Racine Farmers Market Rules: 

I. DATES, HOURS OF OPERATION, LOCATION
The Racine Farmers Market (RFM) is a farm-based market located in Downtown Racine at Festival Park. The 2026 Market will open from May to October. Market selling hours are from 9 am to 1 pm. Vendors are expected to be present every time they are scheduled.

II. MARKET OPERATIONS
Set up and closing procedures: Vendors must be on site to set up no earlier than 7:30 am. Vendors are required to have arrived, unloaded, parked, and displayed their products by 8:45. Vehicles must be parked in their designated spot. Trash must be removed and taken home with you.

Market attendance
If a vendor cannot attend a particular market day, he/she must notify the Market Manager at least one week prior, but no later than Thursday noon before the Market. Vendors may not sublet their market space at any time during market season. One unannounced and/or consecutive absence may result in the vendor losing his/her assigned space. In the case of an emergency, you are responsible for calling/texting the market manager. If not, it will be considered a no-show, and a warning will be issued. Two warnings will result in termination of the market for the year. If a vendor misses more than three weeks in the season, they will be removed from the market, and no money will be refunded. Vendors should look for email or text messages if they are questioning whether.

Space assignment
Display tables of each vendor must stay within the boundaries of the allotted space and may not encroach into another vendor’s space. The Market Manager will require a vendor to rearrange a stall, signage or a display if it is blocking another vendor or impeding traffic flow. RFM has the right, at any time, to relocate a vendor to another space, at the Market Manager’s sole discretion. Vendors are expected to be available in their booths during open hours. The Racine Health Department has the authority to ask a vendor to make modifications to their area.

Signage
All vendors are required to display a sign with their name and address. Each week, it needs to be in a clearly visible location; this is a state law. All items presented for sale must be labeled properly and priced clearly. Customer queries regarding farming/production practices shall be answered factually. Certified organic products may be clearly labeled as such with proof of valid organic certification in the area.

Reports
The RFM requests that an email, within 24 hours of the sale date, be sent to the Market Manager reporting sales at the market. This information will be used by the RFM Manager to project the growth of the market and the promotion of the market. If the Wisconsin Department of Revenue requests the information, a form will be submitted, but it hasn’t been in the last 9 years.

RFM is not responsible for loss or theft.
Farmers' Market Best Practices will be used as a guideline. One warning will be given for any infraction. No haulking or personal music will be permitted. No smoking is permitted near booths or at the entrance. The Market Manager reserves the right to send home a vendor due to illness. If you are ill and are sending a representative, it is your duty to make sure they understand the RFM rules and follow them. For health reasons, we encourage all tables to be covered, bags should have single-use, and each vendor should be aware of their personal hygiene and that of their representatives.

III. MARKET VENDOR AND PRODUCT GUIDELINES
The RFM vendors are the growers and producers of the majority of the approved products they intend to sell at the market and maintain an actual hand in the growing and production of their products.
The RFM Committee shall review and has the right to approve or deny all items listed on the application before acceptance to the market. A vendor adding new items during the season must first have approval from the Market Manager before these items can be displayed for sale. This can be done by email. Vendor items falling outside of the market’s mission are subject to review and acceptance by the RFM Market Manager. Any disputed issue concerning products or any of the market’s rules and regulations may be appealed in writing to Festival Park, LLC,C and the decision shall be final.

The Racine Health Department reserves the right to remove any products it feel do not meet regulations.

All produce and products sold by each vendor at the market must be grown and/or produced by the vendors in keeping with the RFM mission, rules, and guidelines. By signing these rules, vendors agree that a representative of the RFM manager/commission may inspect their farm or facilities to ensure compliance. All information submitted on an application must be truthful and accurate as of the first market of the season.

All vendors are required to comply with applicable local (municipal/county), state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations. The vendor must comply with all applicable food safety regulations governing storage, display, samples, and transportation. Vendors are required to obtain all appropriate permits and licenses. Valid permits/licenses must be brought to each market, and copies of permits and licenses must be provided to the RFM with the vendor application.

Approved Products
The following are approved for sale:

• Baked Goods: Farmers/growers or bakers who provide documentation of their certified baking facility may bring baked goods to market.
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables: Canned fruits and vegetables should be from their own produce. Canned fruit and vegetables made from ingredients not grown by the producer but sourced locally will be admitted.
• Cider must be produced from the farmer/grower’s own or leased orchard, but may be processed off-farm in a facility that ensures the cider is made with the fruit from that orchard.
• Dried Fruits and Vegetables: Dried fruits and vegetables must be from the farmer’s/grower’s own produce.
• Eggs must be from the farmer/grower’s own fowl. Must be produced by hens that have been raised by the vendor for at least 75% of their production weight.
• Fish and Shellfish: Fish and shellfish should be raised or caught by the vendor. Farmed fish will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Flavored Oils and Vinegars: Flavored oils and vinegars must be prepared by the farmer/grower using his/her own produce. Out of state ingredients (such as olive oil) may be purchased and used, but need to be documented on the application.
• Grain Products: Granola and baking mixes must be prepared by the farmer/grower or producer. No commercial mixes may be used. Dried fruit for the granola must be produced by the farmer/grower or purchased from Wisconsin farmers/growers as available. Preference will be given to vendors who grow the major ingredients in the products they sell.
• Honey must be from the farmer/grower’s own hives, but may be processed off-farm. Vendor/ honey producer must manufacture candles him/herself.
• Livestock and Poultry Farmers: All meat products must be 100% from the animals raised from weaning by the farmer to at least 75% of the live weight or for 18 months at slaughter. All poultry must be raised by the farmer. The purchase of chicks from a commercial hatchery is accepted. Animals may be butchered and/or processed off-farm. All meat products and poultry sold must carry the identification of the individual farmer/grower and the Wisconsin Meat Processor identification. For meat products processed by others (ie sausage), the vendor must produce the meat ingredients. Meat Processors: All meat must be raised in Wisconsin, preferably within a 100 mile radius of Milwaukee.
• Maple Syrup: Must be produced from sap that he/she collects.
• Pasta: Fillings for the pastas must be from the farmer/ producer’s own produce or purchased from Wisconsin farmers/growers. Out of state ingredients (such as olive oil) may be purchased and used minimally and only as necessary.
• Preserves, Pestos, Jams, Fruit Butters, Syrups, Purées, Salsas: Preference will be given to farmers making preserves, pestos, jams, fruit butters, syrups, purées and salsas from fresh fruits and vegetables grown on their farm. Artisanal producers in this category must source the primary ingredients in these products from their farms or orchards or from local farmers and producers.
• Processed Foods and Other Value-Added Products: The processing vendor must be actively involved in the processing of the product. Processing means canning, extracting, fermenting, distilling, pickling, freezing, baking, drying, smoking, grinding, cutting, mixing, coating, stuffing, packaging, bottling or any other process to treat, preserve or package food. Exceptions must be taken up with the Market Manager prior to displaying and selling the product. Value-added products include, but are not limited to: mustard, flavored honey, pickles, relishes, salsas, sauces, prepared horseradish, jams and jellies, herbal blends and teas, flavored cooking oils and vinegars.
• Processed Non-Food Agricultural Products: This category includes agricultural by-products of animals or crops that the vendor has grown/raised/produced that are not edible, have been altered from their raw state, and are handcrafted or processed at the farm by the vendor. These agricultural by-products may be allowed when the vendor also sells the associated agricultural food from which these by-products are derived (eg elk vendor may sell elk antler chews, honey vendor may sell beeswax candles).
• Produce: All vendor produce, defined as vegetables and fruits, offered for sale at the RFM must be 100% grown by the farmer/grower vendor or come from farmers and growers in partnership with the vendor and growing specifically for the vendor. The resale of produce is strictly prohibited. (see new Co-Op rules)
• Seasonal Farm Products and Crafts: Seasonal farm products and crafts produced from materials grown or gathered on the farm by the farmer/grower, such as flower or herb bouquets or wreaths, and foraged plant materials are allowed at the Market Manager's discretion.
• Soaps and Herbal Products: Soaps and herbal products that include fresh and dried herbs. All soaps or herbal products must be made by the vendor. Soaps and herbal products must highlight regional produce and seasonal ingredients. Preference will be given to farmers or producers who provide a significant amount of the ingredients by weight from their farm.
• Procedure for Effecting Rule Change to Allow a Product: Request to sell a new product - requests for new products that are not eligible for sale within the guidelines must be submitted in writing to the Market Manager for consideration ten (10) days in advance of the expected sale of the new product.

V. LIMITS ON MARKET PARTICIPATION
Multiple Businesses
A vendor who may be involved in more than one business entity might be limited to selling items at the market. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Approval of Selling Privileges
The market’s approval of selling privileges for a vendor is always for a specified period and never exceeds one market season.

Product Overlap
Vendors whose products or practices place them in more than one category are subject to all the requirements of both categories.

Exclusivity
The Market does not offer exclusive rights to any one vendor to sell any one product. Market customers generally benefit from having a choice. However, if RFM believes the number of vendors offering similar products is excessive, duplicate products may be denied entry.

Weekly Market Participation
Available to vendors who have limited or unique products but would like to participate in the market on an occasional basis. Such participation is allowed when there is space available, as determined by the Market Manager.

Discrimination
Neither the Racine Farmers Market nor its vendors discriminate based on an individual’s age, race, color, national origin or ancestry, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, source of income or disability.

Co-Op Rule
If two producers want to share a space and have one salesperson, both businesses need to fill out an application. This ensures that the RFM has all the proper paperwork on file and that communication about the market is communicated to all parties. The vendor attending insurance should cover both businesses. Please note on the application which company name you are sharing with.

The RFM Committee approves each vendor. If you are accepted, you will receive a confirmation email and an invoice from Festival Park, LLC / 5Kevents.

Payment in full will ensure your space at the market.