Tullahoma Farmers Market Bylaws
2026-2027
Contacts:
Jennifer Miller, Market Manager 615-491-3547
Board Members:
Linda Reed 931-273-9708
Paige and Berry Sebastian 931-588-0521
Matt Ledbetter 931-222-5877
The Tullahoma Farmers Market (TFM) provides area producers with an opportunity to sell, and customers with an opportunity to buy (1) fresh, home-grown produce, (2) handmade/homemade crafts, (3) a variety of plants including (but not limited to) shrubs, ornamental grasses, annuals, perennials, vegetable transplants, etc., and (4) local meat or animal products and certain processed foods which meet Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and, in some cases, Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and regulations
Location and Schedule: The TFM is operated at South Jackson Performing Arts Center located at 404 S Jackson St, Tullahoma, TN 37388. In 2026, the TFM will be in operation from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, on Monday each week.
The TFM is strictly a PRODUCER ONLY MARKET (NO re-selling allowed) and will be open to Producer-Vendors from counties within the Middle Tennessee area. Producer-Vendors are only allowed to sell produce and select other agricultural products that the Producer-Vendor personally and physically grew, raised or produced. The sale of any products not grown or produced by the vendor, the reselling of goods, or the sale of goods that have been obtained by trading or bartering is strictly prohibited and is grounds for dismissal from the market. All products must be grown/raised in Middle Tennessee. To ensure compliance with established market guidelines, inspections may be scheduled to the kitchens, farms, or gardens of those selling at the TFM.
The TN Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Compliance Guide can be found here: https:// www.tn.gov/agriculture/consumers/food-safety/ag-farms-farmers-markets.html.
I. VENDOR QUALIFICATION
1)To participate in the TFM, all vendors must meet any local, state, and/or federal permit requirements relative to the items they offer for sale.
2)Only producer-only items listed in your completed application can be sold at the TFM. Items not listed will be allowed for sale only with the TFM Management’s advanced approval.
3)If a business is a partnership, all members of the partnership must sign the TFM Vendor agreement form and be listed on the vendor’s application.
4)Representatives at each market booth must be the original producer of the item sold or be employed by the producer.
5)Vendors are required to obtain sufficient liability insurance on their own. The Tullahoma Farmers Market does not carry any liability insurance for vendors and cannot help or be held accountable for any.
6) Vendors selling meat or other animal-derived products from their farms must meet and follow all USDA and TDA rules and guidelines.
7) Vendors who sell non-vegetable plants (including herbs, house plants, and landscape plants) must comply with TDA guidelines and regulations. Vendors can find information at https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/businesses/ plants/forms.html and should contact TDA for more information regarding such permitting.
9) Vendors using a scale to price products are responsible for having their scales calibrated accurately.
10) Offering samples is permissible; however, it is encouraged that vendors follow the recommendations provided through the following UT Extension link: https://rutherford.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/200/2022/05/SP749-Food-Safety-Best-Practices-for-Farmers-Markets.pdf.
****It is the responsibility of every vendor to know if they are required to collect and remit Tennessee Sales Tax. The Tennessee State Sales and Use Tax guide can be found at: https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/consumers/foodsafety/ag-farms-farmers-markets.html. A recent publication entitled Sales Tax in Tennessee on the Purchase and Sale of Farm Products may be found at: https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1806.pdf .****
II. SEASON VENDOR SPACE
1) “Season” vendors may reserve a booth space for the 2026 season by paying $60 for a single spot (est. 12’x12’) or $90 for a double spot (est. 12’x24’). All TFM fees are non-refundable (even if a vendor decides to give up the space, stops participating in the market prior to the end of a market season, or forfeits reserved space due to repeated violation of any or part(s) of the TFM Rules and Regulations) and non-transferable. There will be a $25 processing fee for any check which is returned to the TFM finance department for insufficient funds.
2) Market Management reserves the right, at any point, but especially early and late in the season, to temporarily relocate season vendors in the interest of overall market health.
4) If a season vendor is absent from the TFM for more than three consecutive market days without notifying Market Management, their reserved space may be forfeited for remainder of calendar season.
5) Parking: You may use an open parking space to unload and should move to the outer parking lot when finished, or if the vendor using that parking space arrives. All vendors should work together to ensure their neighbors can load and unload with relative ease. Ensure your vehicle or trailer does not extend beyond the parking space during sale hours. No parking is allowed along driveway paths. Do not block traffic or emergency vehicle access.
III.DAILY VENDOR SPACE
1) Any Daily Vendor should contact market management at least 2 days before the market they plan to attend to be given their spot for the market. The Market manager will collect fees the day of the market. No vendor should begin to set up before speaking to Management and paying the fees.
2) Daily vendors will pay $20 per day at the market for a single spot (est. 12’x12’) and $25 for a double (est. 12’x24’). Daily spaces are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a $25 processing fee for any check which is returned to the TFM finance department for insufficient funds.
3) Parking: You may use an open parking space to unload and should move to the outer parking lot when finished, or if the vendor using that parking space arrives. All vendors should work together to ensure their neighbors can load and unload with relative ease. Ensure your vehicle or trailer does not extend beyond the parking space during sale hours. No parking is allowed along driveway paths. Do not block traffic or emergency vehicle access.
NOTE: Only seasonal vendors have an assigned booth. Daily vendors are first-come, first serve—booths are not held for daily vendors. Daily vendors will choose their booth after daily fee is paid the morning of the market.
IV. ADDITIONAL PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT
1) Attendance is key to the market’s long-term success. Vendors that signed up for a seasonal space are expected to attend consistently for the market season. If you know you will be taking a vacation or know you will be absent a day please let TFM management know as early as possible. If a vendor has a medical emergency and will miss the market last minute, please notify the TFM management as soon as you can. We will allow vendors to have a total of 3 no call/no shows per year and a total of 5 missed market days each year. If a vendor has an attendance issue, their assigned spot could be forfeited, and the vendor may not be allowed to return to the market as a seasonal vendor the following year.
2) Vendors can begin to set up an hour before the market opens but no sales are to be made before the start of the market at 3:00 pm. Sales are not encouraged until the start of the market to give all other vendors equal access to customers, though occasionally during certain seasons exceptions can be made. Other vendors are encouraged to set up at 2, to be ready at the start of the market.
3) All vendors participating in the market bringing a canopy-style tent SHOULD have 25 lbs of weight attached to each leg on the tent with a minimum total weight of at least 100 pounds. Umbrella setups will require a minimum of 50 pounds of weight to ensure stability and safety.
4) Reserved season spaces must be occupied by 2:30 PM, unoccupied seasonal spaces may be rented to daily vendors unless the Market Management has been notified of a late arrival time due to an emergency or unforeseen incident (e.g., flat tire, dead battery, etc.). TEXT/CALL 615-491-3547 or 931-588-0521 or 931-247-6045 ASAP leaving a voicemail if necessary. Vendors will not be allowed to set up for the day if they arrive after 3:00 pm.
5) All vendors must clearly display signs that show the name of their farm/business, products, and prices.
6) No hawking or obvious price wars are allowed in the market. This includes any disruptive behavior or other aggressive activities conducted for the purpose of drawing customers or attracting attention to one specific booth.
7) Booths must be reasonably clean during market hours, as many are selling food products. Repeated failure to follow this guideline could result in dismissal from the market (without fee refund). Also, clean your booth before leaving! ALL rubbish must be cleaned from both the vendor’s booth and parking space prior to departure. Vendors may donate unwanted produce to a charity-gleaning organization or dispose of it.
8) The TFM closes at 6:00pm. Vendors are required to stay until the market closes. In such cases a vendor has demonstrated to TFM management they have sold out of all products, the vendor can then pack up their booth but will be required to leave their tent standing with a table set up till the close of the market. In the event of a personal emergency, the vendor should let TFM management know they will need to leave for an emergency so an exit plan can be made in a safe manner for the vendor and patrons to the market. Vendors should stop making sales at 6:00pm, load any remaining sale items, clean their assigned sale and parking space, and clear the area.
9) The TFM does not allow the sale of live animals of any kind at the market.
10) Cancellations due to inclement weather will be decided on by the Market Manager and Board members.
11) Complaints about the market operation may be registered (in person, by phone, or in writing) with the market management. All complaints will be given serious consideration as well as prompt attention. Tullahoma Farmers Market nor anyone associated with supervision and/or management of the market operation will assume any liability resulting from accident, injury, or theft. Items which are lost, stolen, or damaged will not be the responsibility of TFM or those associated with operation of the market.
TFM and the South Jackson Performing Arts Center is subject to all laws, rules, and regulations governing public property. The following, among other things, must be adhered to: * Under no circumstances will alcoholic beverages be permitted on the premises. * Smoking or use of tobacco products is not allowed inside the premises or within 25 feet of the TFM. Vendors may smoke in the parking lot if they are 25 feet away from the nearest booth and should dispose of cigarette butts in a proper receptacle. * Visible firearms are not permitted on the premises. * Unattended children are prohibited from the market. *Animals are not allowed at the market unless a registered service animal and will need to always be on leash and under the owner’s control. We appreciate your patience with the new changes to protect all who work at and support the Tullahoma Farmers Market.
Please read the following affidavit and sign below:
I have read the rules, regulations and policies of the Tullahoma Farmers Market and agree to abide by them. I acknowledge full responsibility for all of my activities in the market (and for those assisting in my booth) through the market season. Furthermore, I agree to accept the authority of the market manager and management in regards to product legitimacy, procedural and vendor conduct violations. I have read and signed the hold harmless agreement and I acknowledge that the Tullahoma Farmers Market does not carry any insurance policies to cover individual market participants and may not be held liable for injury, theft or damage.
Applicant Farm/Business name:_____________________________________________
Applicant name (please print): ______________________________________________
Applicant Signature: Date: __________________________________________________
Questions?
Market Manager Jennifer Miller
Phone: 615-491-3547
Email: ttownfarmersmarket@gmail.com