Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Artisan & Craft Guidelines

The Kootenai County Farmers’ Market is primarily an agricultural market, however crafters and artisans are a welcomed addition to the market scene.

There are two categories for non-agricultural products: Value-Added Artisan Foods and Crafts

Artisan Foods are food products where the raw food material has been processed in some way, such as making jam out of berries. Market members may sell “low risk” foods, such as jams and breads, without health department permits as long as the food was grown/produced on their farm or garden, or comprised of items purchased at market. These products must also be juried by the ARC.

Any foods not considered “low risk” must be processed in a commercial kitchen and applicable permits from the Panhandle Health District apply.

Non-Members must have a permit from Panhandle Health to certify they are processing their product in an approved commercial kitchen. This applies to any food they are processing.

All Value-Added Artisan Foods MUST have proper labeling and product information as required by law.

Artisan Crafts are non-food items that must be crafted by the vendor and contain artistic value. Plastic is highly discouraged. Silk/artificial flowers are not allowed.

*Because these groups are well represented, the Kootenai County Farmers Market is not currently seeking
applications for new vendors in these craft and artisan food categories: Jewelry, Fiber Crafts, Bath and Body
Products, Jams, Sweet Foods, and Baked Goods. Vendors choosing to apply in these categories will not likely
be approved for sale at market during the 2024 season.*

Artistic Review Committee (ARC) All crafted products, including value-added agricultural products, sold at the market must be juried and accepted by the ARC.  The ARC will hold jury sessions for prospective vendors as well as current vendors prior to the start of the market season, on Saturday March 9, 2024.   A second jury date for current vendors will be held in October for any new items to be sold at Winter Market.

Prospective New Vendors in the Artisan Food and Craft categories are required to electronically submit an Artistic Review Request for prospective new products for jury,  prior to February 24^th  (in order to sell those products during the 2024 market season).  Artistic Review Requests received after 2/24 will not be approved.

Please include photos of all products intended for sale in the Artistic Review Request.  Any products not submitted or juried, will not be allowed for sale during the 2024 market season.  Email completed Artistic Review Requests to ARC.KCFM@gmail.com

Approval or denial to the Artistic Review Requests will be emailed no later than March 1, 2024.  Approval or denial is based upon whether similar products are already well represented at the market or not (amongst other qualifications).  Upon approval, the vendor will be invited to attend our in-person new vendor jury session on Saturday, March 9, 2024.  Prospective products are to be dropped off at the beginning of the session, the prospective vendor will leave the area, and product -as well as approval or denial- will be picked up at the end of the Jury session.  There is a $30 fee charged at this in-person session.

Guidelines for the Artistic Review

The following are the guidelines for craft acceptance at the KCFMA:

• The policies and regulations of the KCFMA apply to all craft vendors, including compliance with all government laws pertaining to the production and sale of that craft.
• All crafters should live within 100 miles of the Hayden market site.
• Priority is given to residents of Kootenai County.
• All crafts must be reviewed by the Artistic Review Committee (ARC) before they can be sold at market.
• The ARC will jury up to three times during the year.
• The last artistic review will be held in early October for crafters wanting to sell at the Winter market in December. No other reviews will be conducted prior to the Winter market outside the ARC Jury after that date. No exceptions.
• Crafters wishing to sell at Winter market must sell a minimum of 10 times during the regular season, including at least once during both September and October.
• There is a non-refundable fee of $30 for the artistic review. Any approved vendor who does not participate in the KCFMA for one season MUST be re-juried.

Point Scale for Artistic Review

Points will be assigned on a scale from 1 to 10 for the following criteria for ALL CRAFT VENDORS:

1. Originality of craft
2. Quality of craftsmanship
3. Use of homegrown/recycled/foraged components
4. Artistic element
5. Theme (farmers’ market/garden/nature)
6. Location (4 points are added for Kootenai County residents)

Download the Market Policies and Craft Guidelines , Artistic Review Request, and the Artisan Food and Craft Vendor Application.