1. Vendor Compliance with State Regulation
We have both Michigan and Wisconsin vendors. It is the responsibility of all vendors to comply with the local and state regulations that apply to their products, including obtaining any required licenses.. MDARD (Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture require sellers of perennial plants, and meats, from both states and eggs, from Wisconsin vendors, to hold specific licenses for these products.
Producers of honey, maple syrup and eggs are generally exempt but may still need a license depending on their anticipated annual sales.
Copies of all current licenses must be submitted with your application or provided before your first day of sale.
2. Origin of Food Products and Nursery Plants
All food products and nursery plants sold at the market must be germinated, grown, raised, or gathered in Michigan or Wisconsin by the vendor, their employee(s), or family members(s), or business partner(s).
3. Required Application Documents
Each vendor is required to sign and return the Vendor Application and Vendor Indemnification Agreement prior to the first day of sale.
4. Application Review and Approval
All vendor applications will be reviewed by the Market Manager and/or the Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified within two weeks regarding their acceptance to sell at the Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market. The Market reserves the right to accept or deny any application.
5. Licensing Requirements for Food Trucks and Food Stands
Food truck and food stand operators participating in either market must obtain the appropriate license from Delta -Menominee Public Health. Licensing cost vary based on the type of food service provided and the timing of the application.
Early contact with the Health Department is strongly recommended, as fees increase significantly when applications are submitted close to the event date. In some cases, the cost can rise to nearly three times the standard fee if filed the day before the event.
To ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary expenses, operators should contact Delta -Menominee Public Health at 906-863-4452 as soon as they know their schedule.
6. Alternative Payment Programs
The Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market, including both our Saturday and Thursday Markets, participates in several alternative payment programs. These include the shared credit card machine, SNAP/EBT, Double Up Food Bucks, Food as Medicine, and the U.P. Fresh Food Access Program.
Senior Market FRESH and the Michigan WIC Produce Connection are separate programs that vendors must apply for individually, but we will have information and links available to help you get set up. Senior Market FRESH now uses a card‑based system processed through a vendor app, and payments are issued by the administering agency either by check or direct deposit, depending on local setup. Michigan WIC Produce Connection deposits payments directly into your bank account once you’re enrolled.
Vendors who participate in any of these programs will need to sign an agreement before getting started. Reimbursements for qualifying sales processed through the market will be handled daily by the Market Manager.
7. Vendor Eligibility for Payment Programs
All residents of Michigan and Wisconsin are eligible to be vendors. Eligibility for specific payment programs is based on residency.
1) All vendors may sign up to accept debit/credit cards.
2) All vegetable and fruit growers may sign up to accept EBT/SNAP payment for eligible food items. Customers will bring their receipt from the Market Manager’s booth to confirm the transaction before final purchasing.
3)Vegetable and fruit growers from Marinette County, Wisconsin, and Michigan may sign up to participate in the Michigan WIC Produce Connection, Senior Market Fresh programs.
4) Vegetable and fruit growers from Marinette County, Wisconsin, and Michigan may participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program.
8. Required Produce Safety Signage
All vegetable and fruit vendors are required by MDARD to prominently display a sign stating, “All produce and fruit should be washed before consumption”.
9. Prohibited Sales
No produce jobbers, resellers, or wholesalers are permitted to sell at the market.
10. Non-Profit Participation
Non-profit organizations not related to local food production or local food accessibility may sell at the market if their application is approved or if they are invited by the Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market for either the Saturday or Thursday Market.
11. Cottage Food and Wisconsin Baker Requirements
Food products produced under the Michigan Cottage Food Law must conform to the regulations set forth in that legislation. All processing and packaging must be done by the vendor and must include proper labeling. See the Cottage Law food list: “What Qualifies and What Doesn’t” at www.michigan.gov/mdard/cottagefoodlaw
Wisconsin Pickle Bill and Cookie Bill products cannot be sold in Michigan. Wisconsin bakers may participate in our market only if their baked goods are produced in a licensed kitchen, and a copy of that kitchen license is provided.
12.Requirements for Food Samples
Food samples must meet the following requirements: They must be pre-packaged in a licensed kitchen, and proof of licensed kitchen must accompany the application. Individual sample cups or bags must be closed (i.e., cups with lids, zip-locked bags, or Press and Seal covered cups). Samples must match the products being sold. The labeled product or an ingredient list must be displayed at all times. The Market Manager or a member of the Board will ask that any samples not meeting these criteria be removed from display.
13. Prohibited Homemade Beverages
No homemade fruit ciders or beverages of any kind are allowed to be sold. The Board of Directors has adopted the MDARD recommendation regarding these items.
14. Meat and Poultry Requirements
Meat may be sold at the market, but MDARD requires that all animals be processed in a USDA-inspected facility. Poultry may be sold if it is processed in either a USDA-inspected or MDARD-inspected facility. A copy of the current MDARD license is required, and all other required licenses must be prominently displayed. Vendors who purchase livestock from other farmers and have it processed at a USDA-inspected facility, or who resell USDA/MDARD-processed meat, must hold a food establishment license. A copy of the USDA/MDARD license must be displayed at the market and included with the application.
15. Requirements for Non-Food Artisan Products
All non-food artisan products sold at the market must be created in Michigan or Wisconsin by the vendor, a family member, or a partnership of individuals selling together as one vendor. (Two separate artisans making similar products but working independently are considered two separate vendors.) All artworks must be original. Artisan applications must include a description of their work accompanied by a photo. Acceptable works include paintings in all media, photography, fibers, glass, jewelry, metals, wearable art, and similar handmade items. No kits, imports, or resale items are permitted. A copy of the artisan’s Michigan Sales Tax License must be prominently displayed at the market, and a copy must be provided to the Market Manager with the application. See Michigan Department of Treasury Website https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/business-taxes/new-biz under Sales and Use Tax. There is no fee to obtain a Sales Tax License.
16. Required Market Signage
Each vendor must post all signs provided by the market.
17. Booth Setup and Vehicle Restrictions
All vendors must have their booth set up before the market opens. No vehicles are allowed on the commons area (customer walkway) after 8:30 a.m. during the summer market or after 2:30 p.m. for the evening market, unless approved by the Market Manager.
18. Professional Conduct and Appearance
All vendors must conduct themselves at all times in a professional and respectful manner with customers and fellow vendors. Vendors agree to keep their sales areas and displays clean and attractive. Appropriate dress is required; clothes must be clean and in good condition.
19. Vendor Set-Up and Clean UpResponsibilities
Vendors are responsible for their own set-up and clean-up. All stands, tables, and products must be transported to the market area each day, and removed after each market day. Materials or produce may not be left overnight. Each vendor is responsible for cleaning their own space and must remove all garbage and leftover produce.
20. Dogs in Vendor Spaces
Due To Health Department rules, dogs are not allowed inside any vendor space. Customers must keep dogs leashed and under control. Use your discretion when interacting with them. Service animals are permitted as long as they do not pose a health or safety risk. Again, use your discretion.
21. Smoking and Alcohol Restrictions
No smoking or alcohol consumption is allowed on the farmers market grounds or in the building.
22. Vendor Access and Grievance Process
The Market Manager or an active Board Member may deny or restrict any vendor’s or vendor representative’s access to the market for failure to follow the state and local laws or the guidelines of the Menominee Historic Downtown Farmers Market. Problems, complaints, or concerns may be directed immediately to the Market Manager, a Board Member, or the Vendor Representative. Any grievance that cannot be resolved between a vendor and the Market Manager may be submitted in writing to the Farmers Market Board for settlement before the next market day.
23. Policy Violation Procedure
Policy Violation:
A. 1st offense: Verbal warning from the Market Manager and the Board of Directors.
B. 2nd Offense: Written warning with penalty of missing the next market day.
C. 3rd Offense: Final warning with dismissal from the market.
D. Customer Complaints: Any customer complaint received by the Market Manager or the Board of Directors concerning a vendor will be documented on a complaint form providetd to the customer by the Market Manager. The vendor against whom the complaint was filed will receive a written copy of the complaint before the next market day.