STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
“Country Market of Vancleave is a community-based organization intended to
support local farmers, to promote the sale of fresh, home-grown foods, and to encourage environmental and nutritional awareness.”

The goals of Country Market of Vancleave are:
 To strengthen and support local farmers and cottage food operations
 To bring people together in a community activity
 To support and stimulate local entrepreneurs and small businesses
 To stimulate Vancleave’s local comsumer population
 To create interest in environmental issues
 To encourage the consumption of healthy foods and sustainable living

 

LIMITED TO A NONCOMMERCIAL MARKET PRIMARILY AGRICULTURAL ZONED FOR GENERAL AGRICULTURAL

 

Market Rules

1. The farmers/vendors are to be responsible for collecting
and paying any required sales tax.

Although certain items are exempt from the sales tax,
the farmers/vendors and are responsible for determining whether or not their goods qualify for the exemption. 
***Note: Most of the goods sold at farmer's markets are exempt from sales tax collection. However, each farmer/vendor is responsible for assessing
whether his/her goods fall within the exemption. it is NOT the responsibility of Country Market of Vancleave to collect sales tax on taxable items or to determine whether goods qualify for exemption.

 

2. The Country Market of Vancleave rules clearly state that all products are sold at the discretion of the market manager, or his/her agent, and
the market’s board.

3. Farmers/Vendors must comply with any federal and state food regulations on products sold at their booth, including obtaining the
proper permits, licenses, or certification. I free COUNTRY MARKET of VANCLEAVE from the responsibility of liability for any licensure or products sold at my booth.

4. The Country Market of Vancleave primarily hosts these catergories of booths, but is open to the consideration of other types of vendors that may apply.

Country Market of Vancleave will consider the following noncommercial categories:

a. Raw Agricultural Products: Products grown or produced by the vendor.

 Fruits and Vegetables
 Plants and Flowers

b. Prepared-for-Sale Raw Agricultural Products

 Shelled Peas
 Sliced Fruits and Vegetables
 Butchered Meats

c. Cooked/Processed Agricultural Products

 Cooked or Boiled Eggs
 Baked Goods
 Jams/Jellies/Preserves
 Pickles/Pickled Vegetables
 Sauces/Relishes/Pestos
 Cheeses
 Fresh Juices/Drinks

d. Other Goods
 Flowers
 Crafts

Specific type of crafts that can be sold 
wood carving, weaving, pottery, quilts, baskets, candles, art work on any textile or paper surface, multi-medium art work, 3 dimensional sculptures, ceramics, and other artwork or crafts approved in advance by COUNTRY MARKET of VANCLEAVE.

5. Setting Up and Taking Down
These provisions should establish an orderly process for farmers/vendors to set up and take down their booths.

a. Setting Up:

 Market lot size of each selling space is  10x10 if more space is needed additional lots may be added with potential for discount under the discretion of COUNTRY MARKET of VANCLEAVE.

 Market vendors may begin setting up no earlier than 7:00 AM and the
market will open for customers at 9:00 AM
Vendor Booths MUST be set up by 8:45 AM.

Vendors Must park is spaces assigne by COUNTRY MARKET of Vancleave and normally span the south side of the property along a privacy fence. NO LOUD MUSIC NO DAMAGING FENCE, EARTH, OR VENDOR ONLY PARKING AREA in any way. Any vendor found violating these tenants will be subject to a norefundble fee of $500 or the assessed costs of the damages, whichever is larger. There is a designated smoking area for all farmers market vendors and participants. THERE IS NO SMOKING OR OPEN FLAME IN THE VENDOR AREA UNLESS APPROVED BY COUNTRY MARKET of VANCLEAVE.

 Spaces are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Daily farmers/vendors are provided space depending upon availability.

 Country Market of Vancleave requires farmers/vendors to set-up on the next available space as availability occurs (first come first serve) beginning at 
5609 Russell Lane Suite B on either side of the french doors with your tent touching or within 12 inches of the booth previously but not overlapping.

 If a farmer/vendor does not attend the market, the market manger may rent the space
to another farmer/vendor.

o Country Market of Vancleave establishes a “cut-off” time at which pre-reserved lots will become available to rent to another farmer/vendor which begins at 8:00am

 Country Market of Vancleave does not provide farmers/vendors with tents and tables.

b. Taking Down

 Close of the market occurs at 2:00pm by which the
farmers/vendors must be off the market premises no later than 3:30pm.

 Farmers/vendors are responsible for cleaning up their
lots and leaving the lots in as good a condition as they were when rented.

o Markets will provide trash receptacles for trash generated by the market’s
visitors. NOT FOR TRASH GENERATED BY VENDOR BOOTHS. Vendors that produce trash must have a seperate and private receptical for their trash.

 MSDH 

Permit Requirementsfor Farmers Market Vendors

 No permits, licenses, or certificates are required, if the produce is raw, uncut, and
unprocessed.

 A scale is not required for the sale of whole produce. Produce may be sold by count, bunch,
basket, etc.

 If a scale is used, the scale used must be a National Type Evaluation Program (N.T.E.P.)
approved scale. All scales must be tested annually by the Mississippi Department of
Agriculture and Commerce, Weights and Measures Division.

 Completed Produce Safety Rule Exemption Application on file with the Mississippi
Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Produce Safety Division.

 

Eggs

A Retail Food Sanitation License - Eggs from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and
Commerce, Consumer Protection Division is required. HERE IS A LINK TO THE LICENSE IT IS $10 (https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/agManage/uploads/1586.pdf)

A copy of the Retail Food Sanitation License - Eggs must be displayed and made available
to the purchaser at the location where the eggs will be offered for sale.

Clean shell eggs must be maintained at or below 45oF ambient temperature under
mechanical refrigeration (in a refrigerator and/or cooler with a/c or d/c power).

For any eggs sold off the farm, the layers shall have NPIP (National Poultry Improvement
Program) testing by the Mississippi Board of Animal Health.

 Proper packaging and labeling is required.

Honey/Syrup

 A Food Permit from the Mississippi State Department of Health is required only if the
vendor loses possession of the product and/or produces more than 500 gallons annually.
January 2025

 If the honey being sold is not pure honey, the added ingredients must be properly listed on
the label.

 Proper packaging and labeling is required.
Baked Goods/Processed Foods

 Based on the risk level of products being sold, vendors (with the exception of cottage
food operators) must obtain the proper Food Permit from the Mississippi State
Department of Health.

 Cottage food operations are exempt from permitting requirements.

 To be considered a cottage food operation, annual gross sales of cottage food
products cannot exceed thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000).

 Cottage food products are non-potentially hazardous food products. This includes
products such as baked goods, jams, jellies, and acidified foods. Typically, foods that
do not require refrigeration are considered non-potentially hazardous foods. Some
products may need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If there is some doubt
as to the safety of some foods, documentation of proper processing may be required.

 Producers of acidified foods (salsas, pickled products, etc.) are highly encouraged to
get training in special requirements and procedures for these foods. This will help to
ensure these products are both legal and safe.

 Proper packaging and labeling required.

 Along with other labeling requirements, cottage food products must have thefollowing statement printed in at least ten-point type in a color that provides a clear
contrast to the background of the label: "Made in a cottage food operation that is
not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations."

Meats

 A vendor selling meat must obtain a Mobile Retail Food Sanitation License from the
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

 Products being sold must be properly inspected by the United States Department of
Agriculture or the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and have the mark
of inspection, either USDA or State of MS.

 For products sold by weight, the scale used must be a National Type Evaluation Program
(N.T.E.P.) approved scale. All scales must be tested annually by the Mississippi Department
of Agriculture and Commerce, Weights and Measures Division.

 Proper packaging and labeling is required.

 Casseroles containing meat or poultry products with 3% or more raw or 2% or more cooked
meat or poultry must have a mark of inspection, either USDA or State of MS (MID).
Shrimp/Seafood

 A Seafood Dealers License from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources or a Food
Permit from the Mississippi State Department of Health is required for vendors selling raw
shrimp or seafood.

 If the shrimp is being cooked/steamed, a Food Permit is required from the Mississippi State
January 2025
Department of Health.

 For products sold by weight, the scale used must be a National Type Evaluation Program
(N.T.E.P.) approved scale. All scales must be tested annually by the Mississippi Department
of Agriculture and Commerce, Weights and Measures Division.
Dairy Products (Milk, cheeses, and other dairy products such as yogurt, butter, and sour cream)

 A vendor must obtain the proper processing permit from the Mississippi State Department
of Health.

 A vendor selling dairy products must obtain a Mobile Retail Food Sanitation License from the
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

 For products sold by weight, the scale used must be a National Type Evaluation Program
(N.T.E.P.) approved scale. All scales must be tested annually by the Mississippi Department
of Agriculture and Commerce, Weights and Measures Division.

 Proper packaging and labeling is required.

Plant Sales

 All plants must be inspected and certified to be sold in Mississippi and apparently free from
pests, diseases, and weeds.
 An inspection from the MDAC is required and a nursery certificate must be obtained by either
the vendors or the farmers market manager.

***UNLESS GROWN FROM SEED ***

Fresh Cut Flowers
 No permits, licenses, or certificates required.

 

Contacts:
Mississippi Board of Animal Health, National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP):
(601) 359-1170 alicia@mdac.ms.gov
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry:
(662) 325-3390 laurav@mdac.ms.gov
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Consumer Protection Division:
(601) 359-1148, henri@mdac.ms.gov
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Meat Inspection Division:
(601) 359-1191, nicoleh@mdac.ms.gov
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Farmers Market Certification Program: (601)
359-1140, katie@mdac.ms.gov
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Weights and Measures Division:
(601) 359-1149, brent@mdac.ms.gov
January 2025
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Produce Safety Division:
(601) 359-1104, davis@mdac.ms.gov
Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Food Protection:
Serena Johnson (601) 576-7689
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Licensing:
(228) 374-5000
Mississippi State University, Department of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion:
(662) 325-3200
For questionsregarding sales tax, please contact your local Mississippi Department of Revenue Office.