Farmers’ Market

McLeansboro Farmers’ Market

2019

The McLeansboro’s Farmers’ Market will be at the corner of Jackson and Randolph Streets every Wednesday,  starting

May 29 – October 9, 2019 from Noon to 5:00 pm. (or as posted)

Contact the Hamilton County U. of I. Extension Office (618)643-3416 or the City of McLeansboro (618)643-2723 for more information.


GENERAL RULES

OPERATING HOURS, SET-UP & CLEAN-UP

  1. The McLeansboro Farmers’ Market will operate on Wednesdays at the corner of Jackson and Randolph Streets. Market selling hours will be Noon to 5:00 p.m. or as posted by the market master.
  2. Set-up will be between 11:00 a.m. and Noon. Vendors must plan to stay until closing time to enhance the vitality of the market. However, vendors may leave early should the need arise and with the market master’s approval.
  3. Vendors are responsible for clean-up of their own debris after market closing and may not use public trash receptacles for disposal of produce boxes and leftover produce. Trash, debris and leftover produce removal by market management will result in a $50.00 cleaning charge to the vendor. Any such cleaning charge must be paid prior to next market date or the vendor will not be allowed to set up and space and prepaid fees will be forfeited.
  4. The market will proceed “rain or shine”. However, the Market Master has the authority to close and/or modify hours of the market in the case of severe weather.
  5. Electricity is not currently available.

SPACE ALLOCATION, FEES, POLICIES

  1. Sign up during the 2 week initial market kick off will be $10 per 10 wide x 20 deep spaces. Anyone signing up for the entire season for a cost of $75 will receive a $10 discount.
  2. Space can be rented on a full-season or monthly (if available) basis for $25. Seasonal space is reserved for the duration of the season with prepayment of ½ of fee with submission of the vendor application. The balance is owed by third week of the market.
  3. First come-first served non-seasonal space (10X20) may be available on the day of the market for “walk-in” vendors, but is not guaranteed. “Walk-in” vending must be approved by the Market Master and must be paid for before Tuesday Noon. Vendors are required to call the Market Master in advance to reserve a space.
  4. Allocation of and changes to vendor space will be at the Market Master’s discretion. Spaces for full-season vendors will be determined prior to opening day of the market.
  5. Vendors with reserved space must contact the Market Master prior to market day if they will be unable to attend or if they will be late in arriving due to job or other commitments. Late arrivals should inform the Market Master of their approximate arrival time. In the event of a no-show of a vendor, that vendor will forfeit their space to walk-in vendors with NO refund of fees. You will be considered a no-show if you are not on-site by Noon. If the vendor is a no-show on more than one occasion, they will be subject to forfeit of their space for the duration of the season, with NO refund of fees, at the discretion of the Market committee.
  6. Sharing of vending space shall be on approval of the Market Master.
  7. One space per week will be allocated to a charity or not-for-profit group at no charge, excluding Hamilton County 4-H, Charities and Not-for-profit groups are limited to participating once per market season, or at the discretion of the committee. Space is reserved with submission of the vendor application on a first come/first served basis. Booths are limited to serving items that do not compete with others and are approved by the market master.

VENDOR POLICIES

  1. Vendors shall supply their own display tables, tents and other materials needed. All displays and

signage must be kept within your designated area.

  1. Vendor scales must be of dependable accuracy.
  2. No crying out or “hawking” of products will be allowed. All sales must be made from within your designated space.
  3. Vendors will in no way cause detriment to other vendors and must be courteous to other vendors and to the public at all times.
  4. Vendors and their agents, employees and representatives must maintain a neat and clean personal appearance at all times. Shirts and shoes are required. Vendors are responsible for maintaining a neat, clean and sanitary space.
  5. Each vendor is expected to fairly price their goods. Complaints by other vendors will result in review by the Market committee, and unless corrected, the vendor may be asked to leave and forfeit their space and fee for the day.
  6. It is the responsibility of each vendor to follow the laws of the State of Illinois. Under the Cottage Food Operation Law, effective January 1, 2012, cottage food producers (those who produce, package and sell non-potentially hazardous food in home kitchens for sale at farmer’s markets) must hold a Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate and register with the local health department where the vendor resides. Go to the website for your county health department for more information on how register. In Hamilton County, go to www.egyptian.org. For information on how to obtain a Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate go to http://www.hchdil.com/environmental.html. The market management requires a copy of these certificates prior to admittance to the McLeansboro Farmers’ Market. To learn more about the Cottage Food Operation law, see Illinois Department of Public Health website or call Hamilton County Health Department (618-643-3522).
  7. With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed in vendor spaces.
  8. The ratio of vendors selling horticultural related products to artisans shall be 80/20.
  9. No multi-level marketing booths will be allowed. (For example: No independent consultants)
  10. Each vendor is responsible for clearly displaying his/her name and address on a sign at their booth. Prices of your product should also be displayed.
  11. Each participating vendor assumes all risks of liability for their employees, agents, and customers.

MARKET COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE

  1. The market master and/or his/her designee acts as the sole authority to interpret and implement policy on Wednesdays.
  2. If any dispute with the Market committee representative’s decisions should be submitted in writing to the Market Committee.
  3. The Market Committee representative can randomly inspect products offered for sale.
  4. The Market Committee Representative reserves the right to refuse participation in the market to any person or group.

POLICIES REGARDING PRODUCTS

  1. Vendors are required to grow, produce or make at least 75% of the products they sell. It is preferred, however, that vendors grow all of what they offer for sale. All products should be of acceptable quality and freshness. Resale of commercially grown, processed, or packaged food or other items is not allowed.
  2. Fruits and vegetables sold must be in season and grown within a 100 mile radius of McLeansboro. Vendors outside this radius will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  3. Acceptable agricultural products include fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (uncut, not processed in any way), fresh herbs, cut or dried flowers, bedding or other nursery plants, dried products, grains, straw/hay, cornstalks, gourds, pumpkins.
  4. Vendors are responsible for following all State and County Health Department sanitation guidelines for food preparation, storage and sales.
  5. The sale of eggs must meet the packaging and labeling requirements of the current Illinois Egg and Egg Products Act and the seller must provide a copy of their Egg Sellers License.
  6. The sale of live animals is not permitted.

If you wish to take part in the Farmers’ Market, fill out the 2019 McLeansboro Farmers’ Market Application  and mail it or drop it by City Hall.

McLeansboro Farmer’s Market Facebook Page