Statement of Purpose

The Cleveland Farmers Market (CFM) was founded in 2003 by a group of committed community volunteers to create a fair market where local farmers, gardeners, and producers could sell directly to the public and to develop our community by providing a weekly gathering space for social and educational opportunities.

Hours of Operation and Location

Every Saturday starting May 30, 2026  until the season comes to a natural conclusion (mid-August) from 8:30AM to 11:00AM. Vendors are encouraged to start setting up no later than 7:45AM, and sales are not allowed until 8:30AM. The Cleveland Farmers Market is located in downtown Cleveland, MS, on the north end of the walking trail, set-up in a line north to south along the east side of the walking trail, facing west, with approximately 10 feet of space between the walking trail and vendor tents. No more than 10 feet of gap space should exist between vendors. We will also continue our monthly fall/winter market series beginning in October. More info will be shared later in the season

Operational Guidelines

• Items permitted for sale by CFM includes, but is not necessarily limited to, all varieties of locally grown (or raised or caught) produce, plants, flowers, trees or seedlings, vegetables, fruits, edible plants, eggs, honey, cheese, shelled peas and beans, nuts, herbs, spices, bedding plants, condiments, preserves, jellies, jams, pastries, baked items, spreads, fresh juices, dried/fresh floral arrangements, poultry, fowl, sausages, milk, seafood, meat, cut firewood, prepared frozen entrees, appetizers, soups, and soaps made from Mississippi-grown agricultural ingredients.

• CFM is primarily a produce and food market, but a limited number of vendor spots will be allowed for artists and craftspeople. Vendors or members of the vendors’ households must produce all craft items sold at the market by hand. Arts & Crafts vendors ("makers") will be reviewed by market advisors and accepted at the discretion of the market director with consultation from produce and food vendors input and approval. Flea market item or resale items WILL NOT BE ALLOWED (this includes tee shirts, shoes, bags, and other items that the person has not crafted or screen printed by hand). Items with direct relation to home and garden, food preparation and consumption, or connection to the Cleveland and Bolivar County area will be given priority.

• All food items must be made from fresh ingredients (no mixes), and those incorporating local ingredients will be given priority.

• No smoking, by vendors or patrons, is allowed within the market perimeter. Dipping, chewing or other use of tobacco products within the Market is also prohibited.

• Vendors and guests are responsible for children brought to the market. Children should not be left unattended during the market for safety.

• No dogs are allowed within the Market during operational hours.

• No firearms allowed on premises.

  • The sale of live animals (puppies, chicks, etc.) IS NOT PERMITTED.

  
  

  Becoming a Vendor

  All vendors must complete and sign a vendor agreement with the Cleveland Farmers Market and pay any necessary fees prior to selling. The CFM reserves the right to prohibit anyone from selling at the market and to cancel the privileges of any vendor who in the opinion of the co-market managers has violated the rules governing the market. Any vendor wishing to participate in CFM is subject to a site visit if deemed necessary by the co-market managers. Pursuant to this, the co-market managers (or designated market agent) reserve the right to visit any participant or member’s farm, by appointment, to ensure compliance with market rules and regulations. The primary purpose of a farm visit will be to determine whether the participant/vendor is in fact producing all that he or she is selling at the market.

  
  

  Fees, Space Assignments, and Advertisement

  The vendor fees for 2026 are below. Listed fees allow vendors to sell at the market for the entire season or on a daily basis.

  A. Full Season fee: $60.00

  B. Daily fee:       $10.00 “At the door” (paid before a market), up until the $60.00 season fee is matched.

  There are no refunds for vendor fees.

  Spaces within the Market are not assigned – spaces are first come, first served. Vendors must arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the opening of the Market’s Hours of Operation. To be listed in market emails and social media postings, vendors must send confirmation of attendance and a list of items to be sold to clevelandfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call/text 601.832.2785 no later than 12:00 noon prior to the Wednesday before the market day.

  
  

  Vendor Responsibilities

  • We strongly encourage vendors to create social media pages (such as Facebook and Instagram) so that way we can cross-promote products and vendors via the Cleveland Farmers Market Facebook and Instagram pages, which is our main means of spreading the word about your products and  the market!

  • Vendors are required to use a tent and table, and must supply their own tent and table.

  • Vendors are required to clearly post their business sign or farm name in a visible and attractive manner. Vendors must also display in plain view prices for their products, and any necessary licenses or permits. The co-market managers (or designated market agent) reserves the right to refuse vendors who do not arrive to market with proper signage. 

  • Vendors are encouraged to sell their own locally grown or produced products. Vendors may supplement their own crops, but no more than 50% of their produce may be imported and wholesaled. These supplemented items must be clearly labeled with origin, granted permission in advance by the market manager, and must not compete with items locally grown by other vendors. Please obtain permission from the CFM market manager in advance to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.
    

• Vendors selling baked goods or other processed foods allowable under the Mississippi Cottage Food Operation laws, but for the health and safety of our market must meet all regulations of the law, which can be found at: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/mississippi-cottage-food-operations-regulations-and-guidance  

• Vendors are expected to be in place and open promptly at market time. No vendors will be allowed to set up after the opening bell unless prior arrangements have been made with the co-market managers.

• Vendors are responsible for collecting and reporting sales tax, when applicable. Vendors will be responsible for determining what items are taxable and for collecting their own sales tax. The market is not responsible for tax calculations or reporting. According to Mississippi Certified Market regulations, vendors selling homegrown Mississippi produce (grown by the vendor) or Mississippi home processed foods (made by the vendor), from a MDAC certified market, are exempt from the collection of sales tax. Processed food vendors that are an extension of an established retail outlet are not exempt from remitting sales tax. Vendors selling agricultural food products that were not produced in Mississippi, landscape plants, home processed food products not made in Mississippi, and/or arts and crafts must remit sales tax to the Mississippi Department of Revenue. 
  
• Vendors are responsible for setting their own pricing and for collecting payment for their own products. Any exchanges, refunds, or barters may be performed at the vendor’s discretion.
  
• Vendors independently accepting SNAP/EBT (Food Stamps) or WIC FMNP vouchers are responsible for compliance with state guidelines.
  
• Vendors are responsible for maintaining their vendor space in a clean and sanitary condition, and are responsible for sweeping and disposing of any debris at the close of business. All agricultural waste must be removed and taken away.
  
• No vendor shall play loud music, radio, tapes, television or anything that would be disruptive to other vendors or customers.
• No vendor shall engage in loud profanity, threats, violence, fighting or any other such disturbance of the market’s peace.
• Fraudulent, dishonest, or deceptive practices carried on at CFM should be reported to the co-market managers (or designated market agent) and may result in revocation of permission to sell at the market.
• Vendors are responsible for permits, licensing, and certification for food and product sales, as required by law. Permits are not the responsibility of the market. All vendors are required to adhere to the requirements of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

• Cleveland Farmers Market Commitments

  The Cleveland Farmers Market commits to providing market coordination, volunteer recruitment,  and marketing on behalf of all CFM vendors, to include by not limited to email marketing, Facebook and other social media, newspaper advertising, radio publicity, partnerships with community agencies, and more. Fundraising, special events, and public education will also be handled by CFM. CFM will provide all music and entertainment for market days and special events.

  Disclaimer
  
• The Cleveland Farmers Market reserves the right to modify these rules and regulations at any time. The CFM reserves the right to refuse the application of any vendor at any time and for any reason.