Criteria

CRITERIA FOR ATTENDANCE AT ANY MARKET RUN BY SOMERSET FARMERS' MARKETS LTD.

Adopted by the Board of Somerset Farmers' Markets Ltd May 2008.

LOCALLY PRODUCED

All produce must originate from within a 40 mile radius of the individual markets. At the discretion of the Board, the radius can be extended where exceptional circumstances prevail e.g. the product is unavailable from within the 40 mile radius .As vacancies within existing markets, or new markets arise, priority will be given to those producers who are most local to that market.

OWN PRODUCE

Produce must originate from the producer's holding or premises. Specifically:

Meat: at least 50% of the animal's life should be at the producer's holding.
Game: must be sourced from shoots within the defined radius.
Vegetables: all produce should be grown within the defined radius.
Fish: non farmed fish to be allowed at the discretion of the Board.
Eggs: to be produced on a holding within the defined radius from producer's flock.
Dairy and other processed foods including bread, cakes and preserves: food should be processed within the defined area and 50% of ingredients must be sourced locally where practicable. For cakes - no commercial mixes to be used and all ingredients must be listed.
Drinks: all ingredients must be sourced locally where practicable.
Plants: must be grown from seed or cuttings on producer's premises.
Crafts and land based products: admission of these products to the markets is at the discretion of the board.

PRINCIPAL PRODUCER

The stall should be operated by the principal producer, someone who is involved in production or someone appointed by the producer and fully conversant with production.

At the discretion of the Board, producer co-operatives and community associations e.g. WI Markets and Allotments Societies may be accepted as principal producers. The board will consider requests to 'stall share'.

In exceptional circumstances the board will consider allowing a stall to sell a 'guest' product but only if a primary producer isn't available at a particular market. However the original producer of the guest product must apply to become a SFM member and pay the annual fee and the product must fulfill all relevant criteria, with information about its product being displayed. This agreement will be reviewed if a primary producer becomes available who will then take precedence.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Information about products must be displayed clearly on the stall on the standard Somerset Farmers Market format. This information will include a statement about the producers' policy regarding genetically modified organisms and animal welfare.
Organic Produce; only certified organic producers can trade under the 'organic' label. Those under conversion must make this clear.