Taos Farmers Market Regulations
Last Revised February, 2005

1. Farmers:

a. Farmers from New Mexico and Colorado are eligible to sell fruits and vegetables grown on their farm at the market.
a. A prominent sign with the name of your farm is required and a sign with your growing practices is strongly encouraged.
b. Farmers may sell craft items along with their produce as long as the farmer grows 80% of the product.
c. Genetically modified crops may not be sold at the market.

1. Produce Resellers are not allowed to sell at the market.

2. Value-Added Food Processors:
a. No new value-added food vendors are allowed to have their own booth. Capacity reached.
b. Need to include locally grown produce.
c. All food products must be made out of a certified kitchen.
d. Limit of seven (7) spaces available for baked goods
e. The Environmental Inspection Division (EID) will be responsible for checking permits at the market.
f. A prominent sign listing your business name is required.

1. Hot Food Processors:
a. Limited to one booth, reviewed annually. Any interested vendors must apply annually to the Board by 12/1/05 by sending a written proposal.

1. Plant Vendors:
a. No new plant vendors. Capacity reached.
b. All vendors must be covered by a nursery license to sell plants. If a vendor wants to be covered by the market’s license, the fee is $15 annually.
c. No wild harvested living plants may be sold at market. All plants must be nursery grown.

1. Quality Control:
a. Customer complaints will be written (by the customer) on a complaint form. Complaint forms will be copied and one copy given to vendor.
b. An excessive number of complaints will signify a consistent problem with quality and may result in inability of a vendor to sell at the Market.
c. Market manager will step in if the quality issue is of public health concern (e.g. eggs, dairy, etc)
d. Overripe produce, which is useful for processing must be labeled as such.

1. Fees
a. Season passes are non-refundable $225.00, payable either in full in advance or $100 by the Spring vendor meeting to reserve the space, with the balance due by July 16, 2005. This payment reserves a permanent space for the season. Season pass vendors may not sell at the market if they are past due on their account. Season pass vendors may not convert to day vendors during the season.
b. Day passes are $15.00. Day pass vendors do not have a reserved space.

1. Space Allocation
a. Payment or deposit for season pass (permanent space) must be received by the annual Spring vendor meeting. Vending spaces are 12 – 16 feet wide.
b. Season pass holders who submit payment on time may choose to retain their space from the previous year or request a new one.
c. New season-long spaces are assigned according to the order the payments are received.
d. If a permanent space vendor is not present in their booth by 8:00am their space may be assigned to a day vendor for that day.

1. Advisory Board Selection
a. The Advisory Board has five (5) seats.
b. Market vendors who are interested in serving on the advisory board must be present at the general vendor meeting in the fall.
c. If there are more than five (5) volunteers for the board, those present at the meeting will select the five advisors.
d. Advisory board members must have sold at the market during the prior season.
e. Farmers shall make up the majority of the advisory board members. Farmers are defined as people who grow produce, food-bearing plants or herbs, or who raise livestock for meat or dairy.

1. Who May Sell What
a. The Market Day Coordinator enforces the Market regulations and determines if a vendor may sell at the market according to those regulations. If a potential vendor disagrees with the Market Day Coordinator’s decision, he or she may contact the Business Manager. If the issue is not resolved with the Business Manager, the Business Manager will bring the appeal to the Advisory Board, who will make the final decision.
b. The following is specifically excluded from being sold at the market unless approved in writing by the board. This is not an exhaustive list. Vendors may not sell services, firewood, flagstone or other rocks, animal bones, furniture, jewelry, works of art, pottery, landscape items, cosmetics, or soap.

1. Market Day Vending
a. Vendors may not drive into the market after 8 am. Late vendors must hand carry their items to their vendor spaces.
b. Vendors may not drive out of the market before noon. Vendors who anticipate selling out early and want to leave early must park their vehicles outside the market vending area.
c. Vendors must have a person present in their booths when items are available to be sold, except for brief periods when a vendor is taking a break.
d. No generators are allowed at the market.
e. Vendors must leave their vending space and adjacent areas clean.