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Farmers Market


 
When will the Farmers Market be held?
From the first Saturday in May until the last Saturday in October, 7:00 AM until Noon.  Set up begins at 6:00 AM and sales end at noon.  Vendors who arrive after 6:45 AM will have to walk their product in to their assigned space.  All vehicles must clear the selling area.
 
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Where is the Market?
Park Forest is located between I-57 and Western Avenue and between Route 30 and Sauk Trail. The Market is located at 271 Lakewood Boulevard, at the intersection of Lakewood and Cunningham in Downtown Park Forest. All major streets lead to the downtown.

 
 
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Who is eligible to sell?
Growers offer for sale articles for human consumption (such as fruits, vegetables, edible grains,nuts and berries, apiary products, herbs, maple sugars, eggs, cheese, cider) or non-edible articles (such as locally grown cut or potted flowers and plants, firewood, dried flowers and plant materials).  At least 50% of these products have been raised or prepared by the grower or producer, members of their families or by employees. Produce purchased for resale must be clearly labeled as such.  Sale of meat, fish or poultry is by special permit only. Refrigerated dairy products except cheese or any article proscribed by he Director of Public Health is prohibited.  Producers may join together to sell each others produce (cooperative selling).

Local Businesses have a Park Forest business license, a State Tax number and a permanent place of business in Park Forest.  Other businesses may be included at the discretion of the Market Manager to add variety to the collection of products for sale.  The Farmers' Market offers a unique opportunity for business development.

Local Civic Organizations may hold fundraising activities at the Market.  "Local civic organizations" are churches, synagogues, scout troops, sports clubs, service groups, etc., located in Park Forest or surrounding communities which are incorporated as not-for-profit corporations or which are operated solely for educational, religious or charitable purposes.  The Market Manager assigns space by written applications. The bake sale requirements shall apply.  Fliers describing the organization may be displayed and given out if requested.  Organizations must bring their own tables, chairs and sun/rain protection.  There is no electrical hookup capacity for unpaid space. 
 
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What are the clean-up rules?

The vendor must remove all waste and refuse from their spaces before leaving the Market.  This trash must be taken away with the vendor, for disposal at the vendor's expense.  It would be useful for each vendor to have a small receptacle for trimmings by each selling area as well.  Each seller must clean up!
 
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What are the procedures for space rental?

Applications for a permit are available by mail or from the office of the Market Manager at the Park
Forest Health Department, 350 Victory Driev, Park Forest, IL 60466.  Additional applications are
available Saturday mornings from the Market Manager.  Call 748-1118 for information.

1.  Vendors must have an Illinois State Sales Tax Number or evidence of application for one.
      Information can be obtained from:
 
      Illinois Department of Revenue/James R. Thompson Center. 
     100 W. Randolph Street
     Chicago, IL 60601-3274
     (312) 814-5232; (800) 732-8866
     http://www.revenue.state.il.us/

2.  The Market Manager makes space assignments depending on the needs of the Market.  Each
      perimeter space is marked at 20 x 40 feet, approximately two standard parking
      spaces wide.  Products for sale.

3.   Must be contained within the assigned space.  Vendors are notified by mail of the space
      assignment.

4.  The Market Manager will assign space upon receipt of appropriate fees and forms.  Fees are
      not refundable, proratable or transferable.

5.  A season permit reserves the same location for the duration of the Market.

6.  A daily permit reserves space for one day only.  The daily spaces are reserved in advance as
     available until all spaces are reserved.  Reserved perimeter spaces may be  assigned to
     daily applicants with the permission of the season vendor's planned absence.
 
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What are the display arrangements?
1.  Products may be sold directly from vehicles from perimeter spaces only.

2.  Vendors must furnish their own tables, chairs, display arrangements and rain
     protection.  The market is in an open area with no shelter provided.  All canopies
     must be weighted.

3.  Delivery trucks and other equipment used for transportation and display shall be
     kept clean at all times with adequate protection against contamination of the
     product being sold.

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What are the selling regulations?

1.  Scales for products sold by weight must conform to the State of Illinois regulations.

2.  Prices must be either display with each item or a list of all prices must be posted. Posting bulk
     prices is suggested.  Prices must be visible at all time.

3.  The venor, his/her family or employees must produce at least 50% of all produce offered for sale
     except as in 4 below.

4. Co-operative selling is permitted upon request of an affidavit signed by both the grower and
     vendor.

5.  Produced purchased for resale must be clearly labeled as such and not represented as locally
     grown.

6.  Hawking or crying out will not be permitted.

7.  Pricing fixing among growers is not permitted.

8.  The principle produce item in any processed product must be eligible for sale at the Market by
      that grower or co-operative seller.  The Market Manager may allow exceptions to balance the
     market.

9.  Any grower selling any item identified "organic" or "organically grown" shall prominently display
     the definition of "organic" or "organically grown" used by that grower with regard to that product.

10.  Sellers must be in place by 7:00 or they will have to walk their products to their assigned space.
 
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What foods are prohibited at the Farmers Market?
1. Any foods, wich is unwholesome, adulterated or unfit for consumption.

2. All dairy products except cheese and eggs.

3.  Home canned, heat processed, hermetically sealed, non or low-acid foods.

4.  Baked goods that require refrigeration, such as soft or cream pies, meringue-topped desserts, cream or custard filled bakery products.  All other baked goods must be baked in an inspected kitchen and properly labeled.

5.  Any food item that contains non-allowed preservatives or additives.
 
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What are the labeling requirements?

Produce is usually sold whole by weight or by count.  When product is pre-cut and wrapped, it must
include the following label:

a)  name, address and phone of the grower and packer
b)  accurate statement of weight, measure or numerical count
c)  the common or usual name of the food, and
d)  the common or usual name of each ingredient in descending order of prominence.

Baked good, apiary products, maple sugars, syrups, cheese, james, jellies, preserves and similiar
items that must be prepackaged prior to sale must be labeled to show the commodity name, weight,
total price and business identification of the manufacturer, packer, distributor and 'use-by' date.  Only
items prepared in inspected and certified kitchen facilities are considered for vending at the Park
Forest Farmers' Market.
 
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What about eggs?
The sale of eggs must meet the packing and labeling requirements of the Illinois Egg Law.

 
 
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What about meat, poultry and fish?
Vendors who wish to sell meat, poultry or fish must comply with Illinois Department of Agriculture
rules applicable to raising, slaughtering, packaging and preserving such products.  Selling at the
Park Forest Farmers' Market requires a special investigation and approval.

 
 
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What are the fundraising bake sale requirements?

1.  All items offered for sale must be breadstuffs or bread, or any food product of which flour or meal
is the principle ingredient such as bread and cookies, including pies that are non-dairy based.  Not
allowed are: trail mix, jams, jellies, home canned goods, foods containing preservatives, coloring or
other food additives; or baked goods filled or topped with custards, creams, meringues or puddings.

2.  The sponsoring non-profit organization must keep an itemized record of the names and
addresses of the individuals who prepared the baked goods.  This record must be available to the
Health Department if requested.

3.  Items offered for sale must be wrapped in individual purchase amounts.  This will minimize
contact and will protect the goods from contamination from dust, rain, flies, other insects and
consumer handling.

4.  Each item offered for sale must contain a label with a numer that corresponds to the master list
of items offered for sale, to allow trace back if necessary.
 
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What sanitary regulations apply to the market?

Dogs and other pets are not allowed at the Market.  Customers will be asked to park their pets away from food and leave them home in the future.  Helper dogs for the blind or physically challenged are the only exception.

Food
Food shall be clean, wholesome, and free from adulteration, misbranding or mislabeling.

Cheese must be prepared and packaged under conditions meeting the requirements of federal, state, and local laws, wrapped in individual packages, stored at a temperature of 45°F or below in containers that meet the requirements of state and local rules and regulations.  Cheese will be sold directly to the customer in original unopened containers.

Eggs offered for sale must be free of dirt or other obvious undergrades.  All eggs for sale at the Market shall be from flocks of birds fewer than 1000, according to Federal Regulations.  All eggs shall be held at 45 F.

Processed foods must be prepared in inspected kitchens.  Proof of an approved kitchen inspected by an appropriate governmental agency shall be submitted with application.

Meat, poultry or fish must be raised, slaughtered, packaged and stored according to all Illinois Department of Agriculture requirements and sold at the Market from refrigeration units that allow for proper temperature control.

Food Contact Surfaces
Food Contact surfaces shall be corrosion resistant, non-absorbent, non-toxic, free of breaks, open seams, chips, pits and imperfections.  Food contact surfaces of equipment shall be kept clean.

Personal Hygiene
People with boils, cuts, respiratory infections and communicable diseases shall not be permitted to work with food at the Farmers' Market.

Fingernails shall be trimmed; hands and arms shall be washed and cleaned before starting to work, washed after visiting the toilets and washed as frequently as necessary during the day.  Bathroom facilities are located in the Village Hall which is open during selling hours only.

Food sales personnel should wear clean clothing and effective hair restraints.

Smoking is not permitted in sales areas.

Food Protection
Processed food shall be stored or displayed a minimum of six inches off the ground.

Processed food shall not be stored in contact with water or undrained ice.

Food not subject to further washing and cooking before being eaten shall be stored in a way that protects it against contamination from dust, rain, flies, insects, consumer handling, and other elements during transportation, storage and display.

Galvanized containers shall not be used for preparation, display and storage of acid foods.  If needed, appropriate utensils shall be provided to minimize manual contact with food. 
 
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Sorry, the following are NOT allowed.
Unregistered vendors

Soliciting  There will be no impromptu distribution of fliers nor soliciting for money, votes or endoresements.  Only authorized participants may display or distribute posters or literature. 

Vehicles  No motorized vehicles (except wheelchairs) other than those of the sellers and Market Manager are allowed in the market area.  No riding of skateboards or bicycles is allowed in the market area.

Garbage and trash  Each seller must remove his own refuse.

Dogs or other pets.
 
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Enforcement of Rules

We rely upon goodwill and cooperation for a successful Market.  Please do not put the Market Manager in an awkward position to by avoiding or breaking the ruless The Market Manager has full authority to enforce all rules.  Vendors who fail to comply will lose their spaces and will not be permitted to sell for the remainder of the season.
 
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