Become a Vendor
Foothills Farmers’ Market is comprised of over 100 approved vendors, from a 50-mile radius of Cleveland County, selling a variety of local produce, locally raised meat, cheeses, baked goods, plants, prepared foods, handmade artisan crafts, and more. Our mission is to provide community access to the freshest local foods. We value family farms, endorse sustainable food production practices and innovation, contribute to the health and well-being of the local community, and support the growth of a robust local food economy.
Market Schedule
- Year-Round Saturdays 8-12 at the Bobby Bell Pavilion in Shelby.
- Saturdays - 8-Noon April 25th thru September 26th at the Kings Mountain Market.
Additional Vendor Information
Markets are open rain or shine.
The application Fee of $40 can be paid the first Saturday a vendor is in attendance. Fees are paid weekly by cash or check.
- $10 Stall Fee for Shelby Winter Market.
- $10 Stall Fee for Kings Mountain Summer Market.
- $20 Stall Fee for Shelby Summer Market.
Vendor Applications are voted on by FFM’s Board of Directors.
Applications will only be considered if space is available.
Applicants must agree to our market rules in order to participate. Please review our Policies and Procedures here.
Please see the highlights of our Market Policies below, and review our full Market Policies here.
If you have any questions please contact the market director staff at [email protected]
Eligible Products
It is the market’s priority to facilitate the sale of locally grown food and farm products directly from producer to consumer. As such, vendors producing eligible products within a 50-mile radius of Cleveland County will receive priority consideration for available stall space. To increase the diversity of products offered for sale and to satisfy customer demand, the Board reserves the right to approve the sale of some foods not locally grown/caught/processed, including (but not limited to) coffee and seafood. Board approval will be made on a case-by-case basis, and certain additional policies or restrictions may be imposed on these vendors.
For clarity, locally grown or produced shall mean the following:
“All production, harvesting, construction, processing, preparation, and packaging of products offered for sale at Foothills Farmers’ Market is undertaken by the Vendor Member within 50 miles of Cleveland County.”
Products that may be sold at the Foothills Farmers’ Market include:
● Any vegetable grown by the vendor from seeds, sets or seedlings
● Any fruits, nuts or berries grown by the vendor from trees, bushes or vines
● Any plant grown by the vendor from seed, seedlings, transplants or cuttings
● Bulbs propagated by the vendor
● Honey and/or hive products derived from the vendor’s bees
● Eggs produced by the vendor’s hens a
● Cheese or milk products derived from the vendor’s animals b
● Cut or dried flowers grown by the vendor
● Dried fruits grown and processed by the vendor
● Firewood owned and cut by the vendor
● Preserves, jams and jellies made by the vendor c
● Acidified foods (pickled cucumbers, beets, tomato salsa, etc.) d
● Straw baled by the vendor
● Baked goods made by the vendor in an approved kitchen facility e
● Meats and poultry from animals raised by the vendor f
● Packaged foods prepared by the vendor (wrapped and labeled for consumer purchase)
subject to health and safety regulations
● “Ready to eat” food items, including those sold by an approved food truck
● Beverages such as coffee, herbal teas and all natural fruit juices roasted and/or prepared
by the vendor
● Seafood raised or caught in North Carolina
● Beer, wine or spirits manufactured by the vendor g
● Soaps and herbal products hand produced by the vendor; and
● Quality items hand-crafted by the vendor requiring skilled use of the hand to create (subject to Board approval)
The NCDA&CS Marketing Division regulates the sale of eggs.
Visit https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/food-drug-protection-division/food-program/fdpd-food-program-egg for details on grading requirements, approved cartons, required labeling, and holding temperatures.
Sale of Grade A milk and cheese is regulated by both the NCDA&CS Food & Drug Protection Division. Raw (unpasteurized) milk must be registered as a commercial pet food and labeled accordingly. Cheese and butter manufacturers must be licensed.
Information on NC Milk Law is available at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/food-drug-protection-division/food-program/fdpd-food-program-dairy
Jams & jellies and certain other low-risk foods can be produced in a home kitchen, provided it passes inspection by the NCDA&CS Food & Drug Protection Division. The Certificate of Home Kitchen Inspection must accompany the Vendor Application.
For questions or to schedule an inspection, call 919-733-7366. Products to be sold to consumers must be properly packaged and labeled. Details are available at
https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/food-drug-protection/food-program/fdpd-food-program-home-processer
Vendors processing acidified foods in rigid glass or plastic containers and offering them for sale are required to complete the NC State University Acidified Food Processing & Packaging School and pass required exams. Information about this School is available at
https://foodbusiness.ces.ncsu.edu/acidified-foods-manufacturing-school/
Most baked goods offered for sale can be produced in a home kitchen, provided it passes inspection by the NCDA Food & Drug Protection Division. The Certificate of Home Kitchen Inspection must accompany the Vendor Application. For questions or
to schedule an inspection, call 919-733-7366. Products to be sold to consumers must be properly packaged and labeled. Details are available at
https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/food-drug-protection/food-program/fdpd-food-program-home-processer
The NCDA&CS Meat & Poultry Inspection Division regulates large animal and poultry production and processing. Visit www.ncagr.gov/meatpoultry for specific
information on laws and regulations.
Beer, wine and spirits must be manufactured in a commercial facility permitted by the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. The sale of alcoholic beverages is not permitted at satellite locations.
Products that cannot be sold include:
● Low acid canned foods such as green beans, corn, carrots, etc.
● Raw milk for human consumption
● Products purchased for resale
● Products produced outside the local area (except for specialty items that are specifically approved by the Board of Directors).
No live animals may be sold or given away at the Foothills Farmers’ Market.
Except as specifically provided above, no ready to eat food product may be sold at the Foothills Farmers’ Market without the consent of the Market Manager.
Sales Tax Requirements
Some products eligible for sale at our markets are subject to sales tax (including farm products grown by another farmer and purchased for resale [not permitted at Foothills Farmers’ Market],
processed meats or fish, cheese, value-added or ready-to-eat foods, skin care products, and/or crafts) while others are not (raw fruits and vegetables, including shelled, mixed and bagged
products). Some vendors are required to obtain a Certificate of Registration from the NC Department of Revenue, while others are not.
To learn more about Sales and Use Taxes on Agricultural Products, visit:
Please call the Taxpayer Assistance and Collections Center at 1-877-252-3052 if you have any questions about this issue.
Food Safety & Other Requirements
● All goods sold at the Foothills Farmers’ Market must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, including, without limitation, all applicable health regulations as well as
the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s general guidelines regarding products exhibited for sale at farmers’ markets and curb markets. To the extent that any vendor is selling any product that requires the member to obtain and maintain any license or
certification, that member shall have and maintain such license or certification. Vendors must have copies of these documents in their possession while selling at the Foothills Farmers’ Market and shall make them available for inspection by consumers, the market
manager and/or the Board of Directors or its designated representative.
● All foods prepared by the vendor for sale must meet sanitation and food safety regulations set forth by the Environmental Health Division of the Cleveland County Health Department, the
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
● All product samples provided to consumers at the market site must comply with regulations established by the Environmental Health Division of the Cleveland County Health Department for distribution of foods to consumers for immediate consumption.
● Only NCDA&CS Certified Meat Handlers are permitted to sell meat products. See https://www.ncagr.gov/meat-poultry-inspection/meathandlers
● Any vendor using the term “organic” must meet the requirements of the National Organic Program and submit a copy of their organic certification as part of the Vendor Application packet.
● Vendors must use scales approved/stamped as “Legal for Trade” by the Weights & Measures Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Foothills Farmers’ Market coordinates an annual scale certification day at no cost for its Vendor Members.
Who Can Sell
Only approved vendors may sell at the Foothills Farmers’ Market. An approved vendor is defined as anyone actively engaged in the production of eligible farm products or handcrafted goods and who submits a Vendor Application and is formally approved by the Board of Directors. Multi-Farm and Independent Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)s may become members of the market provided they submit the appropriate paperwork and fees, and all the farmers
within the CSA meet the Foothills Farmers Market requirements.
Student organizations, including FFA and 4-H, are encouraged to apply to sell those items they produce collectively in their schools or clubs. Organizations or associations whose members produce the same or similar commodity (e.g., Cleveland County Beekeepers Association). Members will be allowed to sell under their
organization’s membership pending approval by the Market Manager.
Our Carrying Provision
Foothills Farmers’ Market has a carrying provision that allows vendors to sell a limited supply of products that they did not produce. The purpose of this provision is to offer market customers an adequate supply and diverse selection of locally grown products.
● These "carried" products must be produced by another vendor who has submitted a complete Vendor Application Packet and has been approved by the Board of Directors.
● Carried products must meet all requirements for Eligible Products.
● Total carried products should comprise no more than one-half of the carrying vendor’s total daily inventory.
● Carried items should be labeled with the farm of origin such that they can be easily distinguished from those items grown by the vendor.
● The on-site seller of carried products is required to pay a daily stall fee for themselves plus an additional $20 carried vendor fee for each vendor they are representing (selling carried products for) at the market that day.
● The Board of Directors will consider requests for carrying on a case-by-case basis each year and may not approve carrying of products that are available from on-site vendors who attend
the market regularly and are meeting customer demand with items they grow/produce.
The link to applications, if accepting, is located on the home page (red button).
