TFM Vendor Applicant FAQ
Please also review our TABS under Become a Vendor for specific requirements.
You MUST put everything you intend to sell/giveaway on your application.
Only Vendor Committee approved items may be sold at our market.
We have category limits to encourage small business growth.
All Vendors MUST be able to attend at LEAST 2 times per month year round.
How much do spaces cost?
Booth Spaces are $40 to $75 each Saturday and are billed monthly. There is an Application Fee of $75.00.
Do you have a waitlist?
How do I apply to be a vendor or a community based vendor?
Once I submit my application, do I just show up?
No, our Vendor Committee Leaders review applications every couple of months to see where we have space available.
Are you interested in my product?
We absolutely might if your product is local and personally made by you.
Do I have to make my food in a commercial kitchen if it doesn’t qualify as cottage food???
Do I HAVE to have insurance to sell at TFM?
Yes, all vendors need business liability insurance coverage of at least 1 million. Check with your insurance company first as they may offer bundle deals.
Do I have to submit a sales tax permit?
If you sell a craft or non-food item, then you will need a sales permit. You can get one at the Texas Comptroller Website.
I sell products for a company, but I don’t make them. Can I sell at TFM?
No. All vendors must prepare, handcraft or grow/raise their products without n 150 miles of Tomball to qualify.
Do franchises, brokerages, machine made or reselling products qualify?
No they don’t qualify. Everything MUST be personally handcrafted, locally prepared or grown/raised by all our vendors.
I offer a service do I qualify as a vendor?
No, but please check out the community service and educational booth information on our website.
I am a local business or nonprofit but I don’t qualify as a regular vendor. How do I get involved?
Paperwork Needed: Depending on what your products are:
I sell Food Products. How do I know what my business needs to legally sell in Texas and at TFM?
Booth Spaces are $40 to $75 each Saturday and are billed monthly. There is an Application Fee of $75.00.
Do you have a waitlist?
- We have a SHORT Waitlist in a couple categories like baked goods, jewelry, skincare, honey, meats and microgreens.
- Instead of long waitlists we have a Fill-In Vendor System where once approved Fill-Ins must agree to come 2 times per month year round.
How do I apply to be a vendor or a community based vendor?
- Click the link at the top: Login/Register link and register your email with us.
- Once your registration is approved you will be able login and have access to our secure application page.
- We only accept applications via our website.
Once I submit my application, do I just show up?
No, our Vendor Committee Leaders review applications every couple of months to see where we have space available.
Are you interested in my product?
We absolutely might if your product is local and personally made by you.
Do I have to make my food in a commercial kitchen if it doesn’t qualify as cottage food???
- Yes if it doesn’t qualify as Cottage Food and is Temperature Sensitive.
- No if you are preparing everything on site.
Do I HAVE to have insurance to sell at TFM?
Yes, all vendors need business liability insurance coverage of at least 1 million. Check with your insurance company first as they may offer bundle deals.
Do I have to submit a sales tax permit?
If you sell a craft or non-food item, then you will need a sales permit. You can get one at the Texas Comptroller Website.
I sell products for a company, but I don’t make them. Can I sell at TFM?
No. All vendors must prepare, handcraft or grow/raise their products without n 150 miles of Tomball to qualify.
Do franchises, brokerages, machine made or reselling products qualify?
No they don’t qualify. Everything MUST be personally handcrafted, locally prepared or grown/raised by all our vendors.
I offer a service do I qualify as a vendor?
No, but please check out the community service and educational booth information on our website.
I am a local business or nonprofit but I don’t qualify as a regular vendor. How do I get involved?
- Consider Volunteering or applying for a Nonprofit, Community Service or Educational Booth.
- You can also become a sponsor or donate to our local food system outreach projects.
Paperwork Needed: Depending on what your products are:
- Business Liability Insurance (Check with your insurance company first to see if they can bundle for you.)
- Sales Tax ID
- Food Manufacturers License
- Food Handlers permit and HCPH Farmers Market permit (all temperature sensitive products)
- If using a commercial kitchen: Health Department Commercial Kitchen Food Establishment Permit and/or Health Department Shared Kitchen Food Establishment permit and Commercial kitchen contract to operate.
- State Chemist License (Pet Food/Feed)
- TDA Nursery Permit/Mobile permit
- TABC Cart Permit
- DSHS Consumable Hemp Product License
- Whatever you need to be in compliance with Federal, State and local agencies.
I sell Food Products. How do I know what my business needs to legally sell in Texas and at TFM?
- Cottage Food products MUST be made in a HOME Kitchen AND must be shelf stable and can not contain temperature sensitive ingredients.
- Prepared foods and foods that require temperature controls MUST be prepared in a commercial kitchen and require additional food permits from the State of Texas's Health Departments. TFM falls under Harris County Public Health's jurisdiction.
- Links to more information on Food Products:
Application review process:
Applications are reviewed during Vendor Committee Leader Meetings in January, March, May, July, September
Applications are reviewed during Vendor Committee Leader Meetings in January, March, May, July, September
TFM Percentages guidelines are based on maintaining a 51% farm to non-farmer ratios year round.
The Vendor Committee reviews each application to determine in their sole and absolute discretion if the following criteria are met.
The Vendor Committee reviews each application to determine in their sole and absolute discretion if the following criteria are met.
- Salability – The product would do well in a farmers’ market setting.
- Compatibility – The product is unique, and/or fills a niche in the TFM market’s then existing product offerings.
- Stability – The applying vendor has a business sense and an entrepreneurial outlook and is able to produce sufficient products to meet consumer demand.
- Commitment – The applicant can commit to at least 2 specific market days per month year-round. The Vendor Committee will give preference to applicants who commit to participating in the TFM market every Saturday.
- Production – The applicant has a product(s) or item(s) to be presented or offered, which has been produced either completely by hand or with the help of hand-tools as long as the direct manual contribution remains the most substantial component of the finished product.
- Texas State Chemist Compliance: The applicant submits proof of product(s) compliance on their application for any pet food or feed products.
- Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) - Nursery & Floral Licensing Program Compliance: The applicant submits proof of product(s) compliance with TDA on their TFM application for presentation or offerings of any cut flowers, trees &/or potted plants and whether such products are grown by applicant. Weekly permits are required by the TDA according to their rules and come with “X” amount per license and must be submitted on the TFM application.
- Health Department Compliance: All new and returning food vendors are in good standing with the Harris County Health Department and provide proof of their Farmers Market permit issued through the Harris County Health Department, unless a vendor falls under the exception under cottage food laws.
- a)Applicants with any previous violations of any of the terms, conditions, and provisions of the TFM Handbook are reviewed by the Market Manager and the determination for membership is within the sole and absolute discretion of the Market Manager and may be denied.
- b) All prepared food vendors including cottage food vendors have a Food Handlers Permit or Food Handlers Manager Permit and submit proof of such permit(s) within the TFM MarketWurks application.
- If the application is determined to meet the above criteria by the Vendor Committee, the applicant will begin the interview process, as more particularly described below. This process is documented in the meeting minutes and via email to prospective applicants.
READY TO APPLY??
Go to the Top of the Page and Register.
Once YOUR Registration is verified.
LOGIN and Go to our Website Application Page.
Go to the Top of the Page and Register.
Once YOUR Registration is verified.
LOGIN and Go to our Website Application Page.
Why Our Certified All Local Farmers Market
Tomball Farmers Market has been serving the Northwest Houston Area since 2008. Supporting local is incredibly important to our farmers market. All our farmers, artisans, bakers and other producers all grow, craft, make and produce everything they bring to the market within 150 miles of Tomball, TX. This means everything is super local and made fresh for our patrons every weekend.
For many of our vendors this is their full time job and we are their first step to growing their local businesses. Over the years many of our vendors have out grown us and moved on to brick and mortar buildings and love our Tomball, TX community so much they have stayed in Tomball moving into businesses nearby.
We are a great place to not only build your business but network with other local businesses to grow your brand. Many of our vendors collaborate together to make their products even better. We look forward to hopefully adding your local farm and small business to our local farmers market.
For many of our vendors this is their full time job and we are their first step to growing their local businesses. Over the years many of our vendors have out grown us and moved on to brick and mortar buildings and love our Tomball, TX community so much they have stayed in Tomball moving into businesses nearby.
We are a great place to not only build your business but network with other local businesses to grow your brand. Many of our vendors collaborate together to make their products even better. We look forward to hopefully adding your local farm and small business to our local farmers market.