Selling at Surrey Farmers Markets

Selling at Farmers' Markets - Where do I start?

First of all you’ll want to know whether you and your products are eligible to attend and be sold at farmers’ markets. The following guidelines set out the basic principles that farmers’ markets are based on:

All produce must be grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholder. Producers may not sell products or produce on behalf of, or bought from, any other farm or supplier.

Local Produce - Only produce from the defined local area (this is normally a 30 or 40 mile radius around the individual market) shall be eligible.

Principal Producer - The stall must be attended by the principal producer, or a representative directly involved in the production process, such as a close relative or a member of staff.

The produce offered for sale must be encompassed by one of the following three categories:

	Primary Produce - Includes vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, dairy products, plants.
	Secondary Produce - Ready-made meals, condiments, confectionery, preserves, cakes and desserts made by the producer at a given premises.
	Crafts - Craft products made from naturally occurring materials i.e. willow baskets, charcoal, wooden items, wax candles.

The next step is to contact the market manager of the market that you would like to attend. Each of the Farmers' Markets in Surrey are independently managed and administered, so their charges and rules may vary slightly. The manager will tell you if they have any spare pitches at their market and the associated charges. These are likely to include a number of the following:

	A pitch will cost between £25 - £30.
	The market manager will be able to provide you with a canopy or umbrella and a table. Charges vary but expect to pay between £15-£20 to hire. Market managers can give you the names of suppliers if you would prefer to purchase your own.
	Tables are either free of charge or around £5 to hire but there's no reason why you can't employ a table you have at home - so long as it's clean and strong enough!
	£5-10 is a typical charge for an electricity supply, but again this varies slightly.
	If you plan to sell meat, dairy or any other chilled products you should provide your own display chiller / refrigerator.

The manager of the Farmers' Market that you have applied to will send you a registration form, a copy of their market's rules and a booking form. You will also be required to send a copy of your public liability insurance certificate. This is essential - you will need the appropriate insurance before you can attend a Farmers' Market. Several insurance companies have policies specifically designed for market stallholders and many are surprisingly good value.

Farmers’ Markets in Surrey work closely with their local Trading Standards and Environmental Health offices (EHO) to ensure the public are able to purchase food and other produce of the quality they would expect. If you are planning to sell food at a Farmers' Market you should firstly be registered with your home authority Environmental Health office.

Farmers' Market managers will ask for proof that you are registered and that there are no outstanding issues regarding your premises or operation. Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers regularly inspect Farmers' Markets.

There are a number of Trading Standard leaflets that have been written for producers interested in attending framers’ markets.

Click here for further information

Training

In keeping with the need to maintain high standards, most markets require stall holders selling foodstuffs to have up to date basic food hygiene certificates. If you would like to attend a food hygiene course in order to gain your certificate please contact wendy.neal-smith@surreyfoodlinks.co.uk.

Several other courses including health and safety and business skills are also available.

Business Link Surrey

To find out more about other business options that could be available to you if you are a farmer or producer in Surrey, visit the Business Link Surrey site. They have a specialist Rural Advisor.

www.businesslinksurrey.co.uk