Austin Farmers Market Vendor Policy Manual

Version 1.4 | May 2026

Contact: howdy@austinfarmersmarket.com

Manager: Ian Desmond

Austin Farmers Market currently operates two market locations. Vendors are responsible for reviewing and following all policies, venue-specific requirements, health and safety rules, insurance requirements, and instructions from market management.

Please read the rules then submit your application along with any questions. If you still have questions after reading the rules and application form, please email howdy@austinfarmersmarket.com.

MARKET LOCATIONS

Austin Farmers Market at Manchaca UMC

Location: Pavilion behind Manchaca United Methodist Church
Market Address: 12319 Lowden Ln, Manchaca, TX 78652
Address for Insurance Policy: 1011 Farm to Market 1626, Manchaca, TX 78652
Market Hours: Saturdays, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Market Manager: Ian Desmond

*Market hours are subject to change seasonally

Austin Farmers Market at Goodnight Ranch

Location: Baythorne Park
Market Address: 5601 Baythorne Dr, Austin, TX 78747
Market Schedule: 4th Sunday of every month
Market Hours: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
First Market Date: June 28
Market Manager: Ian Desmond

*Market hours are subject to change seasonally

PURPOSE

These rules are in place to ensure legal compliance, safety, cleanliness, and a welcoming, family-friendly environment for all vendors and guests.

Austin Farmers Market reserves the right to approve, deny, suspend, or remove vendors at its sole discretion based on product fit, category overlap, conduct, safety concerns, venue requirements, incomplete documentation, or failure to follow market policies.

Approval for one Austin Farmers Market location does not automatically guarantee approval for all locations. Vendor approval may vary by location based on available space, product mix, venue requirements, and market needs.

SAFETY and SETUP

1. Arrival and Load-In

Vendors must arrive with enough time to unload, park, and be fully set up before the market opens.
For both locations, vendors must be ready to sell by 10:00 AM.
All vendor vehicles must be moved out of the immediate market area before opening. Vehicles may not exceed 10 MPH on-site.
Location-specific load-in instructions may be provided.

2. Tents

No Stakes Allowed!
Tents must have a minimum of 30 lb weights per leg, securely attached before the tent is fully raised.
Vendors must follow all wind-related directions from market management immediately. Market management reserves the right to require tents to be lowered, removed, or additionally secured at any time.
Vendors are solely and fully responsible for any damages, injuries, losses, or claims caused by or arising from unsecured tents, booth materials, displays, signage, or equipment.
Vendors shall indemnify and hold harmless Austin Farmers Market LLC, the applicable venue/property owner or manager, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and representatives from any such damages, injuries, losses, or claims.

3. Restrooms

Available on-site for vendors and customers.

4. Pets

Pets are not allowed inside vendor booths. Service animals are permitted in accordance with applicable law.

VENDOR REQUIREMENTS

1. Application, Agreement, and Insurance

All vendors must submit the signed application, Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement, and proof of insurance before participating.

Insurance: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate.
Low-cost option: CampbellRiskManagement.com

2. Manchaca UMC Insurance Requirements

For the Manchaca location, vendors must provide a Certificate of Insurance naming the required parties as certificate holders and/or additional insureds, as requested by Austin Farmers Market.

Required parties:

Austin Farmers Market LLC
Manchaca United Methodist Church

Use the following address for the insurance policy:

1011 Farm to Market 1626, Manchaca, TX 78652

3. Goodnight Ranch Insurance Requirements

For the Goodnight Ranch location, vendors must provide a Certificate of Insurance naming the following parties as certificate holders and/or additional insureds:

Goodwin & Company
Austin Farmers Market LLC

Use the following addresses for the insurance policy:

Goodwin & Company | 11950 Jollyville Rd., Austin, TX 78759

Austin Farmers Market LLC | 5601 Baythorne Dr., Austin, TX 78747

Vendors participating at both locations may be required to provide insurance documents reflecting each location’s specific requirements.

4. Market Hours

Vendors must be ready to sell by the official market opening time and remain set up until the market closes.

Manchaca UMC Market: Saturdays, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Goodnight Ranch Market: 4th Sunday of every month, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Tents may come down after 1:00 PM, but tables, products, and booth displays must remain up until closing unless otherwise approved by management.

No early teardown is allowed without approval from market management.

5. Parking

Vendors must park in the designated vendor parking areas for each location.

At the Manchaca location, vendors should use the large north parking lot and reserve close parking spots for customers.

Goodnight Ranch parking and load-in instructions will be provided by market management before each market date.

6. Cancellations

Vendors must notify management by email no later than 12:00 PM, two days before the booked market date.

Late cancellations and no-shows may result in the full booth fee being charged, plus a $15 fee.

Emergency situations may be reviewed at the discretion of market management.

7. Licenses and Permits

All required local, state, and health permits must be valid, on-site, and submitted with the application.

Vendors are solely responsible for understanding and following all laws and regulations related to their products

8. Products

Must be approved in advance. No resale without permission. No products containing cannabis, or tobacco. Alcohol products are prohibited at Manchaca UMC.

9. Conduct

Vendors must be courteous, professional, and maintain a clean area at all times. Vendors shall not engage in any conduct that is disruptive, discriminatory, harassing, or that creates an unsafe or unwelcoming environment. Austin Farmers Market LLC reserves the right to immediately remove any vendor who violates this provision, without refund, and to terminate the vendor's participation in future markets. Complaints should be directed to management via email at howdy@austinfarmersmarket.com, not to other vendors. Vendor disputes or complaints about management decisions shall be resolved through informal negotiation, and vendors waive any right to pursue legal action except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence by Austin Farmers Market LLC.

10. Taxes

Vendors are solely responsible for remitting sales tax to the City of Austin and any other applicable taxing authorities. Vendors agree to indemnify and hold harmless Austin Farmers Market LLC from any claims, penalties, or liabilities arising from vendor's failure to properly collect, report, or remit sales taxes.

Click here to learn about Texas Sales and Use tax requirements.
Learn more about what food and products are taxable here.

CLEAN-UP and TRASH

1. Vendors must bring their own trash bins and remove all waste after the market.

2. Do not use church dumpsters at Manchaca UMC.

3. Vendors may use market trash receptacles to empty their trash at the end of the market.

FEES

1. Application Fee

$5 (non-refundable, required for review). This fee is non refundable under all circumstances, including rejection of the application, withdrawal by the applicant, or failure to commence vending operations.

Paying the fee does not guarantee acceptance to the market. Austin Farmers Market LLC reserves the sole and absolute discretion to accept or reject any application for any reason or no reason, without obligation to provide explanation.

2. Booth Fees

Vary by category; to be paid via online payment. All fees are payable in advance, non-refundable once the market day begins, regardless of weather, attendance, or vendor's decision to leave early.

3. Cancellations

Notice by 12 PM, two days prior → credit toward future market date only (no cash refunds). Credits expire 90 days from date of issuance and are non-transferable.
After deadline (non-emergency) → full fee charged with no credit or refund.

4. Tent Weight Violations

$25 first offense, $50 for each subsequent offense; tent must be removed or secured immediately upon notice. Vendor shall be liable for any and all damages, injuries, or losses caused by tent weight violations, and failure to immediately comply with removal or securing requirements will result in immediate termination of vendor privileges and forfeiture of all fees paid. Vendor acknowledges that unsecured tents pose serious safety risks and that these penalties are reasonable and necessary to protect public safety.

5. Safety Violations or Non-Compliance

May result in immediate removal from
the market without refund, suspension for a period determined by management in its sole discretion, a fine of up to $100 per violation, and/or permanent termination of vendor privileges. Austin Farmers Market LLC reserves the right to pursue additional damages for any losses caused by vendor violations. Vendor waives any right to challenge management's safety determinations except in cases of clear error or bad faith.

By participating in the Austin Farmers Market, vendors agree to follow these rules to maintain a safe, vibrant, and community-centered market.

WEATHER AND MARKET CHANGES

Austin Farmers Market operates rain or shine unless market management determines that weather conditions create an unsafe environment.

Market management reserves the right to cancel, delay, relocate, shorten, or adjust market hours due to weather, safety concerns, venue requirements, low vendor participation, property restrictions, or other circumstances outside of the market’s control.

Vendors will be notified of major changes as soon as possible.

Weather-related credits or refunds are handled at the sole discretion of market management.

Thank you!

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