Membership Rules

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Morningside Farmers’ Market (MFM) is a producer-only market. It was founded to provide organic, local products to Atlanta consumers. The Market works to support local organic growers by providing a direct market for their products in an atmosphere that is conducive to the exchange of information and ideas between the original producer and the consumer. It aims to educate Georgia consumers about the importance of organic agricultural systems and larger issues surrounding ecology and organic food production.
Along with certified organic producers, we welcome farmers who are organic under the $5,000 rule of the National Organic Standards, as well as producers of value-added food stuffs and hand-crafted goods that reflect the same values of sustainability as employed by the farmers and which meet our established standards.


WHAT CAN BE SOLD

  1. Any vegetable grown by the vendor which meets certified organic standards.

  2. Any fruits, nuts or berries grown by the vendor which meet certified organic
    standards.

  3. Any plant grown by the vendor which meets certified organic standards.

  4. Eggs produced by the vendor’s poultry which meets MFM standards.

  5. Honey produced by the vendor’s bees which meets MFM standards.

  6. Baked goods made by the vendor which meet MFM standards.

  7. Value-added products, including cheese, produced by the vendor which meet MFM
    standards.

  8. Fresh cut or dried flowers grown by the vendor which meet certified organic
    standards.

  9. Fire wood, cut by the vendor.

  10. Compost produced and bagged by the vendor.

  11. Fish and meat from animals raised on the vendor’s premises, which meets MFM
    standards.

  12. Fish and seafood which is wild harvested in a sustainable manner by the vendor.
    (Exempted from geographic limits.)

  13. Crafts items must be handmade locally.

GUIDELINES FOR VENDORS

  1. All vendors must be paid members in good standing of the Morningside Farmers’ Market (MFM).

  2. All vendors must have all required Georgia Department of Agriculture certifications and applicable licenses. Please see MFM standards and application for details.

  3. All produce farmers must be certified organic by a USDA-approved certifying body, or must be covered by the under $5,000 rule of the National Organic Standards. Produce vendors shall display their certification clearly at their market stand.

  4. The Board of Directors of the Morningside Farmers Market reserves the right to prohibit any vendor from selling at the market for any reason.

  5. Farmer members who produce crafts and value-added items will receive preference in selling these items at market.

  6. Non-organic products will be taken on a case-by-case basis by the MFM Board of Directors to determine how to proceed. It is the right of the MFM to prohibit the selling of non-organic products, in order to preserve the reputation of the market. If the Board of Directors determines that a non-organic product may be sold, that item shall be clearly indicated as such with signage. Preference will be given to certified organic products. All efforts shall be made to give reasonable notice to vendors whose items are subject to removal.

  7. For all non-certified organic products such as meats or value added products, vendors must submit the MFM producer declarations and adhere to MFM standards.

  8. All new vendor applications will be juried by the MFM Board of Directors to determine if the product fits within the makeup of the market.

  9. All vendors must allow their farm or place of business to be inspected by a representative(s) designated by the board of directors, before being approved for sales and whenever such an inspection is requested by the board.

  10. All vendors must live and produce all products being sold within the State of Georgia or within 150 miles of Atlanta.

  11. All produce must be of highest quality. The MFM Board of Directors will make every effort to resolve any issues that arise about the quality of a vendor’s produce.

  12. All vendors selling by the pound must use a certified scale.

  13. All vendors, their employees and associates shall dress and act in a professional manner with customers, vendors and staff.

  14. All food vendors must carry liability insurance and must provide proof of insurance to the market manager. The Morningside Market only carries General Liability insurance for the market and does not cover vendors’ products or businesses.

  15. CSA distribution is not permitted at MFM. Marketing for CSAs is acceptable, as long as the items in the vendor’s CSA program meet MFM standards and 80% are produced by the vendor. Marketing of vendor home delivery services or CSA’s where products offered are not 80% vendor produced or in accordance with MFM standards is not permitted.

  16. The prices of all products offered for sale at market shall be indicated plainly by tags or labels on products or on the booth table immediately adjacent to where the products are placed. For products that are not displayed on a booth table, a price list shall be clearly visible at the booth for customers to see. Failure to mark products with clear pricing can result in Market Manager or Board Director to have product removed from sale at market.

    There are additional rules, including a fee schedule outlined in the full member bylaws. The full document can be emailed to you upon request to manager@morningsidemarket.com.