Becoming a Vendor

The Lawrence Farmers’ Market is a producer-only market, which means vendors selling products that they did not grow, raise, cook, or craft themselves will not be accepted. LFM, additionally, is a market primarily focused on agricultural products. These priorities ensure that our customers can trust that products found at market are of a high quality and produced by the person they are buying from, a quality that sets us apart.

Pre-existing, non-agricultural, full-time retail businesses and resellers are not eligible to participate in the market. Only vendors in the following categories are permitted to join the Lawrence Farmers Market: Producers, Processors, Value-Added Crafters, and Prepared-Food Vendors. Note: To qualify as a Value-Added Crafter, a majority (75%) of the craft components must be raised or collected and processed by the vendor and the Crafter and their products must be approved by the Board.

A vendor may sell items produced by family or neighbors in addition to their own if these producers and products are listed on the application form, as outlined by our Guidelines, and are approved in advance by the Market Manager, in consultation with the LFM Board. Non-stall holding vendor members or vendor neighbors, are allowed to sell their products at one vendor stall per Market Day (Tuesday or Saturday market).

So you’ve decided you want to become a part of the Lawrence Farmers’ Market community; now how do you go about becoming a vendor? Luckily the process of submitting your application itself is pretty easy! Determine your Eligibility, acquire the required Licenses, obtain a Kansas Retail Sales Tax number, get Commercial Liability Insurance, Apply, await Board Review, and if accepted, prepare for the Manager Visit!

New Vendor Applications are accepted year-round!

Join us today! Click the links below to access the Application, Bylaws, Vendor Guidelines, and Double Up Food Bucks Vendor Agreement (for produce vendors only).

Questions? E-mail the Market Manager at Lawrencefarmersmarket@gmail.com or the Vendor Outreach Committee at vendoroutreach@lawrencefarmersmarket.org.

Lawrence Farmers’ Market New Vendor Application 2024

For the Lawrence Farmers’ Market organizational Bylaws, click here for Bylaws (updated 2023)

For the Lawrence Farmers’ Market Vendor Guidelines, click here for Guidelines (updated 2024)

For the Double Up Food Bucks Vendor Agreement, click here for DUFB Agreement (*ONLY Produce Vendors*)

7 Easy Steps to Apply

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

  • Determine your Eligibility based on your Vendor Category; click your Category below, and the requirements will appear for that type of product.

Eligibility

Is your product eligible at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market?

  • Do you grow the produce you will be selling?
  • Is your farm within 50 miles of Lawrence and in the state of Kansas?

If the answers to both questions are “Yes” then congratulations you are one step closer to becoming a vendor!

Is your product eligible at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market?

  • Do you raise the animals or animal products you will be selling?
  • Is your farm within 50 miles of Lawrence and in the state of Kansas?

If the answers to both questions are “Yes” then congratulations you are one step closer to becoming a vendor!

Is your product eligible at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market?

  • Are you located within 50 miles of Lawrence and in the state of Kansas?
  • Do you create the product yourself?
  • Do you source most of your ingredients from Kansas, if not mostly from local sources?

If the answers to all questions are “Yes” then congratulations you are one step closer to becoming a vendor!

Is your product eligible at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market?

  • Are you located within 50 miles of Lawrence and in the state of Kansas?
  • Do you create the product yourself?
  • Do you source as much of your ingredients from Kansas as possible, if not mostly from local sources?

If the answers to all questions are “Yes” then congratulations you are one step closer to becoming a vendor!

Is your product eligible at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market?

  • Are you located within 50 miles of Lawrence and in the state of Kansas?
  • Do you create the product yourself?
  • Do you source as much of your ingredients from Kansas as possible, if not mostly from local sources?

If the answers to all questions are “Yes” then congratulations you are one step closer to becoming a vendor!

Step 2: Acquire Required Licenses 

  • Determine your the licenses required based on your Vendor Category; click through the tabs to determine what licenses you need to join the Lawrence Farmers’ Market based on your Vendor Category.
  • The direct-to-consumer sale of foods that do not require temperature control for safety or specialized processing is allowed at farmers’ markets and similar locations without a Food Establishment License.
  • In our Guidelines, vendors who sell jams, jellies, sauces, salsas, baked goods, cheeses, and meat products are considered “Processors”. KDA puts out a helpful booklet every year called “Food Safety for Kansas Farmers Market Vendors: Regulations and Best Practices”. You can find all the information listed here, and more best practices in the guidebook. From the Land of Kansas has a helpful Farmers Market Resource Page and list of Regional Workshops. K-State Research and Extension has a helpful list of Workshops for Food Processors.
  • If your product requires a Food Establishment license or Food Processor license, a copy of the certificate must be sent to the Lawrence Farmers’ Market Board before you begin selling at market.All packaged food products must include the following on the label:
    • Common name of product (e.g. apple pie)
    • Name and physical address of the person that made or is selling the product
    • Product ingredients in descending order of predominance (This is particularly important for customers that have food allergies)
    • Quantity (net weight, volume, or count, depending on product)

Licenses

If selling your product by weight, you must use a scale certified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Scale certifications can be done at Vendor Workshops hosted by KDA or may be certified by a licensed service company.  More information is available from the KDA Weights and Measures website or by calling 785-564-6700. Occasional group certification opportunities are available, contact the Market Manager for more information.

For fruit and vegetable sales, no additional licenses or certification is needed.

For live plant sales, you will have to obtain a Live Plant Dealer’s License. If your total plant sales are less than $10,000, you will not have to pay the $50 license fee. More information available on KDA’s Live Plant Dealer page.

If selling your product by weight, you must use a scale certified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Scale certifications can be done at Vendor Workshops hosted by KDA or may be certified by a licensed service company. Check out this local workshop + scale certification! More information is available from the KDA Weights and Measures website or by calling 785-564-6681. Occasional group certification opportunities are available, contact the Market Manager for more information.

For wholesale meat sales, you will need a Wholesale Meat Dealer license. More information about this license and the procedure to obtain one can be found at KDA’s Registration page.

For egg sales, if you have more than 50 laying hens you will need to obtain a Egg License. Information about flock categories and who needs an Egg License can be found  in KDA’s Food Safety Fact Sheet: Selling Eggs without a License. A link to the Egg License application can be found on KDA’s Food Safety, Egg, and Lodging Application Forms page.

Home canned fruit jams and jellies (excluding reduced or no sugar jams/jellies): No license required.

Canned, shelf stable naturally high acid foods (e.g. canned applesauce, canned fruits): No license required.

Acidified shelf-stable canned foods (e.g. pickles, hot sauces, canned tomatoes): You are required to have a KDA Food Establishment License or Food Processors License required for production facility. Required recipe approval, “Better Process Control School” is required.

Low-acid shelf-stable canned foods (e.g. canned veggies, meats, cake/bread baked in a jar): You are required to have a KDA Food Establishment License or Food Processors License required for production facility. Required recipe approval, “Better Process Control School” is required.

Pepper jams and jellies: Must submit a sample of your product to KDA for a “Product Water Activity” test before it can be sold at Market. After the test is conducted you will be notified by KDA about which category the product falls under and if licensing is required or not.

Low sugar fruit jams and jellies: Must submit a sample of your product to KDA for a “pH and/or Water Activity” test and product formulation before being sold at Market.

Salsa, barbeque sauce, and similar foods (canned and shelf stable):  You must submit a sample of your product to KDA for a pH test and product formulation. Depending on the pH of the final product and the main product ingredients, the product may be exempt from licensing or may be considered an acidified canned food that requires a license.

Refrigerated processed foods (e.g. fresh salsas, pickles, pestos, garlic in oil mixtures, etc): Producer must have appropriate KDA Food License (most likely a Food Establishment License).

The sale of non-exempt foods is restricted to protect the public from foodborne illness. Non-exempt foods, which are foods that require temperature control for safety or specialized processing, consist in whole or in part of milk, milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, sprouts, cut leafy greens, heat treated vegetables, heat treated starches and cut produce.

Home-baked potentially hazardous foods (cream or meringue pies, custards, cheesecakes, cream-filled cupcakes or donuts, cream cheese-based frostings or fillings, pickles, jerky, hot dogs, etc.): Potentially hazardous foods are foods that require temperature control for safety. See below for full list of which products require licenses and read KDA’s Food Sales at Farmers’ Markets.

Baked goods made in a home kitchen (cookies, breads, cakes, cinnamon rolls, fruit pies, fruit cobbler): No license required. Must comply with labeling rules listed above.

Dry baking mixes (cookie mix, brownie mix): No license required. Must comply with labeling rules listed above.

Candies made in a home kitchen (cinnamon hard candy, caramels, toffee): No licensing required but must comply with labeling rules listed above. Note: Homemade chocolates must be tested by KDA to determine whether a license is needed. 

Homemade dried pasta: No licensing required if dried in a protected environment in a short time period. Must comply with labeling rules above.

Baked products with potentially hazardous dairy and egg products (cheesecake, cream filled cupcakes or donuts, cream cheese-based frostings or fillings, cream or meringue pies, custards): Food Establishment License required at production facility and point of sale.

Dough (refrigerated or frozen cookie dough, pizza dough): Product requires temperature control for safety, so a Food Establishment License is required.

*Update Coming Soon*

Bodycare

Tinctures

Teas

Tonics

Honey

Clothing

Housewares

Step 3: Obtain Kansas Retail Sales Tax

Step 4: Obtain Commercial Liability Insurance

  • All vendors must pay for and provide documentation to the Lawrence Farmers’ Market of their own commercial liability insurance on an occurrence basis in amounts no less than $1,000,000, covering bodily injury and property damage, including products liability. Both the vendor and the Lawrence Farmers’ Market must be named as co-insured. Lawrence Farmers’ Market vendors have a $5 discount opportunity with the Food Liability Insurance Program. For more questions contact the Market Manager or the Vendor Outreach Committee.

 

Step 5: Apply!

Step 6: Board Review

  • The Lawrence Farmers’ Market Board of Directors and Staff meet the first Tuesday of every month and review applications at this time. Applicants will be contacted by email with the Board’s decision within 48 hours of the meeting. If you have any questions or concerns about your application or the Board review process, contact the Market Manager: lawrencefarmersmarket@gmail.com or 785-505-0117.

Step 7: Manager Visit

  • As a new member of the Lawrence Farmers’ Market, the Market Manager visits your operation. We will get to know your farm and products, familiarize you with market day procedures, programs, and policies. Welcome to the Lawrence Farmers’ Market Community make sure you sign up for the Vendor & Customer Newsletters and have received the New Vendor Welcome Packet!