Become A Full Season Food Vendor
Become a Full Season Food Vendor at the Madison County Farmer's Market!
Are you a local crafter or small business owner looking to share your products with the community? Madison County Farmer's Market is now accepting vendor applications for the upcoming season!
Food Trucks are not yet available as we are working through city/county regulation on permits.
As a vendor, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your homemade baked goods, canned goods, popcorn, homegrown honey or meats to a supportive and growing customer base. Our market is a vibrant hub where local businesses thrive, and community connections are made.
Please ensure you are in compliance with one of the two Iowa laws on homebaked/canned goods: Iowa Cottage Food Laws or Iowa’s Home Food Processing Establishment
Why Join?
✔️ Access to a loyal and engaged customer base
✔️ Affordable booth fees and a welcoming atmosphere
✔️ Marketing and promotion opportunities
✔️ A chance to network with other local vendors and artisans
How to Apply
Secure your spot today by signing up! Whether you’re a seasoned vendor or just getting started, we’d love to have you. Spaces are limited, so apply now to be a part of one of the best local markets in Madison County! All applications are vetted.
You may consider yourself a food vendor if 75% or more of your products that you sell are food varieties. You may sell other items that are not food and still be considered a food vendor. All applications will be vetted.
Please see the Vendor Map at the end of the Images section to see vendor spots to choose from. You will choose your vendor spot based upon this map.
You may also view the vendor map here:
https://app.smartdraw.com/share.aspx/?pubDocShare=6A1FD108268B402CABDA6255CD7A8D73487
For more details and to register, please complete the form and submit for approval.
Become a Full Season Food Vendor at the Madison County Farmer's Market!
Are you a local crafter or small business owner looking to share your products with the community? Madison County Farmer's Market is now accepting vendor applications for the upcoming season!
Food Trucks are not yet available as we are working through city/county regulation on permits.
As a vendor, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your homemade baked goods, canned goods, popcorn, homegrown honey or meats to a supportive and growing customer base. Our market is a vibrant hub where local businesses thrive, and community connections are made.
Please ensure you are in compliance with one of the two Iowa laws on homebaked/canned goods: Iowa Cottage Food Laws or Iowa’s Home Food Processing Establishment
Why Join?
✔️ Access to a loyal and engaged customer base
✔️ Affordable booth fees and a welcoming atmosphere
✔️ Marketing and promotion opportunities
✔️ A chance to network with other local vendors and artisans
How to Apply
Secure your spot today by signing up! Whether you’re a seasoned vendor or just getting started, we’d love to have you. Spaces are limited, so apply now to be a part of one of the best local markets in Madison County! All applications are vetted.
You may consider yourself a food vendor if 75% or more of your products that you sell are food varieties. You may sell other items that are not food and still be considered a food vendor. All applications will be vetted.
Please see the Vendor Map at the end of the Images section to see vendor spots to choose from. You will choose your vendor spot based upon this map.
You may also view the vendor map here:
https://app.smartdraw.com/share.aspx/?pubDocShare=6A1FD108268B402CABDA6255CD7A8D73487
For more details and to register, please complete the form and submit for approval.
Become a Full Season Food Vendor at the Madison County Farmer's Market!
Are you a local crafter or small business owner looking to share your products with the community? Madison County Farmer's Market is now accepting vendor applications for the upcoming season!
Food Trucks are not yet available as we are working through city/county regulation on permits.
As a vendor, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your homemade baked goods, canned goods, popcorn, homegrown honey or meats to a supportive and growing customer base. Our market is a vibrant hub where local businesses thrive, and community connections are made.
Please ensure you are in compliance with one of the two Iowa laws on homebaked/canned goods: Iowa Cottage Food Laws or Iowa’s Home Food Processing Establishment
Why Join?
✔️ Access to a loyal and engaged customer base
✔️ Affordable booth fees and a welcoming atmosphere
✔️ Marketing and promotion opportunities
✔️ A chance to network with other local vendors and artisans
How to Apply
Secure your spot today by signing up! Whether you’re a seasoned vendor or just getting started, we’d love to have you. Spaces are limited, so apply now to be a part of one of the best local markets in Madison County! All applications are vetted.
You may consider yourself a food vendor if 75% or more of your products that you sell are food varieties. You may sell other items that are not food and still be considered a food vendor. All applications will be vetted.
Please see the Vendor Map at the end of the Images section to see vendor spots to choose from. You will choose your vendor spot based upon this map.
You may also view the vendor map here:
https://app.smartdraw.com/share.aspx/?pubDocShare=6A1FD108268B402CABDA6255CD7A8D73487
For more details and to register, please complete the form and submit for approval.
Additional Information: please read
Please note, current city code REQUIRES every vendor to carry a minimum of $300,000 in liability coverage.
All vendor application requests will be fully vetted by the market managers (Clinton & Kelli Eshelman) prior to approval. You will receive confirmation of vendor approval once your application is vetted within 7 to 10 business days of application.
Please note, returning vendors have priority booth preference placement over new or one-time vendors. We will do our best to give everyone the booth location they desire.
Vendors who are returning for 3 years or more get priority placement.
Vendors who are returning for 10 years or more get first choice.
Vendor booth placement will be announced via email, social media & on the website NLT May 5th for the 2025 season.
Please add the new Market email: madisoncofarmersmarket@gmail.com to your email contacts.
In order to sell fresh mushrooms you much be certified through Iowa State University extension office:
https://www.ipm.iastate.edu/morel-mushroom-certification
Every year in the spring, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers classes for anyone interested in being certified to sell wild-harvested mushrooms within Iowa.
Dates and registration forms for 2025 workshops (Registration fee: $60):
Saturday, March 15, 2025, 1-3 p.m. in Ames, IA
Saturday, March 29, 2025, 1-3 p.m. in Ames, IA
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 1-3 p.m. in Ames, IA
For questions about the training, email pidc@iastate.edu
PLEASE REVIEW if selling baked, canned goods or other food products:
Please review the below information to ensure you are in compliance with Iowa Law & Code on the making, canning and/or selling of homemade baked or canned goods. This includes breads, cookies, cakes, canned goods, mushrooms, meats, cheese, butter, ghee, honey etc.
There are no Iowa Code/Laws governing the sale of raw honey.
Please see additional Info on Cottage Food vs Home Food Processing Establishment:
https://ia.foodprotectiontaskforce.com/resources1/home-based-food-operations/
Chart on what is considered a Cottage Food vs. Home Food Processing Establishment:
“Cottage food:
means the production and sale of food produced at a private residence other than time/temperature control for safety food as provided in Iowa Code section 137F.20 as enacted by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2431, section 10, and food for resale that is not time/temperature control for safety food. “Cottage food” includes home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits that have a finished equilibrium pH value of 4.60 or lower or a water activity value of 0.85 or less for which each batch has been measured by a pH meter or a water activity meter and each container that is sold or offered for sale contains the date the food was processed and canned. “Cottage food” does not include any of the following: 1. Milk or milk products regulated under Iowa Code chapters 192 and 194. 2. Meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry food products regulated under Iowa Code chapter 189A.
“Home food processing establishment”
means a business on the premises of a residence in which homemade food items are produced for sale or resale, for consumption off the premises, if the business has gross annual sales of less than $50,000. However, “home food processing establishment” does not include a residence in which food is prepared to be used or sold by churches, fraternal societies, charitable organizations, or civic organizations.
Cottage Food Regulation on Labeling:
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/rule/481.30.13.pdf
30.13(1) Cottage food is exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspection, packaging, and labeling laws of the state if the food complies with all of the following: a. The food does not require time/temperature control for safety. When it is not obvious whether a food requires time/temperature control for safety, the food producer must provide documentation that a food does not require time/temperature control for safety to the regulatory authority upon request. b. The food is not a milk or milk product regulated under Iowa Code chapters 192 and 194. c. The food is not a meat, meat food product, poultry, or poultry food product regulated under Iowa Code chapter 189A. d. The food is not unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juice. e. The food is produced in a private residence. f. The food is sold and delivered by the producer directly to the consumer.
g. The cottage food is labeled or affixed with the following information:
(1) Information to identify the name and address, phone number, or electronic mail address of the person preparing the food.
(2) The common name of the food.
(3) The ingredients of the cottage food in descending order of predominance.
(4) The following statement: “This product was produced at a residential property that is exempt from state licensing and inspection.”
(5) If the cottage food contains one or more major food allergens, an additional allergen statement identifying each major allergen contained in the food by the common name of the allergen.
(6) If the food is home-processed and contains home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits permitted under this rule, the date that the food was processed and canned.
h. Home-processed and home-canned pickles, vegetables, or fruits sold under this rule must comply with the following:
(1) Each batch must be measured by a pH meter or a water activity meter and shall have a finished equilibrium pH value of 4.60 or lower or a water activity value of 0.85 or less.
(2) Each container that is sold or offered for sale must contain the date the food was processed and canned.
i. The cottage food producer must provide batch testing records to the regulatory authority upon request, including at the point of sale.
j. Cottage food shall not be offered for sale in a food establishment except in a temporary food establishment, provided that the temporary food establishment is operated by the cottage food producer and the cottage food is offered for sale in a packaged form and labeled in accordance with paragraph 30.13(1)
30.13
(2) Compliance with the cottage food exemption provided in this rule does not represent compliance with federal law. This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 137F as amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2431. [ARC 6568C, IAB 10/5/22, effective 11/9/22]
