Agricultural Producers and Growers

Please read the Become a Vendor page before continuing on this page.

Producers and growers are the mainstay of the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market. To qualify for this vendor category you must do one or more of the following:

• Produce products that are agricultural in nature.
• Grow crops or raise livestock (be a farmer or gardener).
• Harvest raw products from nature (a wildcrafter)

Examples are producing or growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, nuts, plants, milk, honey, eggs, meat, and wool, as well as wild-harvested berries and gathered raw material for value-added products.

The following are not accepted:

• Any product which has been purchased.
• Any product not grown/gathered by the vendor at the inspected property as declared upon the application for membership or application for vendor privileges. Unless explicitly permitted by the Board of Directors for the purpose of augmenting the offerings of the market.
• Any product which does not meet all government regulations, including those of the USDA, Idaho Department of Agriculture, and Panhandle Health. Certain restrictions apply to the sale of a number of products such as mushrooms, sprouts, meats, eggs in some cases specific to Farmers’ Markets. Some regulations may pertain to labeling. It is the responsibility of the vendor to submit all required documentation to the manager or Board of Directors prior to selling at the market.
• Any plant material which has been purchased within 6 weeks of sale at market and/or has not been altered to reflect the care of said vendor.
• Any genetically modified crop.
• Any product known to be diseased, rotten, insect infested, or otherwise not of acceptable quality.

If the above describes you and the product(s) you wish to sell, you may be eligible for membership with the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association.

Members must fulfill certain responsibilities, but have benefits such as reduced fees and the opportunity to secure a season pass for a booth space at one or both market locations.

 

Market Policies

Before applying for membership, please read the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Policies and Regulations. All vendors must abide by these policies and regulations and the applicable Ground Rules. All vendors, members, and non-members alike, must sign an agreement to this effect.

Membership Application & Fees

Application for membership in the Kootenai County Farmers’ Market Association may be made at any time by submitting the completed Membership Application Form to the manager or Board of Directors.

Additional information may be included or requested to assist the Board in making a determination of eligibility. Application for renewed membership must be completed every year, and membership is non-transferable and non-refundable.

Applying early in the season is recommended as season passes and working memberships may not be available if the application is made after the Annual Membership meeting held in March each year.

Participation in the work parties for setting up and tearing down of the Saturday market site prior to opening day and at the end of the season is mandatory for all members. A $100 penalty will be levied for each missed work party unless prior arrangement has been approved by the Board of Directors.

Working Member: Willingly contributes a minimum of 10 hours each season in addition to the work parties. This requirement shall be fulfilled by actively serving on one of the committees or otherwise volunteering in a Board-approved market activity.

Those failing to uphold this agreement will forfeit their eligibility for this membership level the following season.

The dues for a working member are $100 per year.*

Member benefits include the opportunity to elect the Board of Directors each year and to vote on any proposed changes to the policies, regulations, and fee structure of the KCFMA; the opportunity to purchase a season pass at the market if available or, alternatively, reduced fees for space rental by the day.

Non-working Member: Is unable or unwilling to volunteer his/her time for the market, other than the set up and tear down work days, which are mandatory.

The dues for a non-working member are $400 for a year.*

Those vendors who failed to fulfill their working member responsibilities the previous year, as well as those who apply after all working memberships for the year have been issued, will only be granted non-working membership.

Click on the link below for Membership Applications:

2024 Agricultural Vendor Application

Fees

Season Pass: A season pass is available only to members and is a cost advantage if a vendor plans to participate in more than 10 selling days at one market site. It also ensures that the vendor will be located in same selling space throughout the season, making it easier to plan and create customized displays, and for customers to find them at the market.

Season passes must be purchased by April 1, and are non-transferable and non-refundable.

The vendor must occupy the assigned space prior to the opening of each market (7:30 am for Saturday and 3:15 pm for Wednesday). Otherwise the manager may assign the space to a day vendor.

Season pass holders must notify the manager in advance if they do not intend to occupy their space on any given market day.

The assigned space will be reallocated if a season pass holder fails to notify the manager if three consecutive markets will be missed. A season pass holder who does not occupy their space at least 50% of the market days in a given year may forfeit their right to a seasons pass for the subsequent year.

Two qualified members may share a season pass if they have registered their names with the Market Manager in advance of the first sale day.

All modifications or replacements to existing booths at the Saturday market site must be approved by Manager or Board of Directors before implementation.

As much as is practical (due to terrain and trees), a selling space at the Saturday market is considered to be 8’x 12’ or 10’ x 10′, depending upon location within the market. This space does not include a parking space, which, with few exceptions, is off the market site. A 2-foot aisle is allocated between each selling space. Spaces for the Wednesday market are 10’ x 10’.

Season Pass Fees:*

• Saturday: $500/space**
• Wednesday: $300/ space
• Combo (Sat. & Wed.) $700/space (2 spaces at both markets is $1400)

One third (minimum of $200) of the payment for a season pass is due by April 1, with another third due by June 15, and the remaining amount due by July 15. Payment made in full at the Annual Meeting in March earns a 10% discount on fees.

**A few existing selling spaces established in the early days of the market exceed the space allowance and were grandfathered in. The Season Pass holder is levied an additional fee based on square foot overage.

Day Vendor Fees for Members:*

• Saturday, $40  |  Wednesday, $30

Day Vendor Fees for Non-Members:*

• Saturday, $60  |  Wednesday, $45

*Vendor fees are determined yearly and are not set until after the March member meeting vote each season. Prices will be updated at that time.