-Mendocino County Farmers Ma~ketAssociationP.o. Box 2176 • Fort Bragg. CA 95437

www.mcfarm.org

Dear MCFARM Vendor, April 2015

Welcome to the 2015 market season! As a MCFARM Vendor, you may look forward to the following benefits:

* Periodic e-newsletters delivered to your e-mail address- updates; pertinent industry information;announcements; links to programs & information sites; bulletin board for posting items for sale

* Access to well advertised and managed, low cost markets throughout Mendocino County at whichyou can directly sell your products, build your customer base and network with your fellow producers.

* Expanded networking, educational & advertising opportunities through partnerships with LocalPrograms

* WIC! EBT! Food Stamps! Advantage/Cal Fresh now accepted at all MCFARM markets (translatinginto more sales for produce vendors)

* Listing on MCFARM Website- Your farm/ product with your website links/ contact info- you musthave applied for this feature on your application or contact Office Mgr 964-6718 goldseal@mcn.org

* Participate in MCFARM and help guide and improve Mendocino County's Certified FarmersMarkets through participation at the Annual Meeting and at the markets

Your first step:Contact Market manager of markets you intend to vend at. The contact information for MarketManagers is enclosed and also on our website www.mcfarm.org. After assurance by the Market Managerthat you will be accepted at a market send all required documentation and your membership fee to theMCFARM office. Keep a copy to also send to Market Manager(s) along with a copy of your Membership/Vendor Card once that is received from the MCFARM office. Please make sure you allow at least twoweeks prior to attending the market for the office to get your paper work and membership completed andMarket manager follow up.

Send all documents to the Market Manager for each market that you apply for admission, before you areeligible to sell products at that market. Please do not bring them the first day that you arrive at market tosell, as they need to be reviewed ahead of time. You will be notified as soon as possible when you areaccepted to a market.

Returning Vendors: In an effort to reduce paper, we will not send the whole Vendor packet since youreceived one last year. If you wish to have one snail mailed contact Angela 964-6718 or gOldseal@mcn.org

This packet will also be accessible through our website. Click on the big red truck in the "Apply to Vend ..page or http://www.mcfarm.org/members-page.html

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Read all enclosed materials responsibly. Additional information is available onour website w'Nw.mcfarm.org Click on the link "\,IVantto be a Vendor?", then on thetruck logo to locate MCFARM Rules & Regulations. Bylaws, minutes and otherpertinent member information. Please be familiar with them.

There are occasional circumstances when members prefer to discuss concernsand suggestions with someone other than their Market Manager. Your MemberRepresentatives will route your information to the appropriate Officer or othermembers of the Operating Committee (Board) to consider and resolve. Theinformation will remain confidential if requested. We feel that it is critical formembers to be involved and we appreciate input. Call Tom Brower 489-0009 orBen Wolff 272-1512 if you need to speak with a Member Representative.

Please take the time to complete surveys and evaluations of markets and MarketManagers when you receive them so that we can continue to improve our marketoperations. Although market complaints are rare, they are all valued, as we learn from constructivecriticism.

Support community members who bring WIC Checks & EBT tokens for fresh produce. You arerequired to receive training from Market Manager and you need their signature to verify this for your WICApplication. You will receive and endorsement stamp and 10 card for banking WIC Checks.

NEW THIS YEAR: Increased stall fees, due to increase in CDFA tax from 60 cents to $2 for ALLvendors. Please try to be accurate when reporting your Gross Sales for stall fees. Gross sales aretracked to determine the health of the markets. The gross sales that you report to the Market Managersare confidential and should not be shared with other vendors.

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MCFARM Market Managers, Officers and staff are very dedicated to making the markets dynamic &profitable; to ensure a positive experience for vendors and customers; compliance with regulatingagencies and maintaining a positive presence in communities. You are encouraged to contact them whenyou have questions or concerns. Please remember to contact Market Managers ahead of time whenyou intend to start and the days you will not be attending. It significantly affects planning and marketpreparation.

Strive to have a fun and successful season! Thank you for participating in our markets in a positiveand supportive manner.

Julie Apostolu

MCFARM President

962-0297

Scott Cratty

MCFARM General Manager

462-7377

Angela Harney

MCFARM Office Manager

964-6718

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