The Life of a
 Farmers' Market Manager

Oregon's farmers' market managers range from volunteer coordinators on the market day to full-time managers with supporting staff.  Their job descriptions vary depending on the market organization structure, board involvement, volunteer support and budgets.

Market managers work either seasonal or year-round.  One fact for sure, market managers work with limited resources and their energy is spurred by passion for their community, for local agriculture and for the joy of the market day, when people come to celebrate the Oregon harvest.

A Sampling of a
Market Manager's Tasks

Developing the Market Organization

• Work with market organizers defining market policy and establishing supporting committees.
• Coordinate with market committees on site management, special events and publicity.
• Become knowledgeable about the required permits for the market and for the vendors.  For the markets, the local government may require permits for street closures and street signs.  Vendor permits are usually listed as part of the Market Rules and Applications.  Types of vendor permits required are food handling licenses, plant nursery licenses, organic certificates, weigh scales certification (http://egov.oregon.gov/ODA/MSD/docs/pdf/method_of_sale.pdf) , food processor's licenses (for apple cider, dairy, fish, meat, prepared food on-site), bakery processor license, certificate of product liability insurance, temporary for profit restaurant license. 
• ODA Food Safety Guidelines are posted at http://egov.oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/docs/pdf/guide_farmer_mkt.pdf
• Research market liability insurance 

Marketing to Farmers

• Recruit and build a strong vendors base as defined by market policy and market rules. 
• Respond to market issues with local and state agencies.
• On a weekly basis, laying out the market on paper with the goal of providing optimal product variety and  balancing regular offerings with new vendors and products.
• Forecast market’s available space and recruit new vendors as needed.
• Visit farms and other vendor locations, when necessary.

Marketing to the Community

• Build community relationships with surrounding businesses, city government, nonprofits, Extension agents, food banks, neighborhood associations, etc.
• Connect with the Oregon Farmers' Markets Nutrition Programs manager to set up Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Senior Nutrition Coupon program.
• Coordinate special events that provide wholesome and educational activities for the community.
• Create and implement a publicity plan  based on demographics of the markets.  Marketing to the community may include publicity options such as  press releases, radio spots, newspaper ads, neighborhood newsletters.  

On Market Day

• Collecting and depositing stall fees and other market receipts.  
• Enforce state and market sanitation and food safety guidelines. 
• Check hand-washing stations for those vendors who give samples, review food sampling guidelines with individual vendors
• Confirm scale certification. 
• Seek input from market participants (vendors, customers, volunteers, board, and committee members) in order to resolve problems effectively.
• Coordinate delivery of donated food to Oregon Food Bank locations after the market each week.
• Do market research using the fun and easy Rapid Assessment methods.  Find out how to estimate your crowd and capture their ideas for your market.   

OFMA's Market Resource Library provides links, contacts and excellent reading resources to help jump start your market venture.  OFMA also welcomes your questions. (info@oregonfarmersmarkets.org)