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These Rules and Regulations are mandatory for all Market participants ("PARTICIPANTS") including their agents and employees. They are subject to change. PARTICIPANTS are required to read these carefully before signing their Applications. GENERAL RULES 1. Dates and Hours Every
Thursday 2. Set Up/Arrival/Attendance/ Departure a.
Set up may begin at 12:00 pm; not earlier 3. Market Cancellation Information 843-415-2447 or www.farmersmarketbluffton.com The market will be cancelled in the event of any weather conditions that the MANAGER deems to be unsafe. If the market is cancelled, no PARTICIPANT will be allowed to sell his/her product at the site of the market that day. 4. Tents and Spaces a.
Tents. Each participant is responsible for providing his/her tent. If
any vendor cannot provide their own tent, they may rent one from the
Market. Tent must be weighted and secure to ensure that it will not
be blown over " Tent size shall be the standard size (approximately
10 X 10) 5. The Market Manager Is authorized to assign spaces, enforce all rules and regulations of the market, collect fees and handle all disputes. The managers contact info is: Charles
"Chip" Wallace 6. Market Fees and Licenses The Board of Directors sets space rental fees and may waive them at its own discretion. The MANAGER will collect fees in advance or during each market. The 2010 market will run 36 weeks. Half Season schedule is March 18th-July 15th or July 22nd-Nov 18th. Fees are for a 10x10 space, additional fees will apply if a vendor requires more than one space. Produce vendors are allowed to have their vehicle accompany their space at no additional charge, provided they are not using it as a sales display. i.e. selling watermelons out of the back of a pickup truck etc...
Fee Schedule
Local Growers & Produce Sellers 7. Insurance: The Farmers Market of Bluffton ("MARKET") does not carry insurance to cover PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANTS are required to be responsible for their own personal, general and product liability insurance. The Town of Bluffton, Beaufort County, the Carson Cottages and the MARKET shall be reimbursed for any damage to their properties by any PARTICIPANTS, including but not limited to damage to grounds, vehicles, fencing, sidewalks, tents and any other property owned by or associated with the MARKET or the other entities written above. 8. Complaints: PARTICIPANTS are responsible for effectively addressing complaints from their customers; however, the MANAGER will get involved if there are repeated complaints about a specific PARTICIPANT, and repeated customer complaints regarding a specific PARTICIPANT may result in the expulsion of that PARTICIPANT from the market. The MANAGER will also address complaints between the PARTICIPANTS. FOR ALL MARKET PARTICIPANTS AND MARKET CUSTOMERS: A.
Abusive, profane, threatening or harassing language or actions toward
market staff, other PARTICIPANTS or market customers is prohibited. The Farmers Market of Bluffton promotes itself as a market of local, fresh produce. The following is a statement on the Market's position on this As a Board, we are striving to have a market of integrity. To accomplish this, we have a goal, first and foremost, to bring to the consumers fresh produce from LowCountry growers, thereby promoting and stimulating the LowCountry agricultural economy. We do accept growers from southeast Georgia, because of its proximity to our area. We do accept produce from other regions of South Carolina (when the same produce is NOT available in the LowCountry) and we will accept produce from North Carolina, if and only if, that produce is not available in South Carolina. During the fall when pumpkins are in demand, we may have to seek those from another state. The MANAGER will remove from display any produce that does not meet these criteria and the participant will be given a warning. "GROWER" RULES In
addition to the General Rules, Growers must comply with the following:
To be considered an eligible "Grower", the PARTICIPANT must be a person
who grows products from seed propagation or plugs and harvests them
for sale, and complies with the 50% rule described below. 4. Organic Produce and Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) Produce If any item for sale is labeled organic, the grower must show proof of certification from a USDA licensed certifier. Growers whose annual sales do not exceed $5000 and can demonstrate that they meet organic standards may label products as organic, but they must follow the USDA regulations and be prepared to present the MANAGER with documentation. Only USDA certified organic growers may display the USDA organic seal. Products which are certified naturally grown (CNG) may not use the word organic but may display the CNG label. Proof of certification must be supplied to the MANAGER "LOCAL PRODUCE SELLER" RULES Many growers have excellent produce but are unable to attend a weekly market. Therefore, the Market has a new category "Local Produce Seller" for those people who grow less than 50% of the items they sell at their display AND who purchase the other items from growers in a 100 mile radius from Bluffton. This produce should be primarily from growers located in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton Counties. In addition to the General Rules, Local Produce Sellers must comply with the following: 1.
Local Produce Seller ("LPS") Application FOOD
VENDOR RULES 1.
Food Vendor Application Food Vendors must complete and sign the Food
Vendor Application stating that they understand and agree to comply
with the Rules and Regulations of the market. SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF MARKET RULES AND REGULATIONS Any
violation of the MARKET Rules as stated above or any violation of the
laws of the state of South Carolina or Beaufort County or the Town of
Bluffton or The United States of America will result in the following
sanction(s) being imposed by the MANAGER: Appeals PARTICIPANTS may appeal sanctions imposed upon them which do not involve suspension or expulsion from the market by writing to the MARKET Board of Directors within fifteen (15) days of the imposition of the sanction(s). The appeal must state the specific reasons for the appeal. The Board will render a written decision within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a PARTICIPANT=s appeal. The MANAGER will immediately forward in writing to the Board any sanctions of PARTICIPANTS that involve a suspension or expulsion from the market. PARTICIPANTS may request an appeal hearing with the Board in regard to any sanctions that involve suspension or expulsion from the market. The Board will schedule appeal hearings regarding suspensions or expulsion from the market within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a written appeal from PARTICIPANTS. The MANAGER will provide the appealing PARTICIPANT a copy of the sanction recommending suspension or expulsion. The MANAGER will give written notice of the date, time and location of a scheduled appeal hearing to the appealing PARTICIPANT. The Board may limit at its own discretion the amount of testimony and the number of witnesses permitted at an appeal hearing. The Board shall, by majority vote of those members present at an appeal hearing, render a written decision based on findings of fact and the application of the rules set forth in these Rules and Regulations within seven (7) days of the date of the appeal hearing. The decision shall be served upon all parties or their representatives and shall be final. |