Thank you for your interest in Heritage Square Farmers Market. We look forward to reviewing your application.  

This application is meant for vendors intending to join the market. If you are interested in one of our other programs please visit our website or use the links below. 

• KidPreneur Application
• Live Entertainment
• Community Outreach (Fundraising, Event Promotion, etc.)
• Special Event Market Guest

Any vendor who sells taxable items must submit a current copy of their Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit. More information about this permit can be found here. 

All Cottage Food Vendors must submit a current copy of their Food Handlers License. Read more about Cottage Food Laws here.

YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IF THESE FORMS ARE NOT SUBMITTED.

HSFM maintains a balanced ratio of Agricultural, Value Added, and Artisan Vendors. This means that we cannot always accept new vendors to our Value Added and Artisan categories until we bring on more Agricultural Vendors. We do not limit the number of fruit and vegetable vendors attending the market. 

If your category is full or if we already have two vendors selling the same items you make, we may have to place you on our wait list. 

We are currently waitlisting vendors who sell the following items:

Agricultural:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Lamb
• Chicken Eggs
• Live potted Plants
• Microgreens

Value Added:

• Cookies
• Salsa (unless substantially different from what current vendors are offering)
• Jams & Jellies (unless substantially different from what current vendors are offering)

Artisan:

• Jewelry
• Ceramics

Ready to Eat Foods (tent & truck):

• Popcorn

 If, after one month of participation, if you wish to continue as a vendor and the Board is satisfied with both the vendor and the vendor’s products, you may choose to request Monthly, Quarterly or Full Time status.

• Weekly Vendors must attend a minimum of two markets per month to maintain their membership.
• Quarterly Members are required to attend at least 10 of the 12 - 13 scheduled markets per quarter. 
• Monthly Vendors must attend at least once a month for the full year on a specific Saturday (1st, 2nd, etc.).
• Full Time Members must attend at least 45 of the 52 scheduled market days. 

Vendors may request to change their status at any time during the year by submitting a written request to the market manager. Vendors who are transitioning from weekly to quarterly or full year status will have any fees paid up to that point rolled into their new payment.

Heritage Square Farmers Market vendors are grouped into four categories. These categories are listed below with examples of the type of products each can sell at the farmers' market. Limits may be set by the HSFM Board concerning duplication of products for sale. The HSFM Board cannot guarantee exclusivity to any vendor.

AGRICULTURAL VENDOR   

The Agricultural Vendor sells agricultural products that are produced on their land--including leased land—that is located within Williamson County or adjacent counties. Applicable permits are required. 

 Plant products include:

• Any vegetables grown by the seller from seeds, sets, or seedlings.
• Any fruits, nuts or berries grown by the seller from trees, bushes, or vines on the seller’s farm.
• Any plant grown by the seller from seed, seedling, transplant or cutting.
• Nuts harvested from the seller’s trees (shelled or unshelled).
• Sprouted seeds and grains. (In compliance with state and federal regulations)
• Mushrooms produced and cultivated by the seller.
• Honey produced by the seller’s bees.

Animal products include:

• Meat, fish, dairy and eggs from animals raised/grown themselves on their farm.    
• Eggs produced by the seller’s poultry.
• Fish or meat from animals raised on the vendor’s premises.

Meat or poultry products must come from animals processed in compliance with the regulations for livestock processing (Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 433). Applicable permits are required.

Flowers and nursery products include:

• Any plant grown by the seller from seed, seedling, transplant or cutting.
• Fresh cut flowers grown by the seller.
• Dried flowers, herbs, and decorative vegetation grown or legally gathered by the seller.

Nursery and cut flowers require a state certificate from the Department of Agriculture. All vendors selling flowers and nursery products must also carry a tax identification number for sales tax purposes.

VALUE ADDED VENDOR

The Value-Added vendor sells culinary products that enhance the form, flavor, blend and/or the substance of raw products, using as many local market products as are available under the Cottage Food Laws.  

 These products include:

• Dried herbs, spices, dried tea mixes, beans, grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown by the seller and as required processed by the seller in compliance with all health regulations.
• Shelled nuts from seller’s trees, including those which have been salted, roasted, or flavored.
• Herbal products including salves, lotions, soaps, teas, etc. 
• Jams, preserves, vinegars, salsas, pesto, oils and flavored oils, baked goods and other edible products that are prepared by the seller.
• Other products approved by the market to give regional producers direct access to customers.

Value-Added products are governed by Texas Cottage Food laws.  An individual who operates a cottage food production operation must successfully complete a basic food safety education or training program for food handlers accredited under Health and Safety Code, Chapter 438(D) and submit a copy of that certificate to the board.

ARTISAN VENDOR:

Artisan vendors sell handmade goods that are created with materials from outside the area of the farmers’ market when integrated with other local products OR created by a local artisan located within Williamson or adjacent counties. 

 

Artisan products include, but are not limited to personal care products, candles, jewelry, art, ceramics, and other craft items created with wood, fabric, and so on. 

• All crafts offered for sale must be handmade. Any craft or artwork sold must be the work of the vendor or a family member.
• Artisans must comply with state sales tax reporting and provide the Market with a copy of their state sales tax certificate. 

 

PREPARED FOOD VENDOR:

Prepared Food vendors offer freshly made food and drinks available for sale and immediate consumption on-site.  

These products include, but are not limited to tacos, sandwiches, hamburgers, BBQ, iced beverages, and hot beverages.

•  Prepared Food Vendors providing un-packaged samples may do so with appropriate City and County farmers’ market permit. If pre-packaged samples of their product are brought from their commercial kitchen, no permit is required.  Questions about requirements for specific food items should be directed to the Williamson County Health Department at (512) 238-2121.    

All necessary paperwork for relevant permits from city, county, state, and federal permitting agencies required must be received, notarized as necessary and accepted by the Market Manager before a vendor may begin selling at the market. Have copies ready to submit upon request.

Manufactured food products must meet Williamson County Health Department requirements, including licensing and permitting rules.

Foods and food products produced by “Cottage Food Producers” may be sold at the Farmers’ Market pursuant to the rules and regulations established by the State of Texas Department of Health. All cottage food operators are required to complete an accredited class in Food Handler’s Training AND  must submit a copy of their card. 

 

Contact the Comptroller with all questions regarding sales tax. You are responsible for verifying all information regarding taxable foods and products. 800-252-5555 https://comptroller.texas.gov/

Any vendor selling a taxable item MUST submit a copy of their Sales & Use Tax Certificate with the application. 

The Market is not responsible for product liability, fines, penalties or the paying of sales taxes for individual vendors.

 

Please upload any permits/licenses that apply to your business. NOTE: we will follow up with you if we see that you have not submitted a required permit. Please refer to the last page of our Rules and Regulations for more information.

 

ARTISAN Vendors are required to submit a copy of their Sales & Use Tax Permit.

COTTAGE FOOD Vendors are required to submit a copy of their Food Handlers Card. 

The Board reviews and votes on all applications, and their decision is final regarding eligibility. Applicants will be notified of the outcome after an official vote is taken. All decisions are final.

All new vendors are accepted on a probationary basis as WEEKLY VENDORS.

If, after one month of participation, the Board is satisfied with both the vendor and the vendor’s products, they will approve the vendor for the rest of the year.   

Vendors successfully completing the one-month probationary period can request to move from weekly to full time, quarterly, or monthly status and all fees paid during the first month will be rolled into that payment.  

• Full Time fees are collected by the Treasurer or their designee on your first market day.
• Quarterly Membership fees must be paid at the beginning of each Quarter. If you join the market mid-quarter your fees will be prorated and are due on your first day.
• At this time fees must be paid either in cash or by check to the City of Taylor.
• No refunds or credits for inclement weather – the Market is rain or shine.
• FEES subject to change without prior notification if situations and circumstances arise.
• ALL FEES ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE.

* Vendors applying for a Veteran’s discount must submit a valid copy of military identification.

 

Thank you for taking the time to apply to the Heritage Square Farmers Market!