If you are a returning market vendor, a new market vendor, or are thinking about applying to be a market vendor please take a look through our handbook. This is especially important for hot food and prepared food vendors!

Applicants will be contacted by the market manager to confirm reservations, or provide feedback on their application.

Important Notice for Food Vendors

Vendors who sell food products at any Farmers’ Market in NL are now required by the province to hold a Seasonal Food Establishment License [License Application Form]

A vendor must apply to attend the SJFM and receive conditional approval from the Market before they can apply for the Seasonal Food Establishment License.

The SJFM will issue conditional approvals to food vendor applicants so that they can apply for their provincial license – this conditional approval will not guarantee bookings for specific market dates. Please allow up to a week for the Market to issue a conditional approval. Specific regulations and policies related to food preparation and sale at Farmers’ Markets can be found in the Service NL document called [Public Market Guidelines]. Vendors are responsible for learning and abiding by all of the appropriate regulations and policies. Questions about provincial food safety regulations should be directed to Environmental Health Officer Renee Dawe at reneedawe ‘at’ gov.nl.ca, or 729-2007.

Important Notice for Craft Vendors

Vendors who sell non-food items, (i.e. arts and crafts), and whose craft has not been juried and approved by the market in the past, will need to be juried by the SJFM Co-op Jury before they may sell at the Market. The market manager will be in touch with relevant applicants with more information about the jurying process.

Are you getting excited for the 2012 market season yet?

Only members of the SJFM Co-operative can run for the Board of Directors and vote at the AGM, however, all supporters and others interested can attend.

Nomination information can be found here.

If you have any questions about the AGM or wish to confirm your attendance you can email the membership committee

We need volunteers at the Fluvarium between 12noon and 4pm on April 22nd, we have broken this in to four one-hour shifts. Feel free to bring a friend along to help, one that loves the market as much as you do will be an added bonus!

If you are available and want to tell others why you love SJFM and why they should check it out, please email shelley.pardy ‘at’ gmail.com your #1 and #2 choices of volunteer time slots. Some slots are already taken. Deadline to sign-up for this is before Thursday, April 19:

We are also pleased to announced that Terry Smith will be returning as Market Manager this season. Terry’s position begins on May 2 and you can contact her then by email at sjfm.admin”at”gmail.com

The Vendor Applications will be available online again this season and will be available on this website beginning April 28, 2012.

Why April 28? That is the day of the next Annual General Meeting of the St. John’s Farmers’ Market Co-op! More details will be coming soon.

• July 30 – Costa Kasimos > Square Foot / Container gardening
• Aug. 6 – Lori Heath > Lead Safe Gardening in St.John’s
• Aug. 13 – Andreae Callanan > Making Food Fun
• Aug. 20 – Dan Ficken > Small-space gardening
• Aug. 27 – Matt Middleton > Overwintering Alliums
• Sept. 10 – Dan Rubin > Seed Saving
• Sept. 17 – Angela Heffernan > Raw Food and Sprouting
• Sept. 24 – Janet Kelly > Jams and Jellies

A wide variety of vendors will participate at this first market, including farmers with early produce, international foods, arts and crafts, fresh coffee, photography, waffles, sweet snacks, kids events, buskers… and special events!

The market will run every Saturday from June 4th until the middle of December, from 9 am until 2 pm at the Lion’s Club Chalet on Bonaventure Avenue.

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The St. John’s Farmers’ Market Co-operative is the governing body for the St. John’s Farmers’ Market. It is run by a group of dedicated volunteers made up of vendors and consumers who strive to create, maintain and support the weekly St. John’s Farmers Market and all that it represents.

All inquiries should be directed to the market manager at sjfm.admin@gmail.com

I’m new to both, St. John’s and the position as market manager. I’ve been treated to nothing short of the best of Newfoundland hospitality since I’ve been here. I’m looking forward to working with, and meeting as many of you as possible, over the course of the season.

It’s evident to me already, that the farmers’ market is a gathering of great community spirit, wickedly awesome local food, crafts and talent. It’s also evident that the market would not come together each and every week, without the valuable contributions by our volunteers, helping in whatever ways they can, throughout the season. There are many ways and opportunities to participate throughout the season and some of you will have helped out in the past.

Following are just a few of the things we need help with, to ensure the market runs smoothly:

• Help set up or tear down on market day. There are tables/chairs to set up, tents to raise… In the past there has been a morning and afternoon shift.
• Volunteers sell our delicious coffee that helps raise funds for market operations.
• There is always a need for volunteers to do regular customer counts, or float around the market, making sure the grounds and hall remain tidy, helping vendors where applicable.
• We need a volunteer with easy access to laundry facilities to do a load of tea towels weekly, and bring them back on market day.
• A volunteer helps direct parking.

To become a volunteer, please use the contact form here

Whatever your role in the St. John’s Farmers’ Market, vendor, patron or volunteer – hope to see you there!

Terry Smith, 2011 Market Manager

Please fill out this document and email it to Sharon Williams at williams@gov.nl.ca after which you will be contacted by an official of the GSC to determine which license you will need.

Decisions about receiving a license will not simply be based on information in your form. A GSC representative will discuss your operations with you, make suggestions and discuss options with you before any decision is made. Should you need to make any adjustments, you can re-apply once they are done. GSC have assured us they will do their best to get everyone through the process successfully by the time you want to vend at the Market.

Questions regarding the process can be directed to Sharon at 729-0248.

[PDF version of the document]