HEART OF THE HILLS FARMERS MARKET RULES
Revised: September 3, 2025
Market Rules
Market Operation:
The market will be open for Saturday operation beginning the first Saturday of April (4/2/2022).
Summer hours are 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Winter hours are 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Vendors are expected to be set up and ready to vend when the market opens. Please arrive early enough to allow time to fully set up and park.
If vendors would like to stay longer than closing time of regular market hours, please let the Market Manager know as soon as possible. All vendors must vacate the parking lot no later than 7pm.
Membership:
Residency requirements – Producers living within Kerr County and surrounding areas are eligible to apply.
Vendors must have an accepted application for membership in the Market. Membership entitles the vendor to attend and participate in board elections and vendor meetings. Vendor applications/approvals will be renewed annually.
Membership entitles vendors to be included in Market days, advertising and market promotion.
Dues – Member Dues are $25.00 per year and must be paid by April 1st, annually
Space rental – Weekly space rental is $25.00 per space
Rent payments will be collected weekly. Rent is payable in cash or check and is due by 12 PM on market day. Rent should be placed in the labeled envelope and returned to the Market tent or given to a Market Representative at the Market.
New Vendor applications must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the desired first attendance date. Applications will be notified within 5 business days if their application has been approved.
Vendors are responsible for communicating with the City of Kerrville Health Department to obtain any permits and coordinate any inspections they may need for their products PRIOR to vending those products at the market.
Items To Be Sold:
The Heart of the Hills Farmers Market is a PRODUCER’S MARKET.
All products sold must be grown, produced or otherwise hand-made by the vendor within the Hill Country Area.
Reselling is NOT allowed. Please contact the board to discuss if you have any questions/concerns about a proposed product you would like to
include PRIOR to bringing it to market. The Board may grant exceptions to this rule on a case-by-case basis.
We encourage producers to grow or locally source ingredients/components used in their products whenever possible (i.e. Tomatoes used in salsa are grown by the member or sourced from another local grower).
Only items from categories disclosed and approved on your application may be sold. Vendors wishing to broaden their offerings beyond those approved listed on their application must request approval from the Board PRIOR to bringing new items to market.
We encourage and support responsible and sustainable production of produce and products.
100% of all produce (i.e. fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs) sold at the market must be grown by the member.
100% of all plants (cut flowers, shrubs, rooted material) sold at the market must be grown by the member. See Guidelines.
100% of all processed foods (jams, bakery items, ferments) sold at the market must be made by the member.
100% of all crafts sold at the market must be crafted by the member.
100% of all meat and dairy sold at the market must be grown by the member.
100% of all wine, beer, and cider must be fermented or brewed and bottled or canned by the winery, brewery, or cidery.
All pre-manufactured, non-craft items must be pre-approved by the board on a case-by-case basis.
Prepared food – All prepared food must be in compliance with Texas cottage law. Awareness of, and Adherence to the law is the responsibility of the vendor.
Producers are encouraged to visit www.texascottagelaw.com and familiarize yourself with the content as it pertains to your product(s).
Members must use only truthful and accurate descriptors (e.g. – ‘organic’, ‘sugar-free’, ‘natural,’ etc) to market their products. The Board and/or Manager reserve the right to compel changes to questionable marketing claims.
Organic Label – Growers using the label organic in any representation of their product must have a copy of their organic certification on file with the market manager. For those who sell less than $5,000 worth of produce the individual may use the word organic in describing their produce if they have a signed “Small Scale Organic Grower’s Declaration of Exemption from Certification” form on file with the market manager.
Space Allocation:
Vendor space will be assigned weekly by the market Manager. Spaces may be changed at any time at the discretion of the market Manager and (1) member of the board.
Spaces will be allocated on FRIDAY to vendors who have indicated their participation in the market for that week.
A space assignment map will be emailed to all participants.
NOTIFICATION OF MARKET ATTENDANCE
An email will be sent MONDAY to all active vendors. Please reply to this email and indicate your intent to participate (or not) in that week’s market.
Vendors must confirm their participation in the market weekly by THURSDAY AFTERNOON. Deadline to confirm participation is 5 PM (CST).
If no reply is received, it will be assumed you do NOT intend to participate, and you will not be allocated a space. If no reply is received in continuance of 3 times, your membership will be revoked. If membership has been revoked and you wish to participate again, you must reapply.
Notification may also be given to the Market Manager by email to: admin@heartofthehillsfarmersmarket.com or by voice mail left at (830) 353-2335.
If you have indicated your participation for any week – and need to cancel – please inform the Board via phone or email as soon as possible. No-Shows are very disruptive to the market – and disappointing to our customers.
General Provisions:
Vendor spaces consist of a 10’ x 10’ space.
Vendors must provide their own tent & display.
A tent (or otherwise covered display) is Required.
Displays should contain clear signage indicating the business name & product sold.
Tents / trailers / displays should be entirely contained within the assigned space.
All tents must be weighed as soon as they are set up (suggested minimum 20 lbs per leg). There is no staking of tents allowed at the venue. This is a SAFETY issue.
After unloading / set up – vehicles should be parked away from the market area on other side of Schreiner One building, located at 819 Water Street, unless given permission by Board member to park in market area. Please take care to leave good parking spaces available for market customers.
Please be respectful of market flow and other vendors. The market Manager may direct you to move your vehicle at any time.
Vendors are responsible for cleaning their spaces each time.
No vendor pets are allowed at the market with the exception of service animals as defined by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not protected by the ADA and are not allowed.
The manager, with a Board member present, has the right to ask any vendor who brings inferior quality items, persists in violating a rule, or behaves in a disruptive manner to leave the market.
All smoking and vaping must be done away from the market area.
There is no electrical connection available at the market site. Please advise the board if you plan to bring a generator for your use at the market.
Vendors must be present with their products for the market hours.
The vendor retains liability and assumes all risk of loss and/or damage on site or in connection with transportation, display, storage, and sale of merchandise at Market.
Dress Code
Vendors should present a neat and clean appearance in dress and grooming
No offensive language or images, vulgarity, political statements clothing
No low-cut outfits or short skirts/short
If the Board finds what you’re wearing to be inappropriate you will be asked to go home and change.
PENALTIES
Failure to comply with the above guidelines will result in penalties:
First Violation – The manager will give a verbal warning to the vendor about the rule infraction and ask the vendor to correct the situation immediately. The manager will also inform the board of the violation.
Second Violation – Written reminder, warning from the market board and a $25 fine.
Third Violation – Two-week suspension from vending at the Market.
Fourth Violation – Expulsion from the Market for the remainder of the year.
Member Feedback & Communication to the Board
All suggestions, complaints, and comments may be presented in writing to the Board of Directors. Please provide the member with their name, address and telephone number so we may consider and take action as necessary. Email to admin@heartofthehillsfarmersmarket.com is also acceptable.
There will be periodic, voluntary member meetings throughout the year. The board values member input and suggestions and encourages participation in these meetings. Only Members with a history of attendance and participation in meetings may be considered for board positions.