Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor at the Duncan Farmers’ Market.

Our application for new vendors is currently closed until mid May.  

Duncan Farmers’ Market looks for vendors with unique products that fit the mandate of MAKE IT. BAKE IT. GROW IT. (See below for BC-AFM definitions.)

Looking to become a vendor:

Review our Rules and Regulations document.

Review our Vendor code of Conduct.

All approved vendors will be on probation for the first year and can attend the market on a Drop-in only basis.

Vendor fees vary based on the length of the season, and are set by the Board of Directors. Current Drop-In stall fees are between $25 – $35 per space, per week no power, and an additional $5 for power if available. These fees are subject to change.

Vendors will need to provide proof of liability insurance and list these additionally insured organizations on a Certificate of Insurance: the Downtown Duncan BIA, the City of Duncan, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), as well as the Duncan Farmers’ Market (see note below).

Please contact our Executive Director, Janice Roberts if you have any questions about the process.

These are the definitions provided by the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, of which the DFM is a member.

Grow means:
• Farm products that are grown or produced on BC land.
• Nursery products, such as plants, trees, or seeds that are grown and/or propagated by a farm vendor in BC for the purpose of re-planting.
• Cut flowers and herbs that were grown and/or propagated by the farm vendor.

Make means:
• Processed/prepared foods: value added edible product that has been cut, cooked, smoked, canned or otherwise altered from its original/natural state.
• Artisanal and craft products: value added products that are created, sewn, constructed or otherwise fashioned from component materials in a way that makes the item unique. These may include raw component products that were purchased or that originated on one’s farm. An artist may sell reproductions of their own original creation.
• Services that are provided at the farmers’ market. Examples include knife sharpening, chair massage.
• Priority should be given to makers that source ingredients and components of BC origin.

Bake means:
• Products that are baked from scratch ie; utilizing basic ingredients, not Approved by BCAFM Board of Directors on November 3rd, 2018 3 purchased pre-mixed or pre-made components.
• Priority should be given to bakers that source ingredients of BC origin.

Raise means:
• Farm products that are raised on BC land or wild lands or waters in BC, with the appropriate permits.

Wild Harvest means:
• Products harvested, caught, hunted or wild crafted from wild lands or waters in BC, with the appropriate permits or approvals.

The Duncan Farmers’ Market carries general liability insurance, but individual vendors are NOT insured for their products or operations during market hours under this policy. Our general liability policy ONLY covers the activities of the managers, employees, volunteers, officers, and directors of the Duncan Farmers’ Market within the scope of their duties for market operations.

The Duncan Farmers’ Market requires that all vendors carry liability insurance for their products and business operations during market hours and that Duncan Farmers’ Market, the Downtown Duncan BIA, the City of Duncan, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) are added as an additional insured on the policy. All vendors of Duncan Farmers Market are required to show proof of this insurance before vending at the market.

Get insurance through BCAFM & Duuo online, learn more here. 

If you are selling food from a cart or trailer you must be inspected by Island Health and obtain a Permit to Operate. If you are a higher-risk food vendor and you have a commercial operation, we must see your Permit or License to Operate. If you use someone else’s approved commercial premises, you will need a Letter of Confirmation from Island Health.

If you are a small-scale producer, you may be asked to provide pH testing results from an approved laboratory. The market manager or local health authority may request further evidence that the food is lower-risk.

Vendors wishing to sell lower or higher risk food items at the Duncan Farmers Market need to abide by the Temporary Food Market Guidelines published by the Provincial Health Services Authority. To determine whether a food is low or high risk, please download the Pocket Guide for Temporary Food Markets, which is published by Island Health.

Those wishing to sell higher risk food items at the Duncan Farmers Market are required to complete an Application for the Sale of Higher Risk Food at Temporary Food Markets and submit it to the local Health Protection and Environmental Services office.