OSFM Regulations

These regulations shall be in effect from July 13 1996 and may only be amended by the General Membership at any Annual or General Meeting called for that purpose. Notice shall be given seven days in advance of the meeting.

1. The Annual Meeting shall be held within 60 days of the end of the fiscal year, (February 28) to elect 12 Directors and to review the operation of the market. The President and the Vice President shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by the general membership from the 12 members of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall have the power to act for the Market Association between Annual or General Meetings. Adoption of the minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors by the General Membership at the next Annual or General Meeting will be deemed to be approval of the actions of the Board.

The Board of Directors must obtain the approval of the general membership for any financial obligation beyond the day to day operation of the market.

2. a) All vendors shall conform to Federal, Provincial, Municipal and Health regulations.
b) Should a vendor subvert the law or the Rules and Regulations of the Owen Sound and District Farmers’ Market Vendors Association and/or Vendors Agreement the Manager shall have the right to suspend the Vendor. A suspended Vendor may appeal to the Board of Directors in writing.

3. a) Each Vendor shall set the price of goods offered for sale excepting produce under the control of a Farm Product Marketing board. In this case the Vendors must charge at least the minimum established price. b) All vendors shall produce at least 75% of the product in each class they are registered in, with the exception of class B. (Refer to list of classes)

4. a) In respect to fruit, flower, vegetable or plant Vendors, the term producer shall be deemed to mean someone who grows at least 75% of the product he or shell sells. All others shall be deemed to be “Wholesalers or Traders”.
b) Only two wholesalers or traders will be permitted on the Market. To have this privilege they must supply an adequate display of produce for 10 months of the year. The 2 months off to be between January 1 and April 1.
c) No itinerant dealers will be allowed on the Market. The exception being one trader or producer from the Niagara Region, who will supply fresh peaches, grapes and other fruits not grown in this area when they are in season.
d) The wholesalers will not be permitted to sell “LOSS LEADERS” to the detriment of the other vendors.
e) The vending of Baked Goods will only be permitted if:
1. The said goods are verified to be made by the vendor in that vendor’s facilities.
2. The said goods are individually wrapped and covered in accordance with health regulations.

5. No vendor shall sublet, loan or otherwise grant the use of the stall to another person. Agents or employees of a vendor may operate the stall in the absence of the vendor. Vendors may operate both inside or outside the Market Building as assigned by the manager, but may not operate in both locations at the same time.

6. a) Outside annual vendors will be entitled to two spaces inside for the first eight-foot space, and one inside for each additional space at the discretion of the manager.
b) Any qualified vendor planning to move inside must notify the manager in writing of their intentions by October 1.
c) Vendors shall notify the manager at LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE OF RETURNING TO THE MARKET AFTER AN ABSENCE OF 2 WEEKS. When a vendor is absent their stall may be rented to daily vendors and the daily vendor will have precedence if the regular vendor does come without notification.
d) MARKET HOURS ARE AS ADVERTISED. STALLS NOT OCCUPIED _ HOUR AFTER OPENING CAN BE RENTED.
e) VENDORS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE UNTIL CLOSING TIME.
f) All stalls must be cleaned and vacated within 1 hour of Market closing.

7. No vendor may use space except that allocated to them by the manager. Those granted use of space shall pay for it at the regular weekly rates and may be suspended from the market at the discretion of the Executive if they fail to pay when requested.

8. On the ramp, no vendor shall be allocated more than three (3) spaces or a total of twenty-four feet (24’). Under this rule, a vendor shall mean a single person, a partnership, limited corporation, an association, a family or a group or organization. Inside the building the same rule shall apply except that the maximum spaced shall be seven (7) spaces or twenty-one (21’) feet. One additional space, if available, may be granted at weekly rates at the discretion of the manager.

9. No vendor shall intrude into another vendor’s space, nor block in any way the access to another vendor’s stall, nor may they intrude into the space for general public to move in front of the displays. They may set up their displays only in the space which is meant for display. The manager may order such merchandising, vehicle, etc. moved.

10. a) Yearly and Weekly Membership fees (stall rates) shall be set at the Annual Meeting based upon the recommendation of rates set by the Board of Directors. At the lapse of membership, Vendors shall pay on a weekly basis and may reapply to become a Yearly Vendor.
b) Yearly (Annual) Membership shall be granted at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

11. The executive, the Board of directors, the President and the Market Manager shall take such action necessary to ensure there is a good variety of products at the Market. Vendors shall be divided into Classifications on types of products and may only change or add products outside of their classification with consent of the Board of Directors.

12. The vendors shall fill out an application form stating their product line each year or if they desire to change or add a product from a different Classification. Approved changes in classifications shall be posted.

13. The executive, the Board of Directors, the President and the Manager shall take such action and make such decisions are necessary for the successful promotion and development of the Owen Sound And District Farmers’ Market.

We welcome your feedback. Please email your comments to us at manager@owensoundfarmersmarket.ca.