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Last updated on Saturday, March 30, 2013
(LINTON) - Linton City Council has voted unanimously to approve plans to start a weekend Farmers Market at Linton’s Humphreys Park.
Sabrina Westfall, of the Greene County Daily World reports, Farmers Market Manager Mark Stacy and members of the Park Board gave a presentation to the Linton City Council and presented the board members with a vendor handbook.
Stacy explained the goal of the Farmer's Market is to promote local farmers and artisans, as well as support the local economy and provide fresh foods. The Park Board also wants to create a fun, festive family friendly environment.
The day-to-day operations of the market will be run by the Farmer's Market Steering Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Parks Board.
The steering committee will include the market manager, two vendor representatives and two community representatives.
The 24-week Farmer's Market, which is scheduled to run from May 4 to October 26, will offer a 10-foot by 10-foot space to each vendor.
The cost for a season vendor pass will be $125, and a daily vendor pass will be $10.
The Farmer's Market Vendor Handbook notes if at any point a daily vendor wants to become a season vendor, the fees paid so far in the season can be applied to the season vendor fee.
Whereas, if at any point a season vendor decides to drop their membership the fees will not be refunded.
The Farmer's Market is open to all growers, farmers, gardeners and artisans from Greene County and the surrounding area.
The vendor handbook and registration information is available at the Linton City Hall and also available online at www.lintonfarmersmarket.com.
Per the vendor handbook, vendors must produce, cultivate, raise, collect or manufacture most products offered for sale at the market. At least 80 percent of all products must have been produced by the vendor locally.
The handbook notes, "All items offered for sale that are not produced by the vendor must still originate in Greene or surrounding counties and must have a placard displayed indicating where the items originated and who produced them."
Linton City Council member Jathan Wright applauded Stacy and the committee members for their efforts.
"You've got it all laid out there, and I am excited to get it started," Wright said at the meeting.
In other business, the council voted to slightly increase the price of the weekly vendor permits.
Park Board president Dick Kaiser explained the weekly produce vendors would run Monday through Friday, and be completely separate from the Farmer's Market.
Kaiser suggested the city raise the price from $100 to $300 per season.
Wright said the rate increase was too steep, and suggested the Park Board lower the rate increase.
The council voted to raise the rate increase to $150 per season for weekly vendors.
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