Abingdon Farmers Market Rules 2026

David McLeish, Market Manager 276-698-1434

abingdonmarket@gmail.com,  www.abingdonfarmersmarket.com

Vendor Categories: In fulfillment of its mission, the AFM strives to maintain the following ratio of vendors at the Market: Farm Products (70%), Prepared Foods (15%) and Arts/Crafts (15%).  See below for a description of items allowed in each category:

Farm Products: Products substantially grown, raised, or produced through agricultural activity, such as fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, seeds, or animal products (50% of their life), including prepared foods and craft items made primarily from farm-raised or wild crafted items from the applicant’s farm. (Excludes wild crafted Mushrooms unless approved by USDA).

Prepared Foods: Homemade, edible items including *hot meals, candy, baked goods, jams, jellies, canned foods, and beverages.  Use of locally produced ingredients is strongly encouraged.  *Sale of Hot Meals requires a special permit from the Town of Abingdon https://abingdon-va.gov/food-truck-information. 

Arts/Crafts: Non-edible handmade / Original Designs such as carvings, artwork, jewelry, soaps, lotions, wreaths, etc.  Use of local materials is strongly encouraged.

General rules for all vendors:

1. Items may not be purchased elsewhere for resale at the Abingdon Farmers Market.

2. Primary Products: On the application, vendors select one of the 3 vendor categories; Farm Products, Prepared Foods, or Arts & Crafts as their primary product to be sold at the Market. 75% of the items on your table brought to market over the entire season should reflect that primary category. The Market Manager will monitor these categories over the course of the season and reserve the right to re-categorize any vendors who have changed their primary products.  If for any reason, the primary product needs to change during the season, the change must be approved by the Market Manager. 

3. Compliance with all Health Department and Department of Agriculture guidelines and restrictions is the sole responsibility of each vendor, such as meat and egg temperature, organic labeling, etc.  Upon request, vendors must demonstrate to the AFM Market Manager their compliance with all guidelines. All vendors who are planning to sell prepared food should contact Chris Salyer of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Safety to discuss compliance with current inspection requirements.  276-220-3210 or Christopher.Salyer@vdacs.virginia.gov

Virginia’s Cottage Food Law lists prepared foods which may be sold at Farmers Markets without inspection:

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+ful+CHAP0285+pdf

4. Due to the family environment of the Abingdon Farmers Market, sales of any ingestible CBD, THC, or Delta products including any of their derivatives, as well as any other synthetic substances will be prohibited.

5.  Only Meats processed in a USDA inspected facility that have a Dept. of Agriculture stamp, (except poultry and other meats exempted by VA law) are allowed on the AFM property and can be sold to or sampled by customers.  All meat inspections are the responsibility of the vendor.

6. On behalf of the Steering Committee, the Market Manager has authority to inspect the origin of items sold at the Market to ensure that such sales conform to Market Rules.  All vendors are subject to an on-site visit to verify local production at any point during the market season, including all sites of production.  Routine farm visits are also ongoing, with the goal of visiting each farm every 2-3 years.

7. Any incident(s) of rule violation will be dealt with via the following:

—AFM Vendor Incident Form, filed by manager, with reply by vendor.

—AFM Vendor Complaint/Suggestion form, to be completed by both parties, and mediated by the manager and Facilitator (and others as requested, to be interviewed separately by manager.)  Vendors involved in either of these processes have rights of appeal to the entire Steering Committee, after completion of the form and process above.

AFM Business Operations:

1. Regular Season Saturday Markets will operate from the 1st Saturday in April through the last Saturday in October from 8:00am – 12:00pm unless otherwise stated in Market Manager weekly notes.
2. Tuesday Markets will operate from the 1st Tuesday in April through the last Tuesday in September from 3:00pm – 6:00pm unless otherwise stated in Market Manager weekly notes.
3. The Holiday Market will begin the first Saturday in November (Daylight Savings Time change) and run through Saturday prior to Christmas, from 10:00am – 12:00pm unless otherwise stated in Market Manager weekly notes.   All AFM rules still apply.
4. The Winter Market is open the first and third Saturdays of Jan, Feb, and March from 10:00am – 12:00pm unless otherwise stated in Market Manager weekly notes.  All AFM rules still apply.
5. Vendors will have access to Market one (1) hour prior to the opening time for the purpose of unloading and setting up merchandise.  Vendors must exit the premises no later than one half hour [1/2] after the closing time.  Note that the Pavilion is often used for other events following the Market; prompt departure is appreciated.
6. No sales may be made prior to the official announced market opening time.  However, vendors may purchase prior to opening time to allow them to be at their space when the market opens.
7. Vendors should deposit any checks received from the AFM (token reimbursements) in 30 days or less. 

Fees:

Membership Fee must be paid with completed and signed Application – $25 (non-Refundable)

Daily any space Saturday      $15

Daily any space Tuesday       $10

1. 1.               It is the sole responsibility of the vendor to make sure his/her fees are paid on time.
2. Full-season fees include access to Holiday and Winter Markets.

Sales Tax:

Virginia State Law requires all vendors to register with the Virginia Department of Taxation, and to collect and report sales taxes.  Information and applications can be obtained from the Virginia Department of Taxation, PO Box 1114, Richmond, VA 23218-1114. www.tax.virginia.gov  Phone 804.440.2541.  It is the responsibility of the individual vendor to comply with tax requirements.

Lease Agreements and Assignment of Space: 

Full-season vendors will be assigned regular spaces at the space assignment meeting in March.  All Vendors are required to attend and take part in this March meeting. All other available spaces shall be assigned by the Market Manager. 

In assigning full season spaces, points are assigned for:

Location:             2 points Washington County, VA           

Marketing Points:   1 point /year of tenure since 2007

1 additional point if Saturday season vendor in previous year [attendance for 75% of the regular season]

             2 points if Tues season vendor in previous year has 75% Attendance April through September

              Or 3 points if Tues season vendor in previous year has 90% Attendance April through September

1 additional point for 75% attendance at Holiday and Winter Markets, previous year.

Rule violations: 1 point deducted for each major infraction of rules in the previous year, pursuant to Vendor Incident and Vendor Complaint processes, to ensure due process for all involved.

AFM General Market Rules:

1. Vending space size will be either 10’x10’ or 7’x10’. 

• A 10-foot aisle down the middle of the pavilion must always be kept clear for pedestrian/customer use.

• The Market Manager, on behalf of the Steering Committee, reserves the right to cancel any lease, and to change space allocations when it is in the best interest of the Market operation.

• Vendors should be on-site and ready to sell no later than the start of the market. Attendance will be taken at the start of the market.

• If running late, any paid vendor may reserve his/her spot by contacting the Market Manager one Half hour before market opening. (No credit for attendance)

• If you are unable to attend any market date, please give the Market Manager as much advance notice as possible, at least one hour before market opening.  So that another vendor has time to set up in that space.

• Failure to observe these policies will result in warnings from the AFM Manager.  After a written warning for ‘no-shows, the Manager has the right to assign an empty space to another vendor on any given market day.  A vendor arriving late, without any advance notice as above, may be assigned another space that day as available.

• Vendors arriving 3 times late will receive a written warning. After the 4^th time late, they will be suspended for their next scheduled market.

• All vendors shall be held responsible for the actions of their employees, agents, or people working in concert with their stand.

1. All vendors will leave their space clean and tidy, removing debris and trash.  Brooms are available from the Market Manager. 

1.  Proper dress and orderly space will be expected from all vendors. Proper language for a family atmosphere will be required.

1.   It is the responsibility of vendors to satisfy customer complaints. The Market Manager may cancel a vendor’s lease in the case of multiple customer complaints or if a vendor’s activity jeopardizes the smooth operation of the Market.

1.   No person shall make a public outcry, do “hawking” or give any musical or other entertainment for the purpose of drawing customers or attracting attention.

1.   Item prices are suggested to be within the average range of other like items at the AFM. Samples given should be limited to small “tastes” with respect to other vendors selling the same items.

1.   All vendor signage must be contained within the vendor’s assigned rental space.

1.   No open flames (grills) are permitted on Market property without the prior approval of the Market Manager. https://abingdon-va.gov/food-truck-information/

1. No extension cords across pathways.

1. All hot surfaces at any booth must be at least 3 feet from customers and must always be supervised by a vendor over 18 years of age.

Parking:

1. Vendor spaces will be assigned and reserved for their use only. Vendors are not permitted to park overnight at the market pavilion. Only the assigned vendor may park and sell from their reserved space.  Only one (1) vehicle per vendor space behind the market pavilion.

2. All vehicles must enter and leave the Market area through the entrances and exits provided. Vendors will be expected to respect the parking regulations established by the Town of Abingdon and to park in such a way as to keep Market traffic lanes open for travel. This will be enforced by the Market Manager.

3. Each vendor must drive in a careful manner and at a speed that does not endanger the property or people in and around the Market.

4. Parking spaces behind pavilion – first come, first serve.  Please reserve spaces closest to the market for our customers.  Please Park at the Retina Physicians lot 166 Cummings Street (urban trail will bring you under Cummings Street), the National Bank parking lot, and as a last resort, along Remsburg Drive.

2026 Abingdon Farmers Market Fee Schedule

It is the sole responsibility of the vendor to make sure his/her fees are paid on time.

1st Payment:

• ·       $25 Membership + $75 Space Deposit = $100.00 By 3rd Saturday in January
  • After 3rd Saturday in January the vendor must add a $50 late fee (does not count towards fee balance).
  • After 3rd Saturday in February the vendor must add a $50 late fee + vendor is moved to the bottom of the space selection list.
  • After 1st Saturday in March the vendor may only participate as a Daily Vendor but is responsible for paying Membership and Late Fees.   

2nd Payment:

• Remainder of 1st half of your Season Space Fees are due by 3rd Saturday in April
  • After 3rd Saturday in April the vendor must add a $50 late fee (does not count towards fee balance).
  • After 4th Saturday in April vendor must add a $50 late fee + 1 point deduction from vendor points.          
  • After 3rd Saturday in May vendor loses Season Space and may only participate as a Daily Vendor.

3rd Payment (if necessary):

• Remainder of Seasonal Space Fees based on selected space and prior payments are due by 1st Saturday in July.
  • After 1st Saturday in July the vendor must add a $50 late fee (does not count towards fee balance)
  • After 3rd Saturday in July the vendor must add $50 late fee + 1 point deduction from vendor points.
  • After 1st Saturday in August the vendor loses Season Space and may only participate as a Daily Vendor.               

Mail Application & Payments to: Abingdon Farmers Market, PO Box 526 Abingdon, VA 24212

Contact: Market Manager, (276) 698-1434, AbingdonMarket@gmail.com, www.Abingdonfarmersmarket.com          

All payments made are non-refundable (unless refund is approved by Steering Committee)

2026 Town of Abingdon Market Pavilion Rules

Sanitation, Health and Safety:

1. Vendors are responsible for the collection and removal of all trash generated from sales and activity at their space, leaving it reasonably clean. This includes sweeping.

2. It is unlawful to sell open containers or consume alcoholic beverages on the Market property.

3. Vendors must keep all merchandise, refuse and personal property within the defined space allocated in their rental agreements.

4. No open flames unless approved by the TOA Fire Marshal’s Office

5. Use of cooking appliances, i.e. propane, electric grills, etc. must be approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

6. The use of tents, when cooking under them, shall be of an approved fire-resistant type, approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office

7. No vendor shall permit seepage or leakage of water or fluids from any part of their space into the public areas or other vendors’ spaces.

8. Children under 14 years of age must be supervised by an adult at the Market.  Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and other similar devices are always prohibited in the Market pavilion.

9. Vendors may not bring live animals for sale onto Market property

10. Vendors are responsible for the individual safeguarding of their products, supplies and money.  The AFM or Town of Abingdon is not responsible for loss or theft.

11.  Vendor (lessee), by signing the Vendor Application, agrees to protect and hold the AFM (leaser) and the Town of Abingdon harmless and to indemnify the leaser from any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, judgments and recoveries for or on account of damage, theft or injury (including death) to property or person occurring as a result of lessee’s use of the leased property and any other cause whatsoever.

12. Dogs are not allowed on the Market, except as provided by State or Federal laws ADA Rules (i.e., hearing, guide, and service animals).

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Structural:    

1. Vendors must provide their own equipment and any set-up materials for the display of items. If using a tent, vendors must follow manufacturer’s recommendations on how to secure any tent to prevent wind damage.

2. No vendor shall be allowed to make any changes or alterations to their assigned spaces without permission from the Market Manager.

3. Use of electricity and water is by request on the vendor application and is made available by the Market Manager. Electricity and water should be turned off before the Market Manager leaves.

4. No vendor shall erect an additional structure at the market without permission from the Market Manager.

5. Any repairs needed, hazardous conditions or problems in the Market area should be reported to the Market Manager. People causing damage to the pavilion structure or landscaping may be held financially liable for the cost of repair or replacement.