BECOME A VENDOR

Please download and complete the Heart of the City Farmers' Market New Vendor Application (DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE). There is no application fee. We currently only accept food vendors. See additional permitting instructions below. Once you have completed your application and attached all the required documents, mail the application to: 

Heart of the City Farmers' Market
New Vendor Application
1182 Market Street, Suite 412
San Francisco, CA. 94102  

Or email your application to: steve@hotcfarmersmarket.org

CERTIFIED PRODUCERS

Farmers must have a Certified Producer's Certificate (and grow what they sell) to be eligible to sell agriculture products. We also accept non-certifiable agriculture producers such as meat and cheese. To be added to our waiting list, please fill out the application above and mail or email it to us. Please read the market's rules and regulations carefully (included in the application packet) to ensure you can meet all requirements to sell at the market. You must have general commercial liability insurance with a policy limit of at least $1 million.

PREPARED FOOD VENDORS

In addition to farmers, we also accept vendors who sell prepackaged and hot foods. Prepared food vendors must have a business license/permit from Department of Public Health, business registration, food handler's permit for each seller, and general commercial liability insurance with a policy limit of at least $1 million. Please research Department of Public Health (DPH) requirements before approaching us for information on how to start a new business, since we have a small staff team with limited capacity for training. Information on DPH permitting can be found (HERE). Farmers market prepared food vendors are now permitted by DPH on an annual basis in one of four ways, detailed below.

SELLING HOT FOOD

Hot Food (High Hazard Temporary Food Facility) vendors prepare food on site at the market in a 10'x10' enclosed tent. The San Francisco Department of Health now offers an Annual Termporary Food Facility Permit. With this permit, you can operate at multiple SFDPH permitted events under one license fee. You must rent a commercial kitchen space prepare your food and sanitize your equipment. A fire permit might also be required.  You can apply for the permit: (CLICK HERE)

SELLING PRE-PACKAGED FOOD

Prepackaged and Bakery (Low Hazard Temporary Food Facility) vendors prepare their food off-site in a commercial kitchen and prepackage it to sell at the farmers market. The San Francisco Department of Health now offers an Annual Termporary Food Facility Permit. With this permit, you can operate at multiple SFDPH permitted events under one license fee. You must rent a commercial kitchen space to prepare your food and sanitize your equipment. You may also be required to obtain a Processed Food Registration with the California Department of Public Health. You can apply for the permit: (CLICK HERE).

FOOD TRUCKS

Food Truck (Mobile Food Facility) vendors operate out of DPH-approved mobile food truck. The permit fee is paid once per year directly to the San Francisco Department of Public Health with a one-time application fee and will apply for all locations at which you have written permission to sell. A fire permit might also be required. You can apply for the permit: (CLICK HERE)

COTTAGE FOOD VENDORS

Businesses that cook low-hazard food items in their home kitchens to sell at farmers markets, without requiring a commercial kitchen to operate. Please indicate on your application if you are a cottage food business. (CLICK HERE) for more information about becoming a Cottage Food Vendor in San Francisco.

TablING AT THE MARKET

If you are a non-profit or social service organization, we will provide a space for you to set up a table within our market boundaries for free. For-profit businesses are not allowed to participate. Please stop by to talk with us at the market information tent or email us at steve@hotcfarmersmarket.org to sign up. 

COLLECTING DONATIONS

Our farmers have donated thousands of pounds of produce for our most needy neighbors. If you are a community benefit organization, you may submit a request to collect donations from farmers on market days to steve@hotcfarmersmarket.org. If you are given permission to collect on your requested day, you must obtain a badge showing your approved status and provide containers to farmers who agree to donate. You are required to take all donated items with you and dispose of unwanted items off site.