Watauga County Farmers' Market
Boone, North Carolina
Membership in Watauga County Farmers' Market is limited to residents of Watauga, Wilkes, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, and Johnson counties. All vendors must follow the market rules and comply with all applicable regulations. Please call market manager Tori Cox at 1-828-355-4918 if you have any questions.
- Watauga County Farmers' Market
- PO Box 2177
- Boone, North Carolina, 28607
2011 Applications
Applications for Membership
Applications for members are being accepted, please download an application and return it before the February 29 deadline. The rules for the 2012 season are also posted.
Farm Products and Nursery Items
Locally grown products are a big success at the farmers' market and priority at the market is given to growers. Vendors at the market have everything from cut flowers to local meats. Please ask about specific regulations concerning your particular products.
NC Choices has lots of info on producing, preparing and marketing meats.
Baked Goods
Baked goods and other shelf stable goods require a one time kitchen inspection and an annual water test. Call Karen for the contact information. All food items must be properly labeled according to current standards.
Please attach copies of your NCDA kitchen inspection and annual water test to your application.
Ready to eat items such as sandwiches fall under the county health department jurisdiction. The market currently can not provide facilities for such items.
How to Sell Crafts
Watauga County Farmers' Market juries the wares of craft vendors before they are sold at the market. Craft juries are held every odd year, with two market craft vendors and three local experts serving on the jury.
When spots for the season are filled, a waiting list will be formed to fill any openings.
All craft vendors must follow the current Guidelines for Crafts.
How to get a spot
Spaces are assigned to vendors who have paid for the entire previous season's weekly rent whether they were in attendance or not, who have attended a minimum of 17 markets in the previous season and who have paid their membership dues for the current year by the conclusion of the annual membership meeting. Each vendor is given a score based on the year the vendor joined, plus the number of weeks the vendor attended in the previous season. For example, a vendor who has been a member for 7 years and attended 20 markets in 2009 will have a score of 27. These assigned spots are chosen on cleanup day, the last Saturday in April.
Vendors who have not met the criteria to receive an assigned space are allowed to set up in available spaces on a week to week basis.
If you have questions, read the Amended, Revised and Restated Rules of the Watauga County Farmers’ Market, or contact the Market Manager or an Officer.
Non-profit organizations
Non Profits
There are 3 tiers of non profits
1. Local food partners . 2. General (all) 3. Political entities
Non profits are awarded access on space available basis.
Your organization must adhere to the Non Profit Policy and applicable rules (1, 2a, 3i and all of 5) Plus any other requirements the market board requires. (if providing a fundraising meal we request you use as much local food as possible)
Tier 1--(PHARMN, BRWIA, ASAP, CFSA etc.) your organization will be allowed priority.
Tier 2-Non profits may apply to conduct up to once a month fundraiser at no charge and/or unlimited informational functions provided space is available. The organizations must comply with all applicable guidance. If given enough lead time -we will do our best to promote your presence and purpose on your requested date and ask that your organization does the same.
Tier 3-parties and issue advocacy groups may apply to for space at the market at the rate of $25.00 per week with no membership or application fee; provided space is available.
Issue Policy
Vendors will give actionable issues to the board written form only.
Download a Non-profit application and agreement.
