TFM Farmers Applicant Information

Resources for farm applicants:

Farmer applications are usually reviewed  within 2 weeks unless there is a waitlist in their category. Example: Egg farmers, meat farmers & lettuce/microgreen farmers.
  1. Once the Vendor Committee and Market Manager Reviews and accepts a New Farmer a site visit must be completed before they can be scheduled for their interview weekend. Farm Visits can be done in person or virtually may be scheduled in the event that on-site visits will not work. 
  2. Every 2 years thereafter a follow-up farm visit will be conducted to ensure farmers are growing what they are bringing to the market weekly. 
  3. Any sites utilized for production & storage must be made available for their site visit.
  1. Farmer Vendor
    • Definition
      1. Produce Farmers- all persons who grow any of the following; vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, herbs, nuts, flowers, trees, soil/compost and plants. 
      2. Plants/trees must be cultivated from seeds/seedlings/or be in possession for a minimum of 60 days (receipts may be requested by the Market Manager or Vendor Committee to verify length of possession.)  
      3. Also in this category are beekeepers, egg farmers, fisheries, and meat farmers.
        1. Any live poultry and/or livestock for sale must be kept in cages. The cages must be kept clean and fresh water will be made available to animals throughout the market day.
          1. Live animals must be 12 feet from any food vendor.
      4. Farmer producers- all persons that produce minimally- processed “value added” items made entirely of their own farmer product (such as extracts, dried mushrooms, apple chips, jerky, beef kabobs, jam, cakes, pies, dried flower arrangements, soil, etc...). 
    • Documents required, but not limited to:
      1. Food Handler or Manager’s Permit (for prepared food)
      2. Business Liability Insurance
      3. Farmer Permit if items are temperature controlled
      4. Nursery Licenses & Mobile Nursery permits from Texas Department of Agriculture (As applicable for selling/transporting plants/flowers/trees/potted plants/starters etc…)
      5. https://www.texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/PlantQuality/NurseryFloral.aspx