Are you looking to become a vendor at a farmers market in Tarrant County? If so, you'll need to know the process for getting started. This guide will provide you with all the information you need to become a vendor at a farmers market in Tarrant County. The first step is to determine if you are eligible to sell your products. If you are selling livestock or poultry that has been slaughtered in a licensed and inspected facility, then you are eligible.
You will need to obtain a temporary food establishment permit from the Texas Department of State Health Services. If you are selling fish or other aquatic species, then you must have a TPWD license or the species must be produced and raised in a facility that has a TDA aquaculture license. The Texas Department of State Health Services has the authority to inspect all food vendors who must obtain a temporary permit to establish food at a farmer's market. Artisanal food production companies can also sell food at an agricultural market, as long as they comply with the guidelines required by the law on artisanal food production operations. At Cowtown Farmers Market, there is limited space for new vendors. Only sellers who sell food and agricultural items are accepted.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, visit their vendor request page for more information. If the food vendor is associated with a “good faith” cooking demonstration, then the farmer's market must have a certified food manager. Lakeline Market vendors and agricultural producers will receive priority consideration at the Mueller Market if more space is available in the future. Senate Bill 617 (87th Legislature, 202) introduced several important changes to the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 437, which is the underlying law for retail food safety, to include farmers markets and home-cooked foods in Texas. Tarrant County is not responsible for the content nor does it endorse any site that has a link from the Tarrant County website. In addition, a farmers market may include vendors who are not farmers or food producers, provided that farmers and food producers make up the majority of the vendors who participate in the market throughout the year. Farmers and food producers plan to sell food products at farmers markets located in areas that are under the jurisdiction of local health departments (that is, while rain is expected, the Tarrant Area Food Bank has coordinated with the Arlington Independent School District to provide covered space to house the market).However, in any case where it is legally required to rely on the information contained in these pages, the official Tarrant County records should be consulted. A farmers market must include at least two vendors who meet the definition of farmer as defined in paragraph (of this section) and may include vendors that meet the definition of food producer as defined in paragraph (of this section).
The local health department or department can issue a permit to a farmer or food producer who sells food at a farmers market. Becoming a vendor at a farmers market in Tarrant County can be an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to get their products out into their local community. With this comprehensive guide, you now have all of the information you need to get started on your journey towards becoming an approved vendor at one of Tarrant County's many farmers markets.