Vendor Applications 2025

Application Notice:

Overview

Applications open on January 21, 2025 and close on March 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Before applying to the Cartersville Farmers Market, potential vendors must read all of the information below and agree to accept these terms and conditions. There will be a place on the application to confirm your acceptance.

Located at 10 Public Square in Downtown Cartersville, we are a community market operating every Saturday morning, from 8-Noon, May through September. As a National Community Partnership award winner and the #1 Market in the state of Georgia presented by American Farmland Trust and Farmers Market Coalition for the past two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), our focus is on celebrating local food, agriculture, and creating a welcoming place for community members to connect. We work hard each week to bring the best farm-fresh products to Downtown Cartersville in a welcoming, family/pet-friendly environment with live music and food trucks.

 Application Process

• Prospective vendors must apply online. 

• Vendors are NOT chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis. All applications will be reviewed at one time, after the deadline (March 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.). Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.

• Vendors must provide a complete list of products they are applying to sell on this application. Vendors are only permitted to sell products approved by the CFM Advisory Committee.

• All approved vendors are required to attend a mandatory vendor meeting on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. or Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. All vendor payments and licensing will be collected at this time.  

• No person will be allowed to sell products at the Market until they receive an official acceptance email from the Cartersville Farmers Market, fill out the required paperwork (included in acceptance email), and pay Market fee at the Mandatory Vendor Meeting.

• As participants in the Wholesome Wave Georgia Fresh4Less program, we prioritize agriculture and food products. 

• Arts/Crafts applications will not be accepted.

• Additional bath and body applicants will not be considered for the Cartersville Farmers Market. 

Application Requirements

• Vendors selling agricultural and food products receive priority. 

• All agriculture products MUST be grown within the state of Georgia.

• Before applying, keep in mind that this is a 4 hour Market with an average of 3,000 customers per week. Please ensure that you have enough product to fill tables in your tent and provide enough to help meet customer demands. 

• For prepared food vendors, we prioritize those selling minimally processed foods with all-natural ingredients in alignment with our mission to make healthy foods more accessible to the community.

• Other factors considered in the selection process: uniqueness and quality of product, professional display, clear signage, and previous history with the Market (attendance, rule compliance, interactions with customers, staff, and vendors).

Application Review

• ALL vendors will be selected based on customer demand, space availability, and maintaining a balance in product diversity.

• To be accepted as a food truck vendor, you must sell breakfast/coffee related products.

• We are seeking vendors who specialize in a specific product to help us create a diverse Market full of high-quality products. We want experts in a narrowed category rather than a jack of all trades.

• Vendor selections will be made by the CFM Advisory Committee, which is comprised of a diverse group of community members, CFM customers, and small business owners. 

• We will limit the number of vendors in each product category to prevent oversaturating the Market and provide variety; however, vendor product exclusivity should not be expected. Only the CFM Advisory Committee has the authority to determine product balance. 

• Returning vendors in satisfactory standing are prioritized during the application review process. 

Market Requirements

• You must have the ability to set up your own tent, tables, and products. We do not have extra staffing available to help. 

• All tables must be covered with a clean and presentable tablecloth.

• All vendors must have professional signage clearly stating their business name.

• To comply with local regulations and maintain the integrity of our Market, we do not permit the sale of CBD products, herbal remedies, tinctures, any items that make health claims, or are marketed as dietary supplements. This includes products that are intended to treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions.

• Pricing for all items must be clearly listed for customers to see.

• All tents must be properly secured with tent weights for vendor and visitor safety. 

• Farms are subject to inspection to ensure that the products sold at the Market are grown at the location listed on the application.

• Vendors must agree to anonymously disclose weekly vendor sales for use in Market data collection and grant applications.

• Vendors must reapply each year that they want to participate.

• Accepted vendors who send employees to sell their products are responsible for ensuring they understand AND follow all CFM policy

• Every vendor, including all temporary employees that come to the Market, must sign up for the Slack platform and check the application every week. Slack will be the only form of communication between vendors and the Market team. It is straightforward, and we will show everyone how to use it at our vendor meeting. Communication is essential!

Market Attendance

• Attendance is vital at our Market for both visitor trust and Market planning. Missing Market days is excusable if the market staff is notified by the Wednesday before the market. Communication is essential! 

• There will be no vehicles allowed in the Market area during operating hours unless a vendor has special permission. Documentation of a disability or presenting a mobile meat license will be required to make this request.

• Be aware that you are applying to a Market which is held in a parking lot that is very hot in the summer, and you may have the sun shining on your tent all morning. Be prepared for the heat. 

• A tent is required for all vendors. All tents must be secured safely with weights attached to each leg.

• Each week, vendors will be assigned a space based on product balance and special requirements. Space assignments may change as more seasonal products come in. All efforts will be made to keep vendors in same location, but these space assignments cannot be guaranteed.

• Food trucks will be considered in the same process as regular vendors.

Vendor Payment

• Full-season vendor; $150 (22 Market days). $200 for those requiring electricity. * Due to limitations, electricity access is reserved for those who need it to sell their approved products.

• Part-time vendor; $110 (11 Market days or less). $150 for those requiring electricity. * Due to limitations, electricity access is reserved for those who need it to sell their approved products.

• Visiting vendor; $100 (8 Market days or less). Due to space limitations, all visiting vendors will need to email their availability for Market attendance assignment upon acceptance. 

• All vendor payments will need to be completed during the Vendor Meeting on March 30 or April 3. Cash and card payments will be processed during this time, and checks will need to be made payable to UGA Extension: Bartow County.