HOW TO BECOME A VENDOR


Application for the 2025 Bethesda Winter Season is OPEN

Applications are done through Marketspread. Applications will be open for our future market seasons on the following dates:

  • 2025 Bethesda Winter Market - Applications open September 15 to November 15, 2024. Apply here.

  • 2025 Main Season Markets (Half Street, Pike and Bethesda) - Applications open November 15, 2024 to February 15, 2025

2024 MAIN SEASON MARKETS

Half Street Central
Saturdays, May 4-December 21, 2024, 9am-1:30pm

Pike Central
Saturdays, April 27-December 21, 2024, 9am-1:30pm

Bethesda Central
Sundays, April 7-December 29, 2024, 9am-1:30pm
* This market will be held on SATURDAY, December 24th and 30th for the holidays

The application period for the Bethesda, Half Street and Pike main sessions is open from November 15th to February 15th each year.


WINTER SEASON MARKETS

The winter session runs from January-March at Bethesda Central.

Bethesda’s hours are 9:30 AM-1:30 PM during January & February and 9 AM-1:30 PM in March.

The application period for the Bethesda open each year from September 15th to November 15th. 


REGISTRATION FEES

Central Farm Markets DOES NOT COLLECT A REGISTRATION FEE until after you have been accepted into a market.  Registration fees are $25 for returning vendors and $50 for new vendors. There is only one registration fee applied regardless of the number of markets you are accepted into.


2024 MARKET FEES

Half Street Market – 5% of sales with a $35 minimum. The vendor pays a flat fee of $35 up to $700.00 in sales. After $700 is reached, the vendor pays 5% of total sales.

Bethesda Market – 8% of sales with a $45 minimum. The vendor pays a flat fee of $45 up to $462.50 in sales. After $462.50 is reached, the vendor pays 8% of total sales.

Pike Market – 6% of sales with a $40 minimum. The vendor pays a flat fee of $40 up to $666.67 in sales. After $666.67 is reached, the vendor pays 6% of total sales.


ALL VENDORS

  • Vendors must have least one year of experience in food retail or selling at another farm market. We do not accept startup businesses.

  • You must have current business liability insurance


FOOD VENDORS

  • You must have the required health department licenses and work in a licensed commercial kitchen.

  • We do not accept any vendors under cottage law in our markets in Maryland. In Virginia, you may apply as a home baker if you have a VDACS inspected kitchen. Your application must include VDACS Inspection Report. In DC, you may apply as as a Cottage Food Business and include your Cottage Food Business Identification Number and DC Department of Health kitchen inspection report.

  • If you are buying your major ingredients such as produce, meats etc from local grocery stores, please do not apply. We look for vendors who are locally sourcing or collaborating with other vendors for their primary ingredients.


CRAFT VENDORS

Central Farm Markets only accepts craftspeople who handcraft items for table top use, such as wooden bowls or cutlery, candles, soaps, or handmade planters.

We do NOT accept the following vendors or products at our markets:

  • Cosmetic Products

  • Jewelry

  • Clothing

  • Nutritional supplements

  • Multi-level marketing companies

  • Resale or imported items of any kind (food or crafts)

  • Bake sales

  • Charity drives

  • Religious or political material or canvassing


MUSICIANS

Prospective musicians should send an inquiry, payment requirements and sample of work in the contact form here. Musicians will be booked as space is available.


NON-PROFITS

Central Farm Markets gives free “pop-in” space to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in Maryland, DC and Virginia. For inquiries please use the contact form here for more information.


BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

If you are a business in the community and interested in becoming a business sponsor, please use the contact form below. We do not take local businesses as regular vendors in our markets, but we do have a robust sponsorship program with many benefits.

If you are a non-profit organization providing a community service and would like to come to any Central Farm Market please use the contact form here for more information.

If you have additional questions, please use the contact form below.