2025/2026 Winter Season: Hood River Farmers Market Vendor Application

- Please read this application carefully. It may take up to 30 minutes to complete.- 

This application is for farmers, ranchers, value-added producers (food artisans), hot food vendors, cut flower growers and other vendors selling food or farm products. An application for artists & caft makers is available here.

 

Welcome! Thank you for your interest in Hood River Farmers Market winter season. 

Bienvenidos! Gracias por su interés en el mercado de agricultores. Para completar la solicitud en español, cambie el idioma en la esquina superior derecha. Llámenos o envíenos un correo electrónico si tiene preguntas: HRFM@gorgegrown.com, 541-490-6420. 

Please complete the application by September 29th for priority consideration. 

Applications may close at any time after the deadline, pending capacity. To ensure consideration for the 2025 season, please submit your application before the deadline.

Please read the vendor packet and FAQ section of our website. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact us. Email is preferred, HRFM@gorgegrown.com or call 541-490-6420.

ABOUT THE MARKET

Hood River Farmers Market is the only year-round farmers market in the Columbia River Gorge. The market is open 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10am - 12pm, December through April. The market is held outdoors in a partially covered vestibule near Ferment Brewing Company on the Hood River waterfront.  

Hood River Farmers Market is a farmer and producer-centered market. Our market features products grown, raised or made by the vendor. Businesses who would like to be involved in the market but do not meet our producer or product guidelines may attend the market as business sponsors. Please reach out to HRFM@gorgegrown.com for sponsorship information. 

Gorge Grown Food Network manages the Hood River Farmers Market. Our mission: to build a resilient and inclusive food system that improves the health and well-being of our community.

Gorge Grown welcomes all qualified applicants and does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, military status, political opinion, sex, national origin, familial status, mental and physical disability, gender identity, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. We have a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our work and create opportunities to interact with people who live, think, act, and speak differently than ourselves.

APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1) Review our market rules in the vendor packet. A vendor's partcipation in Hood River Farmers Market is contingent on compliance with market policies.

STEP 2) Submit a completed application. Email any supporting documentation to HRFM@gorgegrown.com. Vendors who participated in Hood River Farmers Market 2025 regular market only need to complete the short addendum for the winter season.

STEP 3) Submit an application fee to Gorge Grown Food Network ($25 before priority deadline, $35 after). Application fees are non-refundable. Applications will not be reviewed until an application fee is received. Fees can be paid with:

• debit/ credit card af the end of this application (or)
• a check made to Gorge Grown; send to PO Box 752 Hood River OR 97031

STEP 4: Be patient while we review your application. GGFN will begin reviewing applications after the priority deadline and be in contact with all applicants regarding their applications status. Applications submitted after the deadline may take up to 2 weeks to review and, pending capacity, may not be considered.

IMPORTANT DATES

August 29: Winter season applications published
September 29: Winter season application deadline
October 10: Farmer + Food Vendor Participation Notification

All vendors who submitted the farmer + food vendor applications with complete information by 9/29/2025 will receive an update on their application status and, if accepted, a proposed schedule of dates for participation

October 17: Craft Maker + Artists Participation Notification

All vendors who submitted craft maker + artists applications with complete information by 9/29/2025 will receive an update on their application status and, if accepted, a proposed schedule of dates for participation

October 24: Deadline to lock in changes to vendor schedule

Any changes requested by vendors to their proposed schedule after this date will be subject to the attendance policy.

December 6: Opening day of Hood River Farmers Market Winter Season

April 18: Last day of Hood River Farmers Market Winter Season

Please see page 3 - 5 of the vendor packet for products and vendors allowed at the market.

GGFN does not allow the sale of the following:

• Products not grown and/ or made by the vendor (with the exception of second-farm products produced in the Gorge with GGFN approval)
• Bottled water, sodas and other packaged beverages not made in the Gorge and/or by the vendor.
• Recreational or medicinal cannabis and marijuana products, or other products containing THC
• 3-D printed items
• Live animals (on-site) at the market
• Craft items that are produced outside of the Gorge
• Products from Direct Marketing and Multi Level Marketing businesses

SECOND FARM PRODUCTS are items you plan to sell that you do not produce. We allow you to bring 2nd farm products to increase the diversity of offerings at the market. These must still come from the Gorge and have signs at market to indicate the source. You will not be allowed to sell 2nd farm products without approval from market management. Second Farm products should not account for more than 50% of your weekly booth display or sales.

Attendance Policy:

• When you submit your application to be a vendor, you will be asked to choose the dates you wish to be at the market. Upon acceptance of your application, the market manager will confirm your approved dates and provide each vendor with a schedule of attending dates and waitlisted dates (if applicable).
• Vendors are allowed two excused absences from their attending dates in one season (2 in the core season = May - November; 2 in the winter season = December - April).
• To receive an excused absence, notify the market manager by phone or email no later than 9am the Thursday prior to the market day. After the second absence, vendors must pay the booth fee for the missed date. If the cancellation occurs after 9am on Thursday, an excused absence will not be granted and the stall fee payment will be required.
• Extenuating circumstances may be excused by the discretion of the market manager.  Absences due to seasonal changes for farmers outside of their control will be granted at the manager’s discretion (i.e. delayed crops or crop failure due to weather).
• Vendors that fail to attend more than 2 markets they have committed to may have their market placement moved to accommodate the needs of the market or market staff may find an alternative vendor to offer a similar product. See the Vendor Packet for complete attendance policy.

 

GGFN makes decisions about who will sell based on, but not limited to, the following factors and preferences, in no particular order: 

• A track record of successful participation in markets and/ or production of quality of goods
• Enrollment in all eligible food assistance programs in alignment with GGFN’s goals of increasing food access, if applicable 
• A history of constructive, respectful and courteous interactions with GGFN staff, including compliance with directions onsite, if applicable
• A history of acting respectfully and courteously towards shoppers and other vendors, if applicable 
• A history of punctuality, consistent attendance, and participation or commitment to participate in shoulder months (May, October, November) and winter season, if applicable
• Effective enhancement of consumer knowledge of products being sold and how they were produced, as measured by the vendor’s presence, staff knowledge, and the quality of booth displays, and/or materials. 
• Timeliness of payments and sales reporting to GGFN
• Adherence to GGFN policies and applicable state and local laws
• For value-added products and hot food, preference is given to 1) farmers who are making value-added goods from raw agricultural products they grow themselves and 2) producers who are directly sourcing from the Columbia Gorge (Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat, Skamania counties)

The winter market space is unique and takes some fancy footwork to puzzle all vendors into an easy-to-shop layout. We can try to accommodate vendors with different booth dimension requests, although this is not always possible.

This market space will provide us an outdoor semi-sheltered space during the winter months.

 

For farmers, agricultural producers and food artisans meeting local sourcing guidelines:

- a full booth space (9' across x 8' deep) inside the covered area. Cost: $25/ week OR 5% of gross sales (capped at $75)

- a table space (6' across x 8' deep) inside the covered area. Cost: $15/ week or 5% of gross sales (capped at $75)

- a full 10x10 tent space outside of the covered area. Cost: $15/ week OR 5% of gross sales  (capped at $75)

 

For producers or food artisans not meeting the local sourcing guidelines, artists/ makers: 

- a full booth space (9' across x 8' deep) inside the covered area. Cost: $30/ week OR 6% of gross sales (capped at $90)

- a table space (6' across x 8' deep) inside the covered area.  Cost: $20/ week or 6% of gross sales (capped at $90)

- a full 10x10 tent space outside of the covered area. Cost: $20/ week OR 6% of gross sales (capped at $90)

 

This section is mandatory for vendors selling the following products: 

• Artisan Foods/ Processed Foods
  • vendors that are making, processing or otherwise creating foods not adequately represented in the market by farmers. Examples include preserved foods, fermented foods, bread and baked goods, confections, and other packaged foods not prepared for ready-to-eat consumption.
• Beverages/ alcohol
  • Only locally made beverages will be allowed for sale at market, including juices, coffee (roasted locally), smoothies, etc. Bottled water, sodas and other commercial beverages with no connection to the Gorge will not be allowed for sale at the market. Only closed bottle sales and tastings of alcoholic beverages (pending approval from OLCC) are permitted.
• Processed Farm Products or Value- Added Farm Products
  • Farm products made from raw ingredients, some of which are grown and produced by the farmer in the Gorge (Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat or Skamania Counties). These products include all farm products that must in some way be processed including cheeses, dairy, meats, dried fruits and vegetables, juices, jam or other processed agricultural and livestock food products. Products may contain a portion of ingredients coming from outside this region if the ingredients cannot be sourced locally.
• Hot Food/ Prepared Food
  • On-premise prepared foods (ready-to-eat). Prepared foods must be prepared, stored and served in accordance with Hood River County Health Department requirements.

 

All products at the market must be made and sold in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations. Contact HRFM@gorgegrown.com if you are unsure of the requirements for your products. Prepared and processed food vendors who do not have required licensing in place may still submit an application. In some cases, GGFN or other community organizations can provide support to vendors navigating licensing processes.

Application fees are non-refundable. Applications will not be reviewed until an application fee is received.

Priority deadline is September 29th.
Checks should be recieved no later than 9/29/2025.

Application fee if submitting before the priority deadline: $25
Application fee if submitting after the priority deadline: $35

Please contact us if you have questions about vendor fees- HRFM@gorgegrown.com, 541-490-6420

Pay your application fee through the form below (or)

Send a check made to Gorge Grown Food Network

PO Box 752 Hood River OR 97031

*please include your business name in the memo line of the check

All vendors are responsible for reading the GGFN Vendor Packet, containing all rules, regulations and operating procedures, and any relevant safety protocols prior to submitting this application.