The Kingsport Farmers Market is now accepting vendor applications for the 2018 season! Applications can be filled out on the new Kingsport Farmers Market website. If you have homegrown produce, hand-made crafts or anything in between, consider joining us on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
For over 40 years, Kingsport has enjoyed a vibrant and successful farmers market, named one of Tennessee’s best markets for a number of years. The collective impact of the market – affecting economic vitality, food availability and health of the community – cannot be overstated.
The Kingsport Farmers Market is making the process of becoming a vendor at the market easier than ever with these new resources:
- Website -The new Kingsport Farmers Market website (kingsportfarmersmarket.org) has information and guidelines for becoming a vendor, facility rentals, programs offered at the market and ways to get involved.
- Vendor Applications- For those interested in applying to be a vendor at the market, there is a digital application on the website or physical applications can be picked up at the Kingsport Carousel or Kingsport City Hall. Vendors will be accepted on a rolling basis, but will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Training Sessions- Training sessions will be setup prior to the market opening to train the 2018 season vendors on a new software, Manage My Market, which will be used to register vendors. Sessions will be held every Wednesday, starting February 7th, until the market opens. Held at the Kingsport Carousel, the sessions will run from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
After researching models of stable growth and flexibility and in collaboration with the Kingsport Farmers Market Association, the City of Kingsport will provide administrative support in the management of the Kingsport Farmers Market facility and weekly market for the upcoming season.
“In order to ensure a seamless transition and sharing of best practices, the City of Kingsport will continue to work closely with the association president and market manager,” said Chris McCartt assistant city manager for administration. “This will be a combined effort to uphold the legacy of the Kingsport Farmers Market for seasons to come.”
Over the coming months, city staff will begin rolling out several new programs, procedures and marketing efforts for the market. The implementation of these new opportunities will help with the ease and effectiveness of the market for its customers and vendors.
The administrative team will work with vendors to implement the ‘Manage My Market’ software. This software will provide easily accessible applications, online payments and booth information for potential vendors as well as up-to-date information for the public. The ‘Manage My Market’ software will also enable market staff to offer customizable booth rentals in order to keep the market full.
In addition to the software, the administrative team is also working with the USDA to offer SNAP benefits. Accepting SNAP has been a long standing request for the market, and the city is eager to implement the program for Kingsport.
For more information on the Kingsport Farmers Market, how to become a vendor or to sign up for our monthly newsletter, please visit kingsportfarmersmarket.org.