Market Umbrella is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3), based in New Orleans, whose mission is to cultivate the power of farmers markets to drive economic and community health in the region. Market Umbrella has operated the Crescent City Farmers Markets (CCFM) since 1995.
Become a Farmers Market Vendor
How do I become a CCFM vendor?
Please review all steps before applying! Satisfactory completion of each step is a prerequisite to moving on to the next step.
Step 1: Read
Review the Rules and Regulations to see if your business is eligible to become a vendor with the Crescent City Farmers Market.
Step 2: Apply
Fill out an online Vendor Application Form. Applicants will receive an instant notification acknowledging receipt of the application. Applications are reviewed in a rolling fashion, and Market staff will contact you to learn more about your business or let you know if your application has been declined.
Step 3: Application Interview
Market staff will contact you to learn more about your business, production site, products available, regulatory compliance, local sourcing, desired markets, etc. that will inform the eligibility review process. This may be conducted by phone or email. Ensuring full and complete answers will expedite this part of the process.
Step 4: Eligibility Review
Application information will be evaluated to ensure your business and products comply with CCFM Rules and Regulations. This includes regulatory compliance review including Cottage Food Law if applicable, review of application with elected vendor representatives and review of licenses and certificates. This can take a few weeks; depending on the number of current applications, types of product, potential additional required research, and timely responses to further inquiries CCFM staff may make.
Step 5: Market Visit
If your business and product(s) are determined to be eligible, we’ll schedule a market visit at the market you wish to attend for you to familiarize yourself with the specific market, see other vendors you’d be participating with, customer foot traffic to give an idea of volume of sales, and make sure it feels like a good fit to you.
Step 6: Samples
You will be asked to provide one or more samples complete with labels and appropriate packaging as you would present it for sale to a customer. We also ask that you provide a comprehensive price sheet including all products you will have on offer over the course of the season, specifying local sourcing and unit pricing. If approved to be a market vendor, only products on this list will be allowed to be on offer. Market staff will review samples and labeling and respond with feedback within one week. Market staff may have questions/requests that will require your response before moving onto Step 7. To expedite this process, samples and price sheets can be brought to the market visit.
Step 7: Production Site Visit
Market staff will schedule a visit to your site of production. The site visit is a chance for producers to highlight the skills and techniques that are the foundation of their business and demonstrate compliance with applicable food safety/production laws/regulations. Site visits can usually be scheduled within a few weeks depending on the location and type of operation and may last 1-2 hours.
Step 8: Notification
CCFM will notify applicants whether they have been approved as CCFM vendors within one week and provide Vendor Agreement Paperwork.
Step 9: Orientation
Applicants who are invited to join the market will be contacted to review Rules and Regulations and Vendor Agreement Paperwork in advance of starting the market. This is a ~1 hour phone call that must occur before your first market day.
Step 10: Starting the Market
We will schedule a start date for you to begin attending markets! By your first market day, you will need to have added Market Umbrella as a named insured to your product and general liability insurance policy. Market staff will schedule a time after your first 4-6 markets to discuss your progress at market.
Crescent City Farmers Market is a producer-only market and priority will be given to applicants with raw agricultural products (fruits, veggies, herbs, honey) and other perishable goods (dairy, meat, seafood). CCFM encourages dedication to sourcing locally or geographical/cultural significance when evaluating a value-added (jam, juice, bread, etc.) or prepared foods application.
Vendor Application Form
I have reviewed the Crescent City Farmers Market rules and regulations.
My business is compliant with all relevant food laws
I am the sole producer of all proposed products
Thanks for submitting an application to Crescent City Farmers market.
What happens next?
- Within 48 business hours, applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt of the application. (If one does not arrive, please check your spam/junk email folder.)
- Market staff will contact you within ten business days to learn more about your business or let you know if your application has been declined.
- If your product may be a good fit for CCFM, market staff will contact you to set up a time for you to visit one of our markets. This allows you a chance to see our market and gain a better understanding of how we operate, and what is required. A nonrefundable $25 vendor application fee must be submitted during your market visit. Please note that payment of the $25 vendor application fee is an application processing fee and not a guarantee that you will be invited to participate in the Crescent City Farmers Market.
- After your market visit, market staff will contact you to set up a time to visit your site of production. The site visit is a chance for our producers to highlight the skills and techniques that are the foundation of their business.
- Applicants intending to sell meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, or prepared/processed foods will be asked to provide one or more samples. Produce vendors may also be asked to provide samples.
Potential new market item(s) should:
- Include as many locally grown ingredients as possible and/or demonstrate a linkage to the Greater New Orleans region’s evolving cultural heritage.
- Be submitted for review in the exact form they will be offered for sale. They must be packaged, labeled with ingredients, company name, address and telephone number. Products must also be labeled with the intended price for sale. REMEMBER: Vendors are only allowed to sell products within their approved category/categories. Should you wish to expand your line of products outside your category, please contact Market staff about new additions for approval.
If your product is not approved for sale in the Market, it may not reflect upon the quality of your product. Products are chosen based upon the Market’s stated criteria and specific needs for a balanced product mix. Although some products are delicious, they may not lend themselves to this forum. We appreciate any and all interest from potential vendors and their creative talent and entrepreneurial drive within our region.
- After review of the application, the site visit, and (if required) sample review, CCFM will notify applicants whether they have been approved as CCFM vendors.
- Applicants who are invited to join the market will be contacted to discuss a start date.
- Applicants who are asked to join the market will not be guaranteed a date or location, however CCFM will take all requests into consideration.
If you are invited to join the market
You will need to review and acknowledge that you have received, read, and acknowledge the packet provided to you before you can begin attend your first market as a vendor for CCFM. At this time you must pay your $25.00 vendor fee.
After your first 4–6 markets, market staff will schedule a time to go over your progress at market. This is a time to discuss any struggles or initial issues and address any concerns.
marketumbrella.org is an equal opportunity organization that prohibits discrimination in all programs, events, and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, marital status, familial status, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or socio-economic status. All vendors accepted into the Crescent City Farmers Market must adhere to its Vendor Code of Conduct.
About Us
The Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly year-round throughout New Orleans. The CCFM hosts 70+ local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 150,000 shoppers annually.