All vendors must agree to adhere to the handbook & guidelines prior to vending.

RRGFM Handbook & Guidelines

Background The Red River Gorge Farmers Market (RRGFM) is a regional market made up of farmers, artisans and small businesses from Central and Eastern Kentucky. The market is a registered Kentucky Proud Farmers Market through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA). Additionally, the RRGFM is registered with the USDA to accept SNAP & EBT as payments for eligible items sold by our vendors. All members/vendors must adhere to the KDA Farmers Market Manual to be accepted into the market and stay within good standing.

When accepting new members/vendors into the market, market administrators take into account the current ratio of farmers / food businesses and artisans / other small businesses. The goal of market advisory team is to keep as close a 50/50 ratio between farmers and artisans. It is understood that this ratio may fluctuate slightly, but it is always the goal.

The Red River Gorge Farmers Market is made possible through a partnership between Powell County Tourism Commission, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Tardigrade Alliance, Wolfe County Tourism and Community Farm Alliance.

Membership types and information:

There are several ways to be a member/vendor of the RRGFM, we aim to provide accessible options for as many small businesses as possible.

• Farmer Market Member $150/annual (Will participate in at least half (13 of 26) of the Saturday market days this season & receives one membership vote.)
• Prepared Food Market Member $150/annual (Will participate in at least half (13 of 26) of the Saturday market days this season & receives one membership vote.)
• Artisan Market Member $250/annual (Will participate in at least half (13 of 26) of the Saturday market days this season & receives one membership vote.)
• Guest Vendor $25/market (Can set up a booth at the market, must schedule dates in advance.)

Artisan Applicants must submit samples of the items they intend to sell at the market. Samples may come in the form of photographs of each item. Samples will be evaluated by the market administrators. Please allow adequate time for the market advisory team to review all items.

All members/vendors must grow, raise, produce or create what they plan to sell at the market. The market advisory team may approve resale items (ex. if no other vendor is growing, raising, producing or creating the item), but that will be decided on case-by-case basis prior to any resales made or orders taken by members/vendors.

If I am a market member, I will pay an annual fee before the season begins. If I am a guest vendor, I will pay the specified fees when due. All checks should be addressed to: “Tardigrade Alliance, LLC,” the market’s nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

Market member/vendor fees must be paid prior to selling at the market. Member/vendors will not be permitted to sell at the market if their application has not been processed or are not up-to-date on their vendor dues.

Guest Vendor Waitlist Policy: Applicants may be added to a guest vendor waitlist. While on the guest vendor waitlist, applicants may be invited to vend at the market on special occasions and/or when physical space is available. The Market Manager will contact individuals on the guest vendor list if/when there is availability.

Please understand that we aim to provide a balanced market to the customers each week and there is limited physical market space.

Market Policies
Below are some general market policies for all members/vendors

• Pricing Policy: The Red River Gorge Farmers Market will not set prices for any market products. Vendors are free to set their own prices. Each member/vendor will price their products according to their own determination. If members/vendors have questions or concerns about prices for products offered by multiple vendors, they should discuss pricing levels amongst themselves. If an agreement cannot be reached, a formal request may be made via email for the advisory team to mediate the conflict.

• Weekly Attendance Form: Red River Gorge Farmers Market Members/Vendors are required to fill out the "RRG Farmers Market Dates" Google Form. Each member/vendor will keep this form up-to-date as the season progresses and will ensure any updates or changes are made one week prior to market day. Guest vendors may be contacted to fill any available spaces.

• Inclement Weather Policy: When 50% or greater inclement weather is predicted for a market day, we may cancel the market. A decision will be made within 24 hours of the market opening. If we choose to cancel the market, the Market Manager will inform all members/vendors via email and the private Facebook group. The Market Manager will update the market’s social media to let customers know the market is canceled. If the market decides to stay open when inclement weather is predicted, members/vendors may cancel within 24 hour notice of the market opening.

• Booth Set-up & Supplies: Each member/vendor must supply all items needed to set up their market booth. Neither the RRGFM, nor the Tourism Commission are responsible for supplying items for individual vendors. (tent, table, chairs, display, decorations…etc.)

Each member/vendor is limited to one 10x10 foot tent space.

Each member/vendor will display products’ prices clearly at every market.

Each member/vendor will not begin selling my products until the market is officially open each Saturday.

• Child Policy: All children (16 and under) of members/vendors, vendor guests and customers must be accompanied by their Caregiver at all times. No child is allowed to be unaccompanied by their Caregiver at any point throughout the market. Members/Vendors, vendor guests and customers are not responsible for children that are not their own.

Product Policies
To ensure we maintain a good balance of product offerings and are compliant with all local, state and federal regulations, there may be some limits on the volume and type of products that are allowed to be sold through the RRGFM.

If a member/vendor wishes to resell any items, they will submit a request to market advisory team and wait for a decision prior to taking any action or making any sales.

Member/vendors will not request to resell items that other vendors are growing or creating.

• Value-Added Product Policy: Producers of value added products are required to clearly identify and indicate which items in their products were produced on their farm. All value added products should follow state regulations on labels and packaging.

• Bringing a New Product to Market: If you intend on to bring a product not listed on the original application, you must first send an email request to the market advisory team and wait patiently for a response before taking action.

Vendor Conduct
To ensure we are able to provide the highest quality market possible to vendors, customers and the community there are some principles of guiding conduct we all need to adhere to:

Each member/vendor and their employees will conduct themselves in an appropriate, professional, and courteous manner at the Market.

Each member/vendor will comply with all Local, State, or Federal laws, labels, or food safety and handling regulations and guidelines for all products as defined in the current KY Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Manual.

Each member/vendor will be in their space at least 30 minutes before market starts on Saturdays. Each member/vendor will notify the market advisory team at least 24 hours in advance, if they will miss a market day that they are scheduled to attend.

In the case of an emergency, each member/vendor will notify the market advisory team as soon as possible.

Each member/vendor will anonymously report my daily sales, broken down as requested, for each day participating in the Market and will report my percent change in sales from the prior year at the end of the year.

Unless members/vendors sell out, they will stay until the close of market each Saturday I attend.

It is each member/vendor responsibility to remove all trash, produce, and products and clean up their area at the end of each market.

If a dispute arises between members/vendors, it should be handled outside of market hours. If a compromise cannot be reached, a formal incident report should be submitted to the market advisory team via email.

Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at the Red River Gorge Farmers Market.

Each member/vendor will not hold the Red River Gorge Farmers Market (RRGFM), the Cooperative Extension Service, the City of Slade, the Powell County Tourism Commission, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, other market participants, or any employees/staff of the said services listed in this agreement jointly liable for any complaints, civil, or criminal actions that might arise as the result of my market participation or actions at the market.

Any member/vendor whose conduct is deemed inconsistent with or detrimental to the objectives of the Red River Gorge Farmers Market may be expelled from the organization by a three-fifths majority vote of the market members and the market advisory team.

Any person selling under my business name will be held responsible for all rules of the market.

Any member/vendor not in compliance with the above rules and regulations shall be given:
1st occurrence – a written warning
2nd occurrence – a $100 fine
3rd occurrence – Asked to vacate the premises and forfeit membership in the market.