Riverland Farmers' Market

Market Charter

The concept of Farmers' Markets is not a new one. Farmers have bartered and sold goods as far back in history as agriculture itself. In this era it is generally accepted by most farmers' markets that stallholders must have grown, bred, caught, pickled, brewed, smoked or baked the goods themselves. Their main emphasis is to help local producers and processors to sell their goods direct to the public, near their source of origin, creating benefits to them, the environment and the local community. The selection of produce available at a Farmers' Market will vary with season and location. However, the consumer is likely to be able to find a delicious selection of vegetable, fruit, meat, eggs, bread and cakes, jams, fruit juices and dairy produce and smallgoods. The Farmers' Market shares with its producers and stakeholders a commitment to providing local and quality fresh produce of an affordable nature to the Riverland community. The market experience will provide growers with the opportunity to network and develop their marketing skills and through direct contact with their customers, gain greater knowledge of customer requirements. Most importantly, a market place atmosphere will build on our sense of community.

We welcome your participation!

 

The prime aim of the market is to develop a vibrant environment where consumers and producers are brought together. However, some guidelines are necessary to ensure that the authenticity, success and sustainability of the market is maintained.

This Charter outlines the various principles, rules and guidelines that the Farmers' Market operates under. For the purpose of this charter the following definitions apply:

Market Manager (MM): Person responsible for the week-to-week co-ordination of the market, as nominated by the Market Management Committee.

Food Riverland Inc. Farmers Market Sub Committee (FRIFMSC): Persons representing growers and other interested parties responsible for decisions regarding the overall management of the markets.

Stallholders: Those persons only whose names are on approved application forms.

Unmarketable: Any products that appear badly marked, over ripe, fruit fly infested, other pest infestations (presence of mealy bug, sooty mould etc.), have visual signs of chemical residue or which do not comply with chemical witholding periods.

Riverland Region: As per the constitution of Food Riverland Inc.

Membership shall be accepted from persons or organisations who agree to accept the above objectives and reside within the Associations boundaries as defined in the membership application forms and/or fit within membership rules as specified and have paid the prescribed membership fee, if any. Those who do not reside within the defined region but who have appropriate food and/or food products and have formally applied to and been accepted by the management committee as members, meet the criteria as defined and have paid the prescribed membership fee, if any.

Charter

1. Making an application for a stall: Interested growers wishing to sell produce must provide a completed market application form to the Committee. The Market Manager on behalf of the Market Committee has the authority to reject applications that do not comply with stated conditions. Once approval is given, the permit to trade lasts for the duration of the "Financial Calendar Year". The Market Manager will work to ensure that a broad range of produce is available, and that the market is not dominated by one particular type and/or variety of product. For example, the Market Manager may not allow more than two stallholders selling oranges unless they are of other varieties or organically grown. The decision of the Manager in all matters relating to the running of the market shall, on the day, be final. Appeals may be made to the Management Committee in writing. Stallholders' fortnightly rotations may be negotiated with the Market Manager.
2. Market hours: The market will operate on Saturdays from 7.30pm until 11.30am weekly.
3. Stall fees: Stallholders will be required to pay the appropriate fee to the Market Manager three days prior to the commencement of trade. The appropriate stallholder fees shall be set by Food Riverland Inc on annual basis, and will reflect the cost of running and promoting the market. Stallholders must be a Food Riverland Inc member to trade at the Riverland Farmers' Market. Stallholder fee includes GST. Stallholder schedule of fees to be applied from the Market Manager. The above fee structure is based on the following criteria:
   • Weekly stallholders will be given priority of space every week. (Definition: A weekly stallholder comes every week with the exception of up to 3 times in a year whereby they are unable to attend for whatever reason.) Weekly stallholder fee to remain the same.
   • Fortnightly Stallholders will be given second priority of space. Note: a weekly stallholder will be given preference over a fortnightly stallholder should space not be available. (Definition: A fortnightly stallholder comes every second week with the exception of up to 3 times ina year where they are unable to attend for whatever reason).
   • Casual stallholders will only be given space if it is available inside or out. Note: weekly and fortnightly stallholders are given preference for space inside over a casual stallholder. (Definition: A casual stallholder attends the market whenever and does not include a seasonal producer. Season producers who attend the market in a 'seasonal capacity' should be deemed weekly stallholders and charged accordingly only in the event that they attend the market weekly for a period of 2-3 months and/or during the season; otherwise they should be charged at a casual rate).
4. Products to be sold: All products sold must be produced, caught, grown or raised in the Riverland region or manufactured by the stallholder or Food Riverland member, primarily from produce grown in the Riverland.
5. Products eligible for sale include:
   • Category 1 - primary farm produce: Includes eggs, fruit, vegetables, herbs, olives, meat, fish, cheese, milk, flour, nuts, grains, honey and bee products, potted herbs, and cut flowers. The produce must have been reared or grown by the producer/business named on the application form and have spent at least 50% of its life on the producers land.
   • Category 2 - value-added consumable products: Includes products such as oils, jams, preserves, fruit juices, ice-cream, breads, cakes, and desserts and ready meals whose principal ingredients are primary farm produce from category 1.
   • This market does not permit the purchasing/re-packaging on of finished or imported goods. The stallholder may sell only products listed on the approved applications form. If vendors have additional produce available to sell during the season, the Market Manager must approve this. Stallholders must give 24 hours notice, in wiritng, via email, fax or mail, of intention to vary the produce originally nominated on the application form.
   • Genetically modified produce will not be permitted.
   • Stallholders may sell produce on behalf of other producers providing they are also Food Riverland members and satisfy the criteria of produce eligible for sale. In the instance a stallholder is selling produce on behalf of another producer this produce must be clearly marked and/or have signage to indicate whose produce it is. In times of seasonal product shortage the committee, at its discretion, may allow stallholders to source high quality produce from other areas of "South Australia".
   • The Market will actively seek out two guest stallholders whose produce is not represented at the market. Continued guest stallholders will be expected to become Food Riverland members after three appearances.
6. Who may sell? Only the producer, his/her family or employees directly involved in production will be permitted to sell the produce. If a stallholder is unable to attend a particular market, a representative may be nominated to sell items on the original stallholder's behalf for that period of time only. The Market Manager must be informed in writing (post, email or fax) prior to commencement of the market day. Stallholders are able to purchase from other producers who are local and members of Food Riverland and on sell or cooperatively sell their produce from their stall at the markets, until a total of three producers with the same product line are present in their own right.
7. Commitment from Stallholders
   • Stallholders will make a commitment to sell, by the Wednesday leading into the Market. If unforseen circumstances occur such that the stallholder is not able to attend the next committed market, the stallholder must provide 24 hours notice to the Market Manager if a re-fund of the pre-paid fee is required. A pre-paid fee may be advanced to the next week in exceptional circumstances if the Market Manager is notified. However, if the Market Manager is not notified, and this happens twice, the stallholder will lose their pre-paid fee. Stallholders must be in attendance between the advertised times of 7.30am to 11.30am.
   • Stall set up: Set up time available from 6am, stalls are required to be ready by 7.30am and trade until 11.30am. You are permitted to drive your vehicle on site to unload your produce, then all vehicles must be parked in reserve parking area for stallholders. It is strictly single file parking along the left hande side of the Senior Citizens Hall (closest to the building and if you are facing the building - customer parking facilites may not be taken as this will be detrimental to your trading). Vehicles may be parked in the drive way to unload until no later than 7am. On arrival report to Market Manager for stall allocation.
   • Power Access & Other Amenities This is available, subject to negotiation and agreement with the Market Manager - BYO cords and double adapters. Water is available on tap - BYO containers. Rubbish bins will be provided on site, all stallholders are responsible for their own rubbish.
   • Tastings of your produce are encouraged.
   • Quality of Produce Produce should be picked the week leading into market day, as close to market day as possible and handled in a way to preserve the fresh quality until market opens. Under no circumstances should cold storage or out of season produce be sold. Stallholders must guarantee against selling "unmarketable" produce. Stallholders in breach of the charter will be required to withdraw produce.
   • Fundraising & Volunteering Stallholders will be required to donate product toward a raffle (from time to time) to assist with raising money for various projects. Stallholders will be requested to volunteer their services (or a proxy) to work on the Market Breakfast Bar and BBQ.
   • Promotion The Food Riverland Inc (Market Manager) shall regularly promote the Market to Consumers and Trade.
8. Presentation Stallholders will be expected to be neat, suitably dressed and deal with the public in a corteous manner. Products should be displayed attractively, with due regard for consumers and other stallholders.
9. Setting Prices Selling in direct competition, for example: price under-cutting of other stallholders is not in keeping with the spirit of the Market. The Market recognises that the consumers maintain the right of choice, whilst enabling each stallholder to determine their own price. End-of-trading-day discounting is not permitted. Stallholders should ensure their measuring scales are accurately calibrated, as per standard trading regulations.
10. Labelling & Signage & Packaging All stallholders will be expected to comply with the minimum requirements of current trading standards regulations regarding labelling and description of goods. All organic produce must be certified by the relevant accrediting body (eg NASAA/BDF) and be labelled "certified organic". Evidence of accreditation must be provided upon application. All prices (per kilogram or per item) must be clearly visible. Each stallholder must display a sign showing their name and contact details every time they participate in the Market. Please note: In accordance with the new legislation by the South Australian Government as of 1st May 2009 stallholders are banned from handing out plastic shopping bags. This legislation does not currently apply to plastic containers and/or plastic vegetable/fruit bags. Reusable Farmers' Market bags are available for market customers to purchase.
11. Health & Safety Stallholders must confine displays and signs to the stall site and keep pathways clear for shoppers. Smoking by stallholders is prohibited. Dogs and other animals are not permitted. All food sold by stallholders must trade in accordance with the Health Department of South Australia's food handling regulations, and other relevant local health laws.
12. Insurance It is the responsibility of each stallholder to ensure that they hold appropriate product & public liability insurance to be viewed by the Market Manager upon application.
13. Clean-up and Rubbish All stallholders must ensure that their site and the area that surrounds it is left in a clean and tidy state once the market closes on the day. Failure of this requirement will result in the permit to trade being revoked. The Market Manager will ensure that rubbish bins are provided.
14. Sanctions Failure to abide by the rules of this Market as set out in this Charter will result in your permit to trade being revoked.

 

 

Market Management Committee

The organisers, officers and servants shall not be responsible for any person whatsoever whilst upon the market area for personal injury, fatal or otherwise suffered by such person unless due to any claim or action in respect of any such injury suffered by any persons whom they may employ or engage.

The organisers, their officers and servants shall not be responsible to any person whatsoever for any damage, theft or loss however caused in respect on any exhibits, produce and other property in transit to or from the market or throughout the duration of the market period.

Stallholders shall indemnify the organisers from and against all claims and actions in respect of any personal injury whether fatal or otherwise. Damage, theft or other loss that may be caused or occasioned in connection with the market and against all costs and proceedings arising there from.

The organisers, their officers or servants shall not be in any way responsible or accountable for anything that may happen to visitors, members, stallholders or their employees or to any stall or property brought to or used at the market.

To take part at the Market

Please contact the Riverland Farmers' Market Manager for an "Application to Trade Form"

Contact details:

Email:

market@riverland.net.au

Mail:

Farmers' Market Manager, PO Box 2380, Berri, SA 5343

Please ensure that you have enclosed all the relevant paperwork and certificates applicable to your business Payment for Saturday trading must be received by the Wednesday prior to Saturday trading.