• A growers permit signed by the Extension Agent in the county where their land is located.

• A signed market membership application agreeing to comply with the market rules.

• Certificates of inspection for any products they intend to sell.

  • Nursery Growers need to get their certificate from the Division of Plant Industry.

• Food vendors are required to have a "Certified Kitchen" with the state of Florida.

New copies of these documents must be provided each market year, which begins April 1st. All new farmers will be inspected at least once to assure compliance with the rules. See these links for older copy of the Growers Permit from Alachua County Extension Agent and a Growers List.

Membership Application and Fee Receipt.

What it costs

There are three kinds of fees: membership dues, selling space fees, and inspection fees. All fees must be paid and the required documents submitted before being allowed to sell at the market.

There are 2 types of memberships at the market. The first is a daily membership.

Daily sellers must be inspected and pay the annual $30 inspection fee. Daily sellers pay membership dues of $10 per day with a maximum of $20 per year, plus $10 plus tax per day selling space fee for Saturdays. The fee is reduced to $5 for weekday markets. This is a good choice for growers whose products are available only for a short season. It may also help those who want to see how well they do at the market before committing to selling there every week.

The second type of membership is an annual membership.

Each grower renting an annual space at the market must pay annual membership dues of $125. In addition, there is an initiall inspection fee of $30 for all new growers in Alachua County. Outside the county, the fee is $30 plus time and mileage for the inspector to visit the farm.

Selling space fees range from $200 to $275 per year depending on the space selected. All spaces are 350 ft (10' x 35'). Members leasing spaces on an annual basis may renew their existing assigned spaces or participate in a lottery for any unassigned spaces. Annual members may also choose to take an unassigned selling space for $150 per year. Annual membership is a good option for growers who anticipate having crops to sell almost every week year round.

Prepare to sell

Growers who are interested in selling at the ACFM are advised to visit the market before they apply. Get a feel for what it is like. Observe the booths of the growers selling here now. Notice the ways the goods are displayed and look at the signs showing the prices. See how the growers interact with the customers.

Produce doesn't sell itself. Growers have to display and market it in an appealing manner. If you just flip down the tailgate of your truck and get back into the cab, your chances of selling what you grew are small.

Food vendors are required to have a "Certified Kitchen" with the state of Florida.

The ACFM wants you to succeed. You can get help in making signs and coming up with ideas for displaying your produce. Seminars on marketing techniques are offered throughout the year. Marketing produce requires energy and creativity, just like planting and harvesting your crops do.

Contact the ACFM at marketmanager@441market.com

Back to the top of the page.

History | Mission | Farmers Markets in America

Links

For Farmers Only