The Indian Valley Farmer's Market will begin its season on June 26, 2010 and run through October 16, 2010. The hours are still 8:30 to 12:30.  

Registration for the Indian Valley Farmers’ Market used to be simple. One page of basic information, add your proof of insurance and payment  and you were set for the season. Now things are getting a bit more complicated.
 
The original application is basically unchanged from previous years. The new wrinkle is the Montgomery County Health Department’s new license.

We have attached the paperwork below that they have developed for the Markets throughout the county. For your convenience, we completed and saved the information that you would need about the Market on the form.
 
We have spent a good bit of time on the phone with our Health Department contact, Ed Blevins,  to clarify which vendors needs to apply. The application only refers to a Chapter Four in the MCPHC.

The MCPHC is the Montgomery County Public Health Code. It is available in its entirety at their website.  We have extracted and attached the two pages of Chapter Four below that define who must apply for the permit for your reference.
 
To give you an example, we will use a winery. Their product is packaged off-site and sold in sealed containers. They do not need a license. If they want to let passerby sample the wines, they must get a license. 
 
The same applies to a farm vendor. If they are just selling the produce as it came off the plant, they do not need a license.  If they want to cut up fruits or vegetables for sampling, they need to have a license.
 
Bakers need to bring their items pre-packaged. If they do not pre-package, they will need to have a sneeze guard covering to protect the items and a license.
 
The challenge is not just the cost of the license ($100) but the need to also have a certified hot-water sink at the booth. These cost about $1500 or better. We cannot install one for all the vendors to use. The code requires one at each work station/vendor.
 
Any vendor who has questions about whether their activities at the Market require a license should contact our assigned Health Department contact, Ed Blevins, at 610.970.5040.

You can download a copy of the IVFM Registration form, the definitions of a vendor and the Montco Health Department application or call 215-723-6627 and we can mail it to you.  We are looking forward to a prosperous growing season.

The Souderton Independent did a nice article about this issue.

Attachments:

File	Description	Uploader	File size
2010IVFMPacket.pdf		Robert Brecker	1612 Kb
Page 148 Definition of a Vendor	Page 148 Definition of a Vendor	Pam Coleman	65 Kb
Page 149 Definition of a Vendor	Page 149 Definition of a Vendor	Pam Coleman	65 Kb
Modified Montco Health Dept. Market Vendor Application		Pam Coleman	245 Kb