Please read and understand the following BEFORE beginning the application process:
Polk County Farmers Market
2024 Youth Vendor Guidelines/ Application and Parental Consent
Application Fee: $5 for each market
Vendor Fee: $10/wk
Mission: To support our local, young entrepreneurs, the Polk County Farmers Markets is delighted to offer Youth Vendor slots. This is a great opportunity for our next generation to learn about marketing and handling money while selling their own handcrafted or homegrown items in a fun and safe environment.
Youth Market Guidelines The following conditions represent a non-exhaustive list of the guidelines to participate as a vendor during the Polk County Farmers Markets Youth Market Series.
Youth must be 17 years of age or younger and be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. All products sold by the Youth Vendor must be made, grown by, and sold by that youth.
No vendor shall be allowed to sell or distribute food or food items unless they are a regular farmer vendor of the Polk County Farmers Markets and have completed and been accepted via the food producer application process or approved to sell such food items by the Board of Directors. Due to space restraints we are unable to accept applications from Food Truck vendors.
All artists/vendors must be based in our local market area, which the Polk County Farmers Markets defines as being located in any county in which any part of that county is located within 60 miles of Polk County, GA.
Vendor Selection The Polk County Farmers Markets is a Producer-Only market. No reselling of any product shall be permitted. All pieces displayed or offered for sale must be handmade/crafted by the vendor themselves or their team. Handmade/crafted is defined as at the minimum 51% of each piece’s value coming directly from the actions of the artist. Vendors for the Rockmart Farmers Market and Cedartown Farmers Market will be approved by the Board of Directors. Admission to sell at the market will be based on: product quality, product category, and prior market vendor history. All products you wish to sell must be listed on your application. Additional products must be approved by the Board of Directors before offering for sale at the market. Requests for additional items can be sent via email to rockmartfarmersmarket@gmail.com or cedartownfarmersmarket@gmail.com The Polk County Farmers Markets reserves the right to refuse any applicant if they feel it is in the best interest of the market to do so.
Vendor Fees A one-time, non-refundable fee of $5.00 is due with application. If your application is denied, your fee will be refunded to you. A weekly fee of $10.00 is due by the close of each market. Checks can be made payable to the Rockmart Farmers Market.
The approval process can take one to two weeks to complete, please allow ample time for processing.
Vendor Responsibilities Vendors must notify the Market Manager two days prior if unable to attend a market.
Please provide detailed product information on Sunday for Cedartown Farmers Market or Tuesday for Rockmart Farmers Market via text message with the Market Manager. This information will be used to promote the market and our vendors on social media, newspapers, and other promotional materials. Communicating accurately to our customers increases sales for everyone.
The Polk County Farmers Markets regularly gathers data from its vendors regarding products offered and total sales. This data is used to help demonstrate the impact of the market on our community and may be used to help acquire funding from grants, foundations, corporations or private donors. We make every effort to anonymize the data and no vendor’s personal information is disclosed with the data. The data is only presented in aggregate and does not contain any personally identifiable information about any vendor.
While attempts will be made to ensure vendors are in specific spaces consistently, no vendor is ever guaranteed a particular space at the market. Spaces are assigned based on seniority and availability. Any vendor missing two consecutive weeks with no notice or four total weeks with notice may be assigned a different space on their return.
Vendors may not set up prior to 12:45pm without prior permission. Vendors must arrive no later than 15 minutes before the market begins. Vendors may only park or set-up in the 12x12 numbered spaces designated by the Market Manager. If more space is needed, you may reserve a second space for an additional $10 each week to be added to the regular weekly fee. If you require use of a trailer, you may be designated to a specific spot or additional costs may be necessary for the second space. Vendors are required to secure tents with weights and/or stakes as well as tethering tents to your vehicle where applicable. Vendors are responsible for providing their own tents, tables, cords, etc. Vendor booth space priority will be assigned based on the percentage of markets attended. Vendors must leave their space as they found it with no trash or other debris. Vendors may not park in the Colony Bank parking lot (in Rockmart) or the Georgia Farm Bureau parking lot (in Cedartown). Vendors may not leave the market early except by permission from the manager.
Vendors and Parents/Guardians may not smoke on the market premises at any time.
No vendor or Parent/Guardian shall communicate in a disparaging way about other vendors, other vendors’ products, any customers or about the market in general. Communication includes but is not limited to social media, public communications at the market or any other communication that may harm the reputation of the market or its vendors.
Major violations of market rules can lead to expulsion from the market and will forfeit the fee paid for any remaining markets. NO EXCEPTIONS NO WARNINGS.
Weather Policy The market will open and stay open unless the weather is dangerous. Dangerous weather is defined as high winds, lightning, and snow or ice affecting driving safety. The decision to attend during inclement weather is solely the vendor’s responsibility and is not subject to repercussions.
2024 Youth Market Dates The 2024 Youth Market Season will correspond with the summer and winter break schedule as defined by the county in which the youth resides. The 2024 Market Season will open every Tuesday and/or Thursday from 2-6pm in the Summer and Fall. It will continue year-round in the Winter and Spring from 2-5pm with special Holiday Markets in November and December, excluding Thanksgiving and three (3) weeks at Christmas
Photo Consent
By signing this document, the Polk County Farmers Markets (doing business as the Cedartown Farmers Market and the Rockmart Farmers Market) has permission to use my youth's likeness in a photograph for any and all publications, including but not limited to all printed and digital publications. Permission is also given to edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish and/or distribute any photo for the purposes of promoting the Rockmart Farmers Market and Cedartown Farmers Market. In addition, we waive our right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written or electronic copy, wherein the youth's likeness appears.
Market Complaints Any vendor or person who wishes to place a complaint concerning the market must submit their complaint to the Board of Directors in writing to: Polk County Farmers Markets, PO Box 554, Rockmart, GA 30153 or via email to rockmartfarmersmarket@gmail.com or cedartownfarmersmarket@gmail.com .