Tag: vendors

Arts and Crafts Jurying Date Announced for 2017 Market Season

Ashe County Farmers Market Announces Date for Arts and Crafts Jurying for 2017 Market Season

 (West Jefferson)   The Ashe County Farmers Market’s (ACFM) annual arts and crafts jurying process is scheduled for  Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at the Ashe County Cooperative Extension Office located at 134 Government Circle in Jefferson from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Existing market vendors with new, previously unjuried crafts and potential new vendors interested in joining the Market for the purpose of selling any arts and crafts are asked to drop off samples of their finished crafts for review between 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM in the Extension Office Conference Room on the 1st Floor.  No samples will be accepted for jurying after 9:30 am.  Samples must be picked back up following the review process at 12:00 Noon the same day, at which time a determination will be available. All decisions are final.

According to Market Manager Lori Goodman, “The market may have a limited number of open spots for arts and crafts vendors from Ashe County this coming market season”. Getting arts and crafts juried is only the first step in the process of becoming a new market vendor and there is no guarantee of vendor membership at the market even if a craft is accepted during the jury process, according to Goodman. Once approved, new vendor applications and juried crafts are reviewed and considered by the Board of Directors, who reserve the right to make determinations on market membership based on the number of current craft vendors and market product mix to ensure product diversity.

The jury for this event includes non-vendor community volunteers who make their decision based on market policies and judge items based on craftsmanship, artistic merit, aesthetic value and market appeal.  The jury process is anonymous and no names are associated with presented samples.  All crafts must be hand crafted and be of excellent workmanship both in quality and design.  Current policies don’t allow machine duplication, machine embroidery, or crafts made from commercial molds or kits, which don’t fall within hand-crafted guidelines.  Craft vendors are only accepted from Ashe County.

New craft applicants may obtain a new vendor information packet, which includes a vendor application, at this event.  Final determinations for new market memberships are expected in late March.

A snow date for this event is scheduled for February 27, 2017.

The Ashe County Farmers Market opens for the 2017 season on Saturday, April 15 at 8:00 AM.  The market is open every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm through the end of October on the Backstreet in West Jefferson.

For more information contact Market Manager Lori Goodman at (336) 877-5052.

 

Market Seeks New Grower/Producer Vendors for the 2017 Market Season

The Ashe County Farmers Market is looking for vendors of quality farm products for the 2017 Market season.  Growers/producers living and farming in counties adjoining Ashe County, including Allegheny, Wilkes, Watauga, Grayson, VA and Johnson County, TN are eligible to apply for membership.  If you grow or produce quality farm products and are interested we encourage you to visit us before the end of October to see what we offer.  Our market brings in 350 – 500 people on average every Saturday looking for fresh, local farm products.  (Please note that our Market accepts craft vendors from Ashe County only.)

Contact Market Manager Lori Goodman at 336-877-5052 or send an e-mail to [email protected] to learn more about our Market and how to apply.

Interested in becoming a vendor at our Market? Here are some things you should know…..

Arts and Crafts Vendors

All arts and crafts must be juried prior to sale and you must be a resident of Ashe County. Jurying is typically an annual event held in March.  Our next jury date will be in March of 2017.  Arts and crafts guidelines are in our Policies and Procedures.  See Vendor Forms. The Board of Directors makes the final determination regarding which new vendors will join our market following the jury process.

Growers and Producers

We are always seeking new growers and producers who reside in one of the following counties:  Ashe, Watauga, Alleghany, Grayson County, VA and Johnson County, TN.  All produce must be grown by the vendor.  Absolutely no resale of any product is allowed.  We currently do not have any space under our shelter, however, we do have room on what we refer to as our “grassy area” where you can join other vendors who ‘bring their own shade’. Before you can sell, you must complete all the vendor paperwork and pay a $50 member fee.  Drop in rates are $10.00 each Saturday you sell.  We also have a Wednesday Market beginning July 6.  Vendors must arrive by 7:30 and stay until our 1:00 pm closing.  For more information contact Market Manager Lori Goodman at (336)877-5052.

 

ACFM Revised Policies and Procedures are Now Available

The Ashe County Farmers Market Policies and Procedures have been revised effective March 2016 and are now available on the Website under Vendor Forms.  Current and new vendors should familiarize themselves with these new policies, which will also be available in hard copy at the High Country Seed Swap and Market Expo Saturday, March 12 at Family Central in Ashe County.

Important change at the Ashe County Farmers Market

This year, the Ashe County Farmers Market welcomes (for the first time) farmers from adjacent counties (Johnson, TN; Grayson, VA; Wilkes, NC; Alleghany, NC; and Watauga, NC). Growers producing homegrown edible farm goods (i.e.-fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, eggs, etc.) may apply during the Seed Swap. The market is NOT open to craft vendors from outside Ashe county. For more information on joining the ACFM, e-mail [email protected]