Farmers Market sets vendor application deadline

Vendor applications for the Tuesday night Sonoma Plaza Farmers’ Market are due by February 1, a date earlier than usual to allow confirmed vendors more time to prepare for the May 5 opening.

“Vendor applications are due one month earlier than in past years,” said Bill Dardon, board chair for the Valley of the Moon Certified Farmers’ Market. “Be sure to get your applications in during the month of January.”

Dardon said the earlier deadline is in response to vendors that, by the time they were notified that they had been accepted, didn’t have enough time to gather and secure all the necessary paperwork in time for the market opening.

After the February 1 deadline, the VOMCFM Vendor Selection Committee will evaluate and score all applications, and notify approved vendors during the first week of March.

“By making the deadline earlier, we will be notifying accepted vendors earlier, and they will have almost two months to get everything ready,” Dardon said.

All vendors, even 2015 participants, must apply each year. The VOMCFM Vendor Selection Committee looks to form a balanced mix of farmers, food purveyors, artisans and service providers, emphasizing local businesses as much as possible, while also considering the changing and evolving trends and tastes of the community.

In particular, Dardon said, the committee is always hoping for and seeking new farmers. “We are, first and foremost, a Farmers’ Market,” he said.

As in past years, the VOMCFM expects many more applications than they have available space for. Market Manager Christopher Welch emphasized that it’s important that all applications are as complete and detailed as possible, to make a positive impression and convey the uniqueness and appropriateness of the vendor’s product or service.

Criteria include how local the business is, participation in prior years, use of locally-sourced and/or sustainable ingredients, uniqueness of product, etc.

Three different application categories are available: Farmer, Food, Artisan. There is a separate application for non-profit organizations.

Applications are available at sonomaplazamarket.org. The $35 processing fee is waived for nonprofit groups. Applicants can mail or deliver their forms to the VOMCFM office at 34 W. Spain St., inside Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley.

The 2015 Tuesday Night Market opens May 5 and continues every week through October 27.