 weeks or as time permits.