Vendor Rules and Guidelines for the KCCM Farmers Market
Kerrs Creek Country Market maintains:
Hart-Land farm provides:
- VDOT approved entrance, parking, space for tents and 12’ x 20’ common shelter.
- Self-serve space and refrigerator.
Farmers Market Vendor Responsibilities:
- Maintain all Commonwealth and County required licenses.
- Register for, collect, and pay sales tax as required.
- Maintain appropriate product insurance as necessary.
- Participate regularly in the Saturday markets.
- Set-up a 10’ x 10’ tent with weights/tie-downs.
- Finish set up no later than 8:45 am.
- Do not drive vehicles around the market space between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.
- All vendors must staff their own booths.
- Support the market through in-kind contributions (marketing, administration, grounds maintenance) as necessary.
Please Remember:
- Children are free to play in the playground area. No horseplay in or around the building, parking lot, vendor tents or center alleyway.
- Hart-Land Farm is a working farm; use common sense in and around the areas outside the market space.
- When animals are brought out for viewing please use common sense. If you see something unsafe, notify the Market Manager or address it immediately.
Membership Fees:
- A voting membership is open to all vendors participating in the Saturday Farmers Market that are paid in full and have attended at least 16 markets during the previous 12-month period. Membership confers one vote at the annual meeting, which is held each off-season.
- Annual Membership: $125
- Early-bird Membership (before March 1): $110
- Per/week vendor fee: $10
- Self-serve refrigerator / building only: $125/season
- New vendors are welcome to try the market for a single Saturday for free.
- Non Profit Organizations (NPOs) are invited to participate in the Saturday Farmers Market for free.
- Online market fees are handled separately.
Online Market vendors:
- Online Market vendors log in and update their own inventory each week.
- The online market opens 8:00 am Tuesday and closes 6:00 pm Thursday.
- Vendors receive an email Friday morning to see what products have sold.
- Vendors prepare orders and bring items to KCCM no later than 8:45 am Saturday.
- Customers pickup during Saturday Farmers Market 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
- Online-only vendors pay 12% of gross online sales (10% handling and promotion fee + 2% credit card fee).
- Full-season Farmers Market vendors pay 7% of gross online sales (5% handling and promotion fee + 2% credit card fee).
- Vendors are paid by check monthly.
- It is essential that vendors manage their inventory weekly in order to fill orders correctly.
- Photos are not required but strongly encouraged – they really help!
All members of the Kerrs Creek Country Market agree to a Code of Ethics:
- Transparency: Tell how you farm - farm it like you tell it.
- Maintain Truth in Advertising: Be open and honest with every customer.
- Cooperation, not competition: We support each other’s businesses in feeding our county.
- Keep it Local: Vendors should be from Rockbridge County and grow, make, or otherwise produce their products in the county. Any exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- No Reselling without approval.
Insurance/Liability
KCCM has limited liability insurance coverage for the market and associated events. This insurance does not cover product liability for individual vendors. All vendors are responsible for obtaining liability insurance, licensing and/or certification required for products sold. Please refer to the following link in facilitating that applicable regulations are met: https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/dairy-farmers-market-vendors.shtml
Promotion and Advertising
KCCM advertises in a variety of online media. However, word of mouth is the best advertisement, so vendor engagement in market awareness and promotion is important. Here are five easy things vendors can do to help increase our visibility:
- Send us photos and details about special promotions or other news about your products.
- Follow us on Instagram @kerrscreekcommunitymarket and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KerrsCreekCommunityMarket
- Share and comment on our Instagram and Facebook posts.
- Tag us — @kerrscreekcommunitymarket — in your Instagram and Facebook posts.
- Invite your customers, friends, and family to join our mailing list. Got more ideas? Let us know!
Vendor Application
