The Farmers Market Guide - Georgia Department of Agriculture

1 The Georgia Farmers Market Guide Farmers Market Toolkit !The Georgia Department of Agriculture !Commissioner Gary W. Black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! 1 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture Table Of Contents!!Chapter 1 - Starting Your Local Farmers Market Page 3 Chapter 2 - Food Safety: Licensing & Labeling Page 8 Chapter 3 - Food Safety: Best Handling Practices Page 13 Chapter 4 - How to be a Successful Manager or Vendor Page 15 !!!!A Farmers Market is a place where Farmers sell their products directly to consumers. Ultra-fresh produce, pastured meat and eggs, artisan cheeses, hand-harvested honey, and other fresh, small-batch foodstuffs are the hallmark (and benchmark) of the best Farmers markets.

2 Local markets serve not just as a place for Farmers to get the best price and consumers to get the best products, but as venues for producers and consumers of food to come together, forge relationships, and exchange information. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has produced this toolkit as a resource for those interested in starting, or participating in, a local Farmers Market and making it the best it can be! 2 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture Chapter 1 - Starting Your Local Farmers Market !! a Location What to Look for: , identifiable, clean, and attractive location location advantageous to both the Market and the landowner to convenient and user-friendly parking there other markets in the area? Is your location in the public interest?

3 - natural or manmade to cater to the comfort of customers and vendors alike. for the public are readily available ! !Potential Locations: or county property property parking lots store parking lots (Rare) !Things to Consider: / Local Permits for booth sales and/or truck sales? insurance - Enough to be seen and accessible government backing Will your Market accept it? If so, have you considered Wholesome Wave Georgia ? !Wholesome Wave Georgia - This program supports the belief that all Georgians should have access to wholesome, locally-grown food. They double SNAP benefits at partner Farmers markets, strengthening our local food system by making healthy food more affordable and supporting small Farmers .

4 When a Market staff member swipes your EBT card for however much you chose, it doubles your food stamp dollars. If you chose $10, the staff will give you $20 in wooden tokens to spend on fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat, bread or any food. SNAP users can receive up to $50 in EBT doubled each time they visit a Market ! For more information, please visit 3 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture Recommended Vendor Booth Set Up: O R !!The squares above represent vendor booths, and the arrows represent traffic flow. These are just two options that will utilize the Market s space and allow for maximum exposure to product. Choose a layout that works for your space while maintaining the array of product and customer movement.

5 ! Farmers /Vendors This is the most difficult part of getting your community s Market kick-started! Potential Solutions: with your local Extension office an ad in the Market Bulletin Georgia Grown with other Market Managers Things to Consider: to only produce or organic? a certain area or county? a fee may discourage vendors, yet may be necessary. rules for different types of products !! 4 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture Customers Free Media: to local news outlets event pages for large outlets local or neighborhood papers !Social Media: should be on Facebook food and local blogs an email database vendors to promote through their network !Sponsors: of Commerce municipalities groups organizations foundations agencies FFA Chapter(s) and Senior groups !

6 Other Advertising: ad in local and state Market Bulletin and other signs bulletins funding may be available ! the Regulations Safety 5 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture Taxes products should collect full sales tax. A vender should collect full sales tax for the sale non-food related items at Farmers markets. Products have state and some city sales tax exemptions: Exemption for State Sales Taxes OCGA 48-8-3 (57) (A) The sale of food and food ingredients to an individual consumer for off-premises human consumption, to the extent provided in this paragraph. Possible Exemption from Municipal taxes and fees OCGA 48-5-356 Exemption from municipal taxation of agricultural products and livestock raised in state : No municipality shall levy any tax or license fee or shall require the payment of any fee or tax upon the sale or introduction into the municipality of any agricultural product raised in this state including, but not limited to, swine, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, and the products of such animals when the sale and introduction are made by the producer of the product and the sale of the product is made within 90 days of the introduction of the product into the municipality.

7 The exemptions provided in this Code section shall be in addition to all other exemptions from taxation and licensing provided by law for any such product. ! Licenses on Occupation tax Levies by Local Governments 48-13-13 Multiple locations many Farmers Market vendors may operate at multiple locations and may already have their business license in another district: Local governments are not authorized to: (1) Require a business or practitioner to pay more than one occupation tax for each office or location, except that businesses or practitioners with multiple services or products shall be taxed in accordance with Code Section 48-13-12; Ve n d e r s at tax exempt agricultural fairs may be exempt from Business Licenses: Local governments are not authorized to: (5) Levy any occupation tax, regulatory fee, or administrative fee on any state or local authority, nonprofit organization, or vendor operating under a contract with a tax-exempt agricultural fair , as that term is defined in Code Section 2-2-8.

8 Farmers Markets could fall under the definition of Agricultural Fairs 2-2-8 : (b) For an event to qualify as an agricultural fair , the organization sponsoring such fair must: (1) Be able to show that at least 10 percent of the total receipts thereof are paid out in the form of premiums, scholarships, or agricultural programs; and (2) Be a nonprofit organization, spending the profits of the fair on the enterprise or paying them out in the form of premiums, scholarships, or educational programs. 6 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture ! / Permits your local zoning, planning, or code enforcement office Markets raise many issues when it comes to local zoning including; traffic, parking, availability of public restrooms, and litter.

9 Local governments do not have special zoning or permitting for Farmers markets. Atlanta recently passed a local zoning ordinance for Farmers markets. It is Section of their zoning ordinance. ! Regulations Amusement park rides at agri-tourism facilities oContact Department of Labor Sale of plants at Farmers markets or flea markets oContact Department of Agriculture Mike Evans at 404-651-9486 Community gardens oGood but could cause public safety issues ! Rules Things to Consider: Structure benefits for a non-profit organization or Certified Naturally Grown designations the local area What is local? what is a farmer Grower only? Approved representative? quality or safety standards of Operation / Vendor fees Should cover Rent !

10 Insurance Advertising and promotion of Market Office expense Membership and permits Manager salary? Employee pay? Or will volunteers be used? ! Signage Pricing Variety 7 THE Georgia Department OF Agriculture Chapter 2 - Food Safety: Licensing & Labeling!!When contemplating starting a local Farmers Market in your community, you must consider food safety as a primary objective. To ensure appropriate precautions are being taken, vendors will need to obtain the proper licenses or permits relating to their product, when applicable. ======================================== ================================= Dept. of Public Health vs. Dept. of Agriculture - Generally, food service items, or food prepared for on-premise consumption, is regulated by the local Health Department .