Austin Farmers Market – Preorder Program

Quick Guide for Participating Vendors

Austin Farmers Market’s Preorder Program allows customers to shop from local vendors online and choose Tuesday delivery, Thursday delivery, or Saturday market pickup. Saturday pickup is required for vendor participation, and vendors may also opt into weekday delivery. AFM coordinates the logistics so customers can enjoy a simple, convenient way to shop local.

Here’s everything you need to know to participate smoothly and stay compliant with Texas law.

How It Works:

Customers place orders through AustinFarmersMarket.com before Sunday at 11:59 PM.

  • You receive a detailed order list on Monday morning, including customer names and ordered products.

  • You deliver only preordered, labeled items to:

Austin Farmers Market
12319 Lowden Ln
Manchaca, TX 78652

Delivery windows:

  • Tuesday orders: deliver between 10 AM–2 PM on Tuesday
  • Thursday orders: deliver between 10 AM–2 PM on Thursday
  • Saturday market pickup orders: deliver Saturday morning between 9 AM–10 AM, or another day/time if arranged in advance with AFM

AFM receives and holds items on behalf of the customer, not for resale.

Customers then receive their orders through:

  • Local delivery on Tuesdays or Thursdays for a $10 delivery fee
  • Saturday market pickup during market hours
Apply Now →

Participation Requirements:

Saturday market pickup is required

All vendors in the preorder program must make their preorder products available for Saturday market pickup.

Vendors may also choose to offer products for:

  • Tuesday home delivery
  • Thursday home delivery
  • both Tuesday and Thursday home delivery

Product Availability Rules:

Fresh-made / short shelf life products

Fresh-made products may be offered on:

  • Saturday only
  • Saturday + Tuesday
  • Saturday + Thursday
  • Saturday + Tuesday + Thursday

If a fresh-made product is offered on multiple fulfillment days, it must be delivered on each selected day.

Examples may include:

  • fresh bread
  • pastries
  • prepared foods
  • other made-to-order or short shelf life items

Shelf-stable products

Shelf-stable products may be offered across Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with one delivery per week, if approved by AFM.

Examples may include:

  • packaged dry goods
  • jarred items
  • shelf-stable snacks
  • other products that can safely remain available through multiple fulfillment days

Refrigerated and frozen products

Refrigerated and frozen items must be delivered in a manner that keeps them safe and properly stored.

Depending on the product, these items may require:

  • delivery on each selected fulfillment day, or
  • advance approval from AFM for multi-day availability

All refrigerated and frozen products must be properly packaged, labeled, and delivered at safe temperatures.

Your Responsibilities:

1. Weekly Product Updates

Submit your product listings and availability by Friday at 12 PM each week.

  • Clearly mark any Cottage Food, raw dairy, or egg products on your submission form.

2. Order Preparation

Pack and label each order with:

  1. Customer Name
  2. Vendor Name
  3. Product Name
  4. Any storage instructions (“Keep Refrigerated, Keep Frozen” etc.)

Only deliver products that have been preordered.

Do not deliver extra inventory for resale through the preorder program.

3. Delivery

Deliver orders during the correct time window for each fulfillment day:

  • Tuesday: 10 AM–2 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM–2 PM
  • Saturday market pickup: Saturday 9 AM–10 AM, or another day if arranged in advance with AFM

AFM will check in your items and organize them for customer delivery or pickup.

Late deliveries may affect customer experience and vendor payout timing.

4. Compliance

You remain the legal seller of your products.

AFM acts only as the customer’s authorized agent to receive and hold items until delivery or pickup.

You are responsible for following all laws and regulations that apply to your product type, including:

  • Texas Cottage Food Law (for home-prepared items)
  • DSHS Raw Milk Permit (for raw dairy)
  • Texas Egg Law (for ungraded or graded eggs)

All items must be properly labeled and packaged before delivery.

AFM may decline unlabeled, unsafe, or non-compliant products.

Payments:

AFM processes customer payments online and pays vendors after successful fulfillment.

AFM retains a service fee or commission to cover cover preorder program operations and credit card processing fees.

Vendor payouts via ACH, Zelle, PayPal, or other agreed method.

Customer Experience:

Customers enjoy one simple way to shop local from multiple vendors.

They can choose:

  • Tuesday home delivery for a $10 fee
  • Thursday home delivery for a $10 fee
  • Saturday market pickup

AFM handles order coordination and distribution so the process stays smooth and convenient.

Unclaimed orders are held for up to 72 hours, or per vendor direction, and then discarded or returned.

Communication:

Weekly order summaries are emailed Monday morning.

Any issues such as delays, missing items, or fulfillment questions should be reported immediately to: howdy@austinfarmersmarket.com

Key Takeaway:

AFM is your logistics and coordination partner, not your buyer.

You remain the seller of your goods. AFM acts as the customer’s authorized agent to receive, hold, and distribute preordered items.

Together, we make local food more convenient for everyone.

Read the Full SOP Here
Terms of Service

Apply Now →

Preorder Pickup Vendors