What is the right insurance coverage for a farmers market?

OFMA’s annual market metrics surveys show there is a pretty big knowledge and awareness gap re: insurance for Oregon market operators. 37% of respondents couldn't say who their insurer was, signaling a hole in risk management practices. Many comments made said it was a "board responsibility" or "I don't know." We've gathered the following resources to help market managers and their boards feel more informed and empowered when it comes to understanding their coverage.

  • Finding liability insurance for the market and understanding the legal jargon surrounding it can be confusing, this fact sheet provides a base understanding on the topic that you can build upon.

  • The Manage Your Risks section of the FMLT covers many of the most relevant concerns facing markets, while pointing to the most appropriate risk management tools. Be sure to check out the sub-section considering whether and what kinds of insurance are right for your market and vendors.

  • The WA State Farmers Market Association wrote this guide to thinking about risk and how to understand and choose insurance policies, includes a section on hold harmless agreements.

  • The template demonstrates what a certificate of liability looks like and explains the info it includes, and this article explains why markets collect them from their vendors.

  • Note: OFMA does not endorse any insurance carriers in particular, including but not limited to the ones listed here.

    • Campbell Risk Management: Offers insurance for markets, vendors, and directors & officers.

    • FLIP: Insurance for the food & beverage industry.

Webinar Recordings

OFMA hosts a monthly peer-to-peer learning circle where we get together with other Oregon farmers market staff to talk all things market related. Watch our conversation from 11/2/21 on Zoom with Dar Wolnik, FMC's Farmers Market Support Director. We dove into insurance for farmers markets & vendors, introduced the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit, and talked about how to make sure vendors and markets have the right types of insurance coverage.