Market Vendors

Market open and close procedures

When vendors open and close on Farmers Market Days, you must:

• Arrive and be set up at the Market Square by 8 a.m. on Thursdays and by 7 a.m. on Saturdays
• Stay open until 2 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays unless previously arranged with the Market Coordinator
• Remove all garbage and litter from your stall prior to close
• Always have someone in attendance at your stall

Market conduct rules

To follow our market conduct rules, all vendors, staff, and volunteers agree to:

• Act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism when interacting with other vendors, staff, and members of the public.

• Ensure that fellow vendors, patrons, staff, and the public in general enjoy an environment free of harassment, either physical or verbal; i.e. abusive or inappropriate language, abusive or inappropriate physical actions, directed from one to another vendor, from a vendor to staff, or from a vendor to a member of the public.

• Not setup up in a stall that is assigned to another vendor without approval from the Market Coordinator
• Will not place or leave any building, trailer, table, stand, tarp or other structures on Market Square unless it has been approved
• Use electrical equipment which is in an unsafe condition or does not comply with Canadian Standards Association (C.S.A.)
• Have any tables or display shelving that is not clean, neatly painted, stained or covered with cloth or vinyl or has jagged, rough or sharp corners
• Comply with the requirements of any applicable statute, law, by-law, regulation, ordinance or order at any time, including any parking by-laws

• Conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the public image of the St. Catharines Farmers Market, and which supports the City of St. Catharines mission.

• Ensure that social media / public online postings do not violate the City of St. Catharines
  mission and vison statements including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Individuals who engage in any of the behaviors listed above or violate rules, could be subject to immediate cancellation of vendor permit and be asked to leave Market Square by the Market Coordinator or City management.

Rules for selling and distributing

When selling or distributing any product at the Farmers Market, you must not sell or distribute:

• Anything at the Farmers Market except when it agrees with the Market Square By-Law, the vendor lease agreement, the daily permit or written consent from the Market Coordinator
• A product other than a high-quality, wholesome product as determined by the Market Coordinator
• Any fresh or cured meat, fresh or smoked fish, poultry, cheese, prepared foods intended for immediate consumption, or any foods classified as 'hazardous' except from a stall or vehicle approved by the Niagara Health Services Department
• Any homemade or commercially produced food product without a label that includes the producer's name and address
• Any food products that cannot be easily washed without the products being covered by gauze, wax paper or other covering or wrapping to protect the product from flies, dust, vermin or other contamination
• A product that can be exposed to pollution from animals, birds or any other source
• A product that has been exposed or offered for sale, which is not fit for human consumption, considered second grade goods, or fails to follow health protection grading or packaging legislation and regulations

Vehicles and parking permits

If you are a vendor that needs a vehicle to sell your goods at the Farmers Market before and during market hours, you must fill out our vendor permit. You must also not:

• Park or leave any motor vehicle in Market Square that does not follow our by-laws, exceeds parking spot allocations or without consent from the Market Coordinator
• Interfere with the flow of traffic on the driveways of the Market Square Park with a vehicle, any ramps or tailgates, or anything else that might block the sidewalk or driveways
• Park in any of the Market Square area except the parts contained within the limits of your stall defined by the Market Square By-Law
• Place or leave any vehicle or transportation vehicle on Market Square during open hours unless you are transporting goods and conducting sales with a Vendor Lease Agreement or Daily Permit 

Advertising

If you are advertising as a vendor, you can only advertise in Market Square except by using signs that are assigned to your stall to identify a product, its price, its origin or its vendor. All advertising must comply with Market Conduct Rules. Please note that the Market Square may support advertising for vendors, and any advertising permitted by the Market Square By-Law is accepted.