HEART OF THE HILLS FARMERS MARKET RULES
Revised: January 7, 2023
1. Market Operation:
The market will be open for Saturday operation beginning the first Saturday of April (4/2/22). The hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Winter Hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Vendors are expected to be set up and ready to vend when the market opens. Please arrive early enough to allow time to fully set up and park.
The market ends at 12:00. The venue requires that the market be completely torn-down by 1:00PM. / Winter: 2:00 PM
Food trucks may not stay to vend past market-closing time. Food trucks wishing to stay later must speak with Mall Management for permission and may be asked to pay a separate vending fee directly to the Venue.
2. Membership:
a) Residency requirements - Producers living within Kerr County & Contiguous areas are eligible to apply.
b) Vendors must have an accepted application for membership in the Market. Membership entitles the vendor to attend & participate in board elections & vendor meetings. Vendor applications/approvals will be renewed annually.
c) Membership entitles vendors to be included in Market days, advertising & market promotion.
d) Dues- Membership Dues are $25.00 per year and must be paid by April 1, annually
e) Space rental- Rental for spaces will be set by the board annually.
For the 2023 season - WEEKLY space rental is $25 / space
f) Rent payments will be collected weekly. Rent is payable in cash or check, and is due by 12PM on market day. Rent should be placed in the Labeled Envelope & returned to the Market tent or Given to a Market Representative at the Market.
Vendors have the option to pre-pay their space rent for any period. Prepaid space rent is not eligible for a refund due to vendor cancellation, no-show or suspension. Refunds will be made for Market cancellations or vendor Expulsion.
g) New Vendor applications must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the desired first attendance date. Applicants will be notified within 5 business days if their application has been approved.
h) Vendors are responsible for communicating with the City of Kerrville Health Department to obtain any permits and coordinate any inspections they may need for their products PRIOR to vending those products at the market.
3. Items to be sold:
The Heart of the Hills Farmers Market is a PRODUCERS MARKET.
All products sold to be grown, produced or otherwise hand-made by the vendor within the Hill Country Area.
Reselling is not allowed. Please contact the board to discuss if you have any questions/concerns about a proposed product you would like to include PRIOR to bringing it to market. The Board may grant exceptions to this rule on a case-by-case basis.
We encourage producers to grow or locally source ingredients/components used in their products whenever possible (ie: Tomatoes used in a salsa are grown by the member or sourced from another local grower)
Only items from categories disclosed & approved on your application may be sold. Vendors wishing to broaden their offerings beyond those approved on their application must request approval from the board PRIOR to bringing new items to market.
We encourage & support responsible and sustainable production of produce and products.
a) 100% of all produce (i.e. fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs) sold at the market must be grown by the member.
b) 100% of all plants (cut flowers, shrubs, rooted material) sold at the market must be grown by the member. See Guidelines.
c) 100% of all processed foods (jams, bakery items, ferments) sold at the market must be made by the member.
d) 100% of all crafts sold at the market must be crafted by the member.
e) 100% of all meat & dairy sold at the market must be grown by the member.
f) 100% of all wine, beer, and cider must be fermented or brewed and bottled or canned by the winery, brewery, or cidery.
g) All pre-manufactured, non-craft items must be pre-approved by the board on a case by case, year-to year basis.
h) Prepared food - All prepared food must be in compliance with Texas cottage law. Awareness of, and Adherence to the law is the responsibility of the vendor.
Producers are encouraged to visit www.texascottagelaw.com and familiarize yourself with the content as it pertains to your product(s).
i) Members must use only truthful and accurate descriptors (e.g. – ‘organic,’ ‘sugar-free,’ ‘natural,’ etc.) to market their products. The Board and/or Manager reserve the right to compel changes to questionable marketing claims.
j) Organic Label- Growers using the label organic in any representation of their product must have a copy of their organic certification on file with the market manager. For those who sell less than $5,000 worth of produce the individual may use the word organic in describing their produce if they have a signed "Small Scale Organic Grower's Declaration of Exemption from Certification" form on file with the market manager.
4. Space allocation:
Vendor spaces will be assigned weekly by the market Manager. Spaces may be changed at any time at the discretion of the market Manger and (1) member of the board.
Vendors who have paid space rent in full for the year will have the option of selecting a permanent market Space for that year. Permanent space site selection will be on a first-come first-served basis.
Spaces will be allocated FRIDAY to vendors who have indicated their participation in the market for that week.
A space assignment map will be emailed to all participants as well as posted on our website weekly.
5. NOTIFICATION OF MARKET ATTENDANCE
An email will be sent MONDAY to all vendors. Please reply to this email & indicate your intent to participate (or not) for that week’s market.
Vendors must confirm their participation in the market weekly by THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
If no reply is received, it will be assumed you do NOT intend to participate and you will not be allocated a space.
Notification may also be given to the Market Manager by email to: admin@heartofthehillsfarmersmarket.com or by voice mail left at (336) 420-1721
If you have indicated your participation for any week - and need to cancel - please inform the Board via phone or email as soon as possible. No-Shows are very disruptive to the market - and disappointing to our customers.
6. General provisions
Vendor spaces consist of a 10’ x 10’ space.
Vendors must provide their own tent & display.
A Tent (or otherwise covered display) is Required.
Displays should contain clear signage indicating the business name & product sold.
Tents / trailers / displays should be entirely contained within the assigned space.
All tents must be weighted. There is no staking of tents allowed at the venue.
After unloading / setup - vehicles should be parked away from the market area. Please take care to leave good parking spaces available for market customers.
Please be respectful of market flow and other vendors. The market Manager may direct you to move your vehicle at any time.
Vendors are responsible for cleaning their spaces each time. Trash cans located in walkways are for customer use only.
No vendor pets are allowed at the market with the exception of service animals as defined by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not protected by the ADA, and are not allowed.
The manager, with a Board member present, has the right to ask any vendor who brings inferior quality items, persists in violating a rule, or behaves in a disruptive manner to leave the market.
There is no smoking at the market.
There is no electrical connection available at the market site. Please advise the board if you plan to bring a generator for your use at the market.
Vendors must be present with their products for market hours.
7. PENALTIES
Failure to comply with the above guidelines will result in penalties:
i. First Violation - The manager will give a verbal warning to the vendor about the rule infraction, and ask the vendor to correct the situation immediately. The manager will also inform the board of the violation.
ii. Second Violation - Written reminder, warning from the market board and a $25 fine.
iii. Third violation: Two-week suspension from vending at the Market
iv. Fourth Violation: Expulsion from the Market for the remainder of the year.
8. MEMBER FEEDBACK & COMMUNICATION TO THE BOARD
a. All suggestions, complaints, and comments may be presented in writing to the Board of Directors, Please provide the member with their name, address and telephone number so we may consider and take action as necessary. Email to admin@heartofthehillsfarmersmarket.com is also acceptable.
b. There will be periodic, voluntary member meetings throughout the year. The board values member input and suggestions and encourages participation in these meetings. Only Members with a history of attendance and participation in meetings may be considered for board positions.