Here are some FAQs for current or potential vendors interested in participating in the 5-week, late-season, contact-free Online Farmers Market, a new endeavor of the Field to Family Food Hub.
What kind of producers can participate in the Online Farmers Market?
Vendors who participated in the Iowa City Online Market 2020 and food hub vendors. We may be able to accept new vendors based on logistics and producer agreements.
What kind of requirements will there be for Vendors:
Vendors must sign our Producer Agreement and be willing to work with our drop times.
What products can be offered on the online Farmers Market?
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- Fresh or dried fruits, vegetables, starter plants, honey, eggs, meat, dairy and mushrooms.
- We are also offering opportunities for some value-added producers. Items include:
- Frozen prepared foods with locally-sourced ingredients (i.e. burritos, kraut, froyo, juice)
- Locally roasted packaged coffee beans
- Infused oils with locally-sourced ingredients
- Food Hub Farmers and Full time seasonal Iowa City Farmers Market vendors only can offer baked goods on the online site. We encourage all baked items to have at least one locally-sourced ingredient.
- Baked goods cannot exceed 30% of the total products offered through the online market
- Please inquire for more details if you are a vendor with products not listed above.
What products will not be offered in the online market at this time?
No ready-to-serve hot foods. No reselling from another farm, unless explicitly approved by market managers.
What food safety requirements are required?
Vendors must meet all safety and health requirements required by federal, state and county health departments.
What would a week in the hub look like for a vendor?
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- Saturday at 5:00pm to Tuesday by 10:00 am: Upload product to online system
- Monday: Sign up for a time to drop off products by emailing [email protected]
- Wednesday at 2:00 pm: Receive orders via email
- Thursday from 2:00-5:00pm or Friday from 9:00am-11:00am: Deliver to Hub at 840 S Capitol St. in Iowa City at time selected through communications above.
What are expectations for packaging orders?
Items must be packaged in new, food grade containers and sorted by unit listed in the online marketplace
How do products need to be labeled?
- Labels are required for every case delivered to the hub for food safety with at least four things:
- Farm Name, Product Name, Quantity and Date
- Labeling requirements vary for different types of products. Please attend training to learn more.
Is there a limit on how many products a vendor can offer to the marketplace?
No, there are no limits.
Can vendor products be refused?
Product may be refused if it does not meet acceptable quality standards, or is not salable.
Is there an order minimum for customers?
Yes, $15.00.
Are customers charged a margin or fee on their orders?
Customers are currently charged a $4 service fee.
Field to Family will add a 25% markup to farmer prices in order to cover our operating costs and staff time.
How should vendors price products?
Vendors price their own products in the online software Local Food Marketplace.
Field to Family asks vendors to follow guidelines in the Iowa City Farmers Market Guide which encourages fair pricing.
“Vendors are discouraged from giving produce or other items away for free or at below-cost pricing, thus undercutting and affecting the potential sales of other vendors.”
How are vendors paid?
Vendors will be required to share billing information during orientation and Field to Family will pay by check within 30 days.
Is there a fee for vendors to participate?
Field to Family Food Hub Farmers and part-time vendors will be charged $16 per week to participate unless they do not sell at least $100 in goods.
What extra safety precautions are required for COVID-19?
Farmers will need to sign up for drop off time to the warehouse and wear masks and gloves when they drop produce.
How do customers order?
Customers can register at any time on orders.fieldtofamily.org
Customers can order once the cart opens at noon on the Tuesdays prior to a Saturday market.
How will Field to Family promote my farm and my farm products?
Field to Family will put out multiple promotional materials to promote the market and the vendors included in the market.
Interested community members will sign up in the online software and will receive promotional emails, notices when the cart opens and when it closes.
We are looking for other ways to promote your farm and your products offered on the online market.
Customers will receive promotions, food system education handouts and other materials.