Silver City Farmers’ Market Guidelines
Revised 04/05

1. Objectives
A. To provide a place where Grant and Catron County producers of fresh produce, meat, livestock and homemade goods can sell directly to consumers.
B. To advise local consumers of availability of locally produced, high quality, fresh produce, meat, livestock and other farm products.
C. To encourage greater producer participation in the direct marketing of produce.
D. To encourage increased production of quality products for local consumption.

1. Who May Sell
A. Only growers or producers may sell. A grower or producer is any person offering for sale articles such as fruits, honey, vegetables, edible grains, nuts, berries, plants, flowers, meat, livestock and farm crafts which have been raised or grown only by the vendor and/or member or his/her family or apprentices residing in Grant and Catron Counties, New Mexico.
B. Non-producers/growers are not permitted to sell.
C. The sale of produce/livestock not grown by the vendor or his/her family is not allowed. Random on-site inspections of gardens or farms will be made at the discretion of the Market Manager. If it is determined a vendor has sold products that he/she did not produce, that vendor will be prohibited from selling at the market for one week. If it has been determined a vendor has sold products that he/she did not produce a second time, that vendor will be prohibited from selling at the market for one month. If it has been determined a vendor has sold products that he/she did not produce a third time, that vendor will not be allowed to sell at the market again.
D. A “Grandfather Clause” exempts certain vendors from the above rule as it applies to produce grown in Grant and Catron Counties. This clause does not mean they can sell produce/items they did not grow.

1. What May Be Sold
A. Only fresh agricultural products may be sold. Produce should be mature but not overripe, void of decay, have good external and internal appearance and must be clean and free of contamination. Livestock sold will be clean and healthy and meet all state livestock regulations.
B. Fresh farm eggs must be labeled “Un-graded - Nest Run Eggs”. Also, this label must include “Fertilized” if they are. The eggs must be clean and free from cracks.
C. Only those baking the same may sell fresh baked goods. It is encouraged that baked goods contain produce obtained from the market when possible. All baked goods must be packaged or wrapped and labeled with contents (12 oatmeal cookies, apple pie, whole wheat bread, etc). There is a limit of three (3) bakers per market day. Permission to sell baked goods at the market must be obtained before arriving at the market.
D. Whole or processed herbs (culinary or medicinal) sold at the market must be grown or wild harvested by the seller. The re-selling of purchased herbs will not be allowed. Wild harvested herbs must be processed before sale. The majority of contents of processed herbal products must be grown or wild-harvested by the vendor.
E. Only live, small livestock – chickens and rabbits – may be sold at the market. They must be contained while at the market in cages appropriately built to hold all bedding and animal waste. The cages must also be equipped with bedding, water and mean of keeping the animals safe and comfortable while at the market. Animals that are sold must be given to the customer in a safe, ventilated container. All small livestock sold at the market must have been in the vendor’s possession for no less than 6 weeks. Time restrictions for large livestock is 8 weeks.
F. Larger livestock such as goats and sheep may be sold through the use of photographs and will be required to have a NM Livestock Board brand of owner. All sales of livestock will adhere to the NM Livestock Board’s regulations. It is recommended the vendor use printed contracts for such sales. Sales are subject to market fees.
G. Packaged meat sold at the market will meet all USDA and NM Livestock Board regulations.
H. No dogs or cats may be sold or given away at the market.
I. Vendors are not allowed to bring pets to the market.
J. Craft items sold at the market must contain product grown by the vendor. This rule will not apply during any special craft event held at the market.

1. How Produce May be Sold
A. Produce may be sold by weight, volume, or count. If selling by weight, your scales are subject to inspection by the Division of Weight and Measures. Selling by count or volume may prove easier. However, you may want scales to give the customer an idea of the weight of the volume sold. Such a scale must be marked “Not Calibrated - For Estimate Only”. Both retail and wholesale sales will be permitted. Each producer will have the privilege and responsibility to establish prices on his/her own products and prices, and must in some way indicate the prices of various products on signs.

1. Stalls
A. Stalls may be set up only in designated stall areas. This will facilitate the safe flow of consumer traffic. A parking space is one stall. It will be the responsibility of each vendor to set up her/his own stall and/or tables, although vehicle tailgates or trunks will suffice. One stall space is 10 feet wide by 20 feet in length. Vendors with larger/longer vehicles that require more than the 20-foot stall length will be parked in the adjacent lot.

1. Stall Assignments
A. Season participants are entitled to a reserved stall. A season participant is one that is present for the majority of the season. Do not expect to have a reserved space if you attend the market sporadically. Weekly stall assignments of remaining stalls shall be on a first come first served basis. Should a season participant not show up to claim his/her stall by 8:00 a.m. for Saturday market or 4:30 p.m. for Tuesday market, the Market Manger or his/her assigned representative may reassign that stall for the day. Vendors arriving after 8:00 a.m. will not be allowed to drive into the market but can hand-carry their produce into the market. If a vendor with a reserved space is not going to attend a market, it is his/her responsibility to call the market manager (536-9681) the previous week to let him/her know.

General Guidelines
A. All produce should be stored and displayed at a reasonable distance above the ground (approximately two feet.).
B. Each producer is responsible for maintaining his/her sales area in a neat and clean, sanitary condition. Spaces will be cleaned before leaving the market.
C. The produce should be clean and free of contamination before arriving at the market.
D. The vehicles used in transportation of produce for the market shall be clean with no solid waste or foreign matter on the vehicle (e.g. truck beds should be clean and vehicle should have no gross fluid leaks).
E. Producers are asked not to be at the market site more than 60 minutes before opening time, and to arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. Late arrival causes a safety hazard and is not allowed. Spaces will be allotted on a first come first served basis for a weekly participant. The Market Manager will ring bell at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. No sales, trades, or giveaways may be made to consumers before the ringing of the bell. Sales, trades, or giveaways may be made between vendors before opening time.
F. No producer/seller may use any mechanical device to amplify their voice or play loud, disturbing music.
G. Any complaint or disagreement arising from a consumer and/or producer shall be immediately related to the Market Manager and/or the market’s advisory board. If the situation cannot be rectified on the spot, the matter shall be referred to the Advisory Board and the Silver City Main Street Project.
H. The Market Manager has all authority to enforce all guidelines. Non-compliance of guidelines will result in eviction of vendor from his/her stall that day. In the case of repeated non-compliance, the Market Manager has the authority to evict vendor from further participation at the market.
I. In regard to sampling: Guidelines prepared by the New Mexico Department of Health will be strictly adhered to. These guidelines can be obtained from the Market Manager.
J. No canned foods (including salsa, pickles, etc.) other than fruit jams and jellies will be allowed at the market.

1. Financial Obligation of Grower/Producer
A. The market incurs certain expenses, which are the responsibility of all growers/producers. A minimum fee of $3.00 will be charged for vendors selling $75.00 or less. For total sales over $75.00 a 4% of total sales fee is required from each grower/producer. (Example – 4% of $78.00 sold is $3.12 and 4% of $100 sold is $4.00). This fee can be given to the Market Manger or his/her assigned representative at the next market. If the grower/producer does not expect to be back to the market the following market day this fee should be paid before leaving.