Cowtown Farmers Market

THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS FARMERS' MARKET, CORP. MEMBERSHIP RULES AND REGULATIONS
Adopted May 1992 Revised May 2007
The North Central Texas Farmers' Market Corporation was organized for the purpose of assisting farmers and ranchers in direct marketing of their products, creating public awareness of markets, create viable markets, maintain the integrity of the market design, promote direct marketing with consumer groups, government officials, and news media, and educate members about production and marketing practices as they relate to direct marketing.

Qualification of Members- all growers whose produce is grown, in Texas, within 150 miles of the Metroplex may apply for membership.
Membership- Application for membership and inspection must be submitted to the Corporation annually with a membership and inspection fee of $50.00. All persons applying for membership must agree to permit an on-farm
inspection to verify production. The Board of Directors will review all applications for membership. Upon approval, the applicant will receive a membership card as evidence of their membership in the Corporation. The
back of the membership card will be signed and dated by the inspector. Anyone joining after June 1st may be inspected within 2 weeks of receiving the application.
Late Fees- Any previous member paying their membership dues after March 1st will be charged a $25.00 late fee. Any member not scheduling an appointment for inspection on or before May 5th of each year will be charged a $25.00 late fee.
Meetings of Members- The members of the Corporation will have a regular annual meeting. The Board of Directors will provide notice of the date and place of this meeting to the members. The annual election of the Board of Directors will be held at this annual meeting.
Special Meetings of the membership may be called for from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors, as called for by the President or by the membership upon presenting the Board of directors a request for
such a special meeting signed by 25% of the members of the Corporation.
Hours of Operation- Markets open at 8:00AM and close at Sell Out.. Market opening and closing dates as well as the number of days per week to be operated will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Market Managers- Each market site will be under the direction of a Market Manager appointed by the Board of Directors. The manager shall have such powers and responsibilities as delegated by the Board of Directors, such as,
but not limited to stall assignments, quality control, and collecting fees.
Stall Assignments- The Market Manager will rent and assign members stalls under the direction and for the fees set by the Board of Directors. If the space is available, sellers will use a stall. Any exception will be at the discretion of the Market Manager.
Quality Control-The Market Manager or any member of the Board of Directors has the right to ask any seller to remove goods of unacceptable quality from the market.
Safety- Market Managers will be responsible for establishing and enforcing regulations as to parking of vehicles to insure an orderly flow of traffic and to minimize possible accidents.
Disorderly Conduct and Lounging- The Market Manager will have the responsibility of controlling any illegal or undesirable conduct at the market. No alcoholic beverage consumption will be permitted while selling at the market. Consumer hawking is not permitted. Hawking is defined as attempting to lure customers to your stall through loud talking, calling attention to a specific product, etc.
Agents of Members~ All members may sell their own products, name a member of his or her immediate family, agent or employee under either wages or commission pay (subject to board approval) to perform any activities normally performed by the member including sales. Any one of these persons shall be described in these rules as a seller. The application for membership must include a list of all such agents. The member is required to personally sell at least 20% of the time at one of the markets. Members are responsible for the conduct of each of their agents.
Conduct-Members, their family and/or employees, as independent business owners or agents should conduct themselves as such while at the markets. Shoes are required at all times.
Signs- when selling at any market, all sellers are required to display a standard sign that may be purchased for a nominal fee from the Corporation. On the sign, all members must display the same information in the following
order: (1) farm name, (2) Name of Producer, (3) City, and (4) County. Other information about the producers farm such as phone number or mailing address can be provided on your business card.
Equipment- Each seller must provide his or her own display equipment.
Weight and Measures- All products shall be sold at a standard weight or measure. That is, products may be sold by the pound, provided scales are certified by the Texas Department of Agriculture, otherwise, produce shall be
sold by the pint, quart, 1/4 peck, 1/2 peck, peck, 1/2 bushel, bushel quantities, etc. or piece amount as in the case of melons.
Health Requirements- all products sold at the market are subject to local and state licensing regulations.
Sanitary Conditions of Sale Area- Each seller is responsible for equipment (garbage cans, brooms, etc. and labor). Sellers are responsible for the disposal of all waste. Watermelon, cantaloupe or that type of produce may be cut, but must be wrapped completely with cellophane wrap (This is not allowed in Tarrant County). Each seller will also have to keep all produce off
the ground. Melons must be displayed at least 18" above the ground.
Price Fixing- All members are independent businesses and are responsible for setting their own prices. To promote the purpose of this Corporation, members are encouraged to sell quality produce for retail prices to ensure high profit margins. Wholesale prices are encouraged, but should be
restricted to quantity purchases to resale buyers or persons desiring a number of items for canning purposes.
Compliance With These Rules- all members of the Corporation agree to abide by these rules, all rules governing the conduct at the farmers market, any other regulations duly passed by the Board of Directors.
a. An individual violating a rule will initially receive, from the Market Manager a verbal warning, a written warning the 2nd time and a 7-day suspension the 3rd time from all markets for the same offense.

b. Suspension or Termination of Membership- The Board of Directors may, for cause, expel or suspend a member. The Board of Directors will give a formal notice, and if requested by a member, call a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors to discuss the issues.
A maximum of two member's produce can be sold from one stall
Only one partner in a farm partnership must join the market to be able to sell at a market. Therefore, only one partner in a farm partnership may run and serve on the board at one time.
An agent for a farmer can sell only that farmer's produce and no others. Agents must be listed on a farmer's membership application and carry a membership card. Family members acting as agent for that family farmer can sell one other farmer's produce providing all other rules are followed.
No farmer, immediate family member, or agent can maintain more than one membership number.
Any rule and regulation can be adjusted for a farmer with a hardship one year at a time providing the exception is requested at a regular Board of Directors meeting. (Hardship might include illness, death, or some other circumstance.)
Farmers' from the previous year have first option on the same stall used the previous year.

Please download the application
and growers statement.
Acceptance of membership requires board approval and a site inspection. Please fill out the application and mail to the address on the bottom. Once application is received, you will be contacted by the board. Until you have received approval by the board and successfully completed a site inspection by the market manager, you will not be allowed to sell products at the market.