Become a

Market Vendor

Vendor Applications are now closed for the season.
Applications will re-open in early 2019. In the meantime, all are welcome to check the general information on how to become a vendor below.

The following information is a general summary of the most relevant points that all applicants need to know before they submit their vendor application. For further details please read our Vendor Handbook 2018 (recently updated).

Even though new applicants are welcome to submit their vendor application, we strongly suggest to take a few minutes and read our recently updated Vendor Handbook 2018 for a better understanding of the selection criteria and general operations.

All applicants will be contacted by the Market Manager no longer than 2 weeks after we receive their application. We will provide initial feedback and further steps of the process for each category of products. Applications are not approved or accepted on a first come, first served, basis.

Vendor applications are now closed for the 2018 season.

2018 Vendor Handbook
Street Corn

Rental Space for conferences and special events?

No need to apply as a vendor

If you want to run educational, recreational or promotional activities for small or big groups we have a separate process. We are offering rental space for workshops/conferences and also for special events that might involve half or the whole facility. Please contact the Market Manager directly by email. No need to apply as a vendor.

2018 Vendor Fees

Indoor Booths

Indoor Vendor Fees are based on square footage used. As reference, a booth of 8’x4’ = 32 sq ft, one 6’×2.5’ folding table + supplies. A booth of 8’x8’ = 64 sq ft, two 6’x2.5′ folding tables + supplies.

 
 
by area
32 sq.ft space
64 sq.ft space
80 sq.ft space
table included
other notes
Indoor Booth
Farmer
$1.30/sq.ft + HST
$41.60 + HST
$83.20 + HST
n/a
By Request
n/a
Indoor Booth
Vendor
$1.66/sq.ft + HST
$53.12 + HST
$106.24 + HST
n/a
By Request
n/a
Indoor Booth
Prepared Food / Heavy Equipment
$1.48/sq.ft + HST
n/a
n/a
$118 + HST
By Request
Booths are 8’x10’
Indoor Booth
Non-Profit
$0.64/sq.ft + HST
$20 + HST
n/a
n/a
By Request
Free for first date

Outdoor Booths

 
 
price
table included
Extra Table Rental
Maximum Folding tables
other notes
Outdoor Booth
Farmer
$35 + HST
Included
$5
5
Free for own extra tables
Outdoor Booth
Vendor
$35 + HST
Included
$5
3
Free for own extra tables
Outdoor Booth
Non-Profit
$15 + HST
Included
$5
3
Free if bringing own gear

Other Vendor Fees

Extra Folding Table 6’x2.5’
$5 per market date, Vendors bringing their own table won’t be charged this fee.

Utility Fee (electricity)
$8 per market date

Storage Room Fee
$5 for units of 2’x2’ per week

Storage Floor Fee
$5 per market date. This fee is applied to vendors attending casually (less than 4 times per month) who want to leave booth materials at the Market. This option might not be always available depending on market needs.

Available Vendor Discounts

(subject to change every quarter of year)

Prepay
10% of approved dates (vendor can prepay three months at a time).

Wednesdays Markets
50% vendor fee (first three months of market season)

Seasonal outdoor vendor / farmer
50% vendor fee between Thanksgiving and last market in May.

Special discount for Prepared Food / Heavy Equipment booth
5% vendor fee (for first three months)

Senior Discount
$5 from vendor fee (year round)

Outdoor table discount
Deduct $5 from vendor fee if you bring/use your own table (only valid for main vendor table)

Vendor Guidelines

All products must be either handmade, produced or grown in the province. You must “Make it, Bake it, Grow it” to sell it.

All vendors are required to follow the policies within the Vendor Handbook 2018, as adopted by the membership of the St. John’s Farmers’ Market (if requested the Market Manager can provide applicants/vendors with a paper copy of the handbook). Special attention should be paid to policies relating to safety, food safety, and the appropriateness of items and goods for sale.

The Market Manager and the Board of the St. John’s Farmers’ Market reserve the right to refuse vendor participation for failure to comply with the policies within the Vendor Handbook.

The Market does its best to ensure as many vendors as possible have an opportunity to participate, but because of the sheer volume of applicants, requesting to attend a specific market does not guarantee a spot at that market. Vendors who are selected to attend a specific market will receive an email confirmation at least two weeks prior that date. It is necessary to respond to the request no less than 48 hours prior to your booking, either accepting or declining the invitation. Not confirming attendance on time will be assumed as a no-show and Market Manager may contact another vendor instead.

2018 Vendor Handbook
NL Public Market Guidelines
Seasonal Food License Application

Product Selection Process and Specific Licenses / Forms

Please follow the instructions according to your type of products.

All Food Vendors:

Vendors who sell food products at any Farmers’ Market in NL are required by the province to hold a Seasonal Food Establishment License [License Application Form]. This food license is specific for this particular market and if you already hold a license for your facility, it won’t be applicable. Every food vendor must have our specific food license approved by Service NL and be displayed at the market.

If you need a licensed kitchen to prepare your products please check with Market Manager about the availability of our licensed kitchen for potential rental.

Please check the Public Market Guidelines before you start the process. These guidelines are applied to any public market in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In order to process your food license with us, please complete the following steps:

  • Fill out the Vendor Application on our website. A confirmation email will be sent to you automatically after this application is received in our system.
  • The Market Manager will email you the required forms once we receive and review your vendor application. You will receive the forms no longer than 2 weeks from the day we received your original application. If the products do not fit with our selection criteria and demand the Market Manager will let you know.
  • If your products and vendor proposal fits with our selection criteria and demand, then the marker manager will send along a Conditional Approval Letter. This letter confirms our interest regarding your participation as a vendor at the market. This document will be essential to get your final approval from Service NL.
  • Please send all the filled in forms and the conditional approval letter to our food inspector ehaa@gov.nl.ca. Ensure you attach the conditional approval letter.
  • While Service NL processes your food license you are free to check directly with them on the status of your application. The Market Manager can answer some possible questions you might have as well. This process might take several weeks depending on the volume of food license applications. You will get a confirmation from Service NL if your food license has been approved. You will be asked to forward this confirmation to the Market Manager.
  • Once Service NL approves your food license the market manager will start working on your bookings and more logistical details.
  • Your first date at the market will be on a day with a scheduled food inspection on site. Vendors are not allowed to start selling food products at the market without a food inspection on site. The food inspections are scheduled early in the season and usually, they occur monthly. Missing a food inspection on site will delay your first date at the market by at least one extra month.
  • After you have successfully passed the food inspection on site, Service NL will mail you the final food license for mandatory display at your booth at the market.
  • Any future additions to your food products menu that is very different from original products will have to be checked with the Market Manager and Service NL.

Quality Standards

Food Jury Selection Process for ALL food vendors

Best Kind Butchers

In order to maintain high quality food standards at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market, a Food Jury has been introduced. All food products sold at the market will be juried on site by at least three qualified jurors. The Food Jury will provide feedback to the vendors regarding the quality of the food and how to improve it if necessary. The Market Manager and the Food Jury will advise and support you during this process. If you received observations from the Food Jury and market manager, we will give you one more market date to bring the products up to the expected quality standard. If more time is necessary to reach the expected quality you may avoid bringing those products until you can make the proper adjustments.

All food vendors will be juried at least once per season and new vendors at least twice during their first season at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market. If your products still can’t reach the quality standards and you don’t follow the observations from market manager and the Food Jury, your participation will be removed from the market.

For more information regarding the quality standards please contact the Market Manager.

Crafts/Specialty Items/Non-Food Products

In order to maintain high-quality craft standards at the St. John’s Farmers’ Market, an Artisan Jury has been introduced. Vendors who sell non-food items (i.e. art, craft, jewelry, clothing, etc.) are required to be juried by the St. John’s Farmers’ Market Artisan Jury before they may sell at the Market. Vendors whose products have been juried in past seasons will be juried again for this upcoming season. If you are adding a new product that is completely different from the original application, then you will need to submit a new application.

In order to process your application with us, please complete the following steps:

  • Fill out the Vendor Application on our website. A confirmation email will be sent to you automatically after this application is received in our system.
  • The Market Manager will email you the Artisan Craft Application Form once we receive and review your vendor application. You will receive this form no longer than 2 weeks from the day we received your original application. If the products do not fit with our selection criteria and demand the Market Manager will let you know.
  • Fill out the Artisan Craft Application Form and return to the Manager. This form is essential to show us what products you want to sell. On the first page of the Artisan Craft Application Form, you will find a detailed selection criterion. Submitting products that don’t fit the selection criteria will cause delays in the process.
  • If your items meet the requirements detailed on the Artisan Craft Application Form, your work will then be evaluated by the Artisan Jury. The Artisan Jury is made up of at least three qualified members who will evaluate each of your products. Feedback will be provided for any products not meeting quality standards. You are welcome to resubmit a new application for the products that got observations from the jury once products meet the standards.
  • The jury process could take several weeks depending on the volume of applications. The Market Manager will email you the estimated timing. Every season we have a deadline for all vendor applications. Please make sure to submit your vendor application and Artisan Craft Application Form before the deadline indicated in the Become a Vendor section.
  • Once you have the Artisan Jury’s approval the Market Manager will work on your requested bookings and coordinate final details.
  • Potential extra inspections on site may occur during the season if the market manager or jury members notice a decrease in the quality of products.

Non-Profit Groups

Booth at the Market/Workshop Room/Rentals

If you are representing a non-profit organization looking for a promotional booth at the market please fill out the Vendor Application and select the category “Non Profit”. If you are wanting to sell craft or food products you will be required to complete the same process as food/craft vendors (see above for more details).

During Market Hours

Busking/Performers/Workshops etc.

Individuals interested in running workshops during market hours, performing, and/or advertising through the St. John’s Farmers’ Market should contact the Market Manager with specific inquiries. A separate booking system is used for these activities.

Start the Process

Vendor Applications are now closed for the season.
Applications will re-open in early 2019.

Please note, due to the high volume of emails, questions self-explained on our website won’t necessarily be replied to by our staff.

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