Terms & Conditions: Stallholders

Welcome, and thank you for being part of Yarraville Farmers Market.

We're a farmers market built on the simple idea that the best food, flowers and beverages come from the people who grow and make them right here in Australia. When you set up a stall with us, you become part of a friendly community of growers, producers and makers who care about quality, authenticity and creativity, and who help us create a warm, welcoming day out for our neighbourhood.

Thank you for being part of the Yarraville Farmers Market community. We can't wait to welcome you. If anything here is unclear or you'd just like a friendly chat before applying, please reach us at stalls@yarravillemarket.com.au. 

About these terms

Yarraville Farmers Market is operated by Common Ground Markets Pty Ltd (ACN 699 010 029) ("CGM", "we", "us").

These terms explain how we all work together to run a safe, fair, well-supported market that's great for stallholders, customers and the local community alike. We've tried to explain the "why" behind each point, because when we all understand how things work, everyone has a better day.

These terms govern stallholder participation. By applying for a stall and trading at the market, you agree to them. 

1. Who we'd love to see apply

How this market works. As a farmers market we will be predominantly fresh food, where farmers, growers and local specialty producers sell directly to the public. All items must be sold by the producer, maker, or their co-operative.

Distinctive stalls, room to grow

You can usually predict a market before you have parked. Four stalls with the same tomatoes, three with the same jam. We do ours differently. We ask every stallholder to bring something distinctive in their category, so shoppers find real variety rather than the same thing over and over. As the market grows we will welcome additional producers and makers whenever there's demand to support them. It means our growers and makers get a fair go, with enough customers to make the trip worthwhile.

We're a market full of variety, celebrating things that are locally grown, made and designed. We warmly welcome applications from:

  • Growers: fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, plants, seedlings and edible agricultural products.
  • Producers: baked goods, pasta, preserves, cider, wine, beer and packaged food.
  • Hot food and coffee vendors.
  • Specialty beverages, including breweries and distilleries.
  • Community groups: we offer dedicated sites for local clubs and causes, because community is at the heart of what we do.

Our ethos is quality, authenticity, creativity and community, and to keep that promise to our customers, every product sold must be Australian-grown and made.

2. Your products

So we can keep the right balance and stay true to our ethos, please list all the items you intend to sell on your application. We just ask that you sell only the items we've approved together, so the market stays balanced and true to our ethos. From time to time we may ask you to remove products that are off-ethos or that weren't included in your approved list. This isn't personal, it just helps us keep the market consistent and special for everyone.

3. Applications and selection

We assess each application on quality, category balance, diversity, site availability and alignment with our ethos. Because space is limited, we sadly can't accept everyone. If we can't offer you a spot, please know a decline is never a reflection on the quality of your work. We notify all applicants by email, and we always welcome you to apply again.

4. Fees and payments

We keep things flexible with casual monthly bookings, so you can join us when it suits you. Once your application is accepted, we manage bookings and payments through Issimo Markets, where you can book any of our published market dates. A few things to know so there are no surprises:

  • You can book now. Bookings close three weeks (21 days) before each market day. Payment is not taken at the time of booking; it is processed automatically three weeks before each market, and your booking is confirmed once payment has gone through. If you hold a rolling subscription, you're billed on that same schedule for each market you book.
  • Any merchant or processing fees are passed on at cost, so they'll be added to your booking.

Our site fees are:

  • Standard 3x3m site, no vehicle: $70
  • Standard 3x3m site, with vehicle: $80
  • Double-wide 6x3m site, one vehicle: $130
  • Hot food / coffee 3x3m site only: $80
  • Food truck (under 6m): $110
  • Large food truck (6m or over): $140
  • Community groups: by arrangement

5. Non-payment

If you haven't completed your booking by the deadline three weeks before market day, we may release your site to someone on our waitlist. If a payment doesn't go through, we'll be in touch to sort it out with you before releasing your site.

6. Refunds and credits

  • Cancel 10 or more business days before market day and we will refund your site fee, less the payment-processing fee. That fee is charged to us by our payment platform when you pay and is not returned to us when a booking is cancelled, so we are not able to refund it.
  • Cancel within 10 business days of market day and we are not able to offer a refund or credit, because by then we have planned the day around your booking and may have turned other producers away. If you can line up a suitable replacement stallholder, subject to our approval and our producer-direct rules, let us know and we will help arrange the handover.
  • If we cancel a market day for extreme weather or because the site has become unsafe, we will refund 50% of your site fee. We retain the other 50% to cover costs we have already committed for that day, such as permits, insurance, ground hire, equipment and staffing.
  • To cancel, email stalls@yarravillemarket.com.au as early as you can. We use the date we receive your email to decide which applies. Nothing in this policy takes away any rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law.

We understand things come up, so please get in touch as early as you can and we'll do our best to help.

7. Market hours and bump-in / bump-out

Running to time keeps the day safe and smooth for everyone. Market trading hours are 8am to 1pm.

  • Bump-in is from 6.30am. For everyone's safety, no vehicles may enter or exit the site from 7.45am, so please arrive with enough time to unload and move your vehicle before then.
  • Bump-out is from 1.15pm, meaning there must be no movement of vehicles before this time.

We'll send your site allocation and bump-in instructions the week before the market so you know exactly where to go and when.

Please follow these times carefully. They keep our customers and fellow stallholders safe. Failure to comply with our operational terms and conditions, including bump-in and bump-out times, vehicle movements, and our sustainability and site-cleanliness rules, may result in a ban from future markets.

8. Conduct and community spirit

A great market is a friendly one. We ask everyone to be respectful and courteous to our staff, fellow stallholders, customers and the public, both in person and online. A little kindness goes a long way towards making the day enjoyable for all.

9. Site set-up and safety

These set-up standards keep stallholders, customers and the community safe, especially when the weather turns:

  • No stakes or pins are permitted anywhere. This one keeps everyone safe, so we can't make exceptions.
  • Marquees must be secured with approved weights: a minimum of 20kg per leg for open marquees and 40kg per leg for enclosed marquees, with a minimum wind rating of 80kph.
  • The standard site is 3x3m unless we've approved otherwise.
  • Signage must stay within your site and must not obstruct walkways. Please keep A-frames, flags and displays out of walkways, and we may ask you to reposition anything that becomes a hazard.

10. Smoking

For the comfort and health of everyone, the market is smoke-free, with smoking only permitted 20m or more away from market activity areas.

11. Parking and vehicles

To protect the ground from wear and compaction we limit the number of vehicles on site each market day. Vehicle sites are limited and priced separately (see section 4), so book early if you need to drive on and stay parked. If you can set up without your vehicle, the no-vehicle site is a little kinder on your wallet and on the reserve.

Some sites allow vehicle access and others are directed to nearby parking. Your bump-in instructions will let you know which applies to you. Please unload and move your vehicle before setting up, and don't move vehicles within the market footprint during trading hours unless authorised, as this keeps our customers and fellow stallholders safe.

12. Power and generators

Please note there are no powered sites available at the market. If you need power, you'll need to be self-sufficient, and a few rules apply to keep things safe and neighbourly:

  • No leads or cords may cross public walkways.
  • All electrical equipment must be tested and tagged.

Generators are permitted only by prior arrangement and must be quiet inverter-type units. A stallholder intending to use a generator must obtain the market organiser's approval in advance (generator use can affect stall placement). Generators must not cause a noise nuisance or otherwise emit unreasonable noise, and must comply with EPA Victoria noise requirements under the Environment Protection Act 2017, including the general environmental duty to minimise noise so far as reasonably practicable, and with all City of Maribyrnong local laws and event and noise conditions in force from time to time. Generators must be positioned and screened so as to minimise noise and keep it away from neighbouring residents, other stalls and the public, and must be marked or coned as a hazard. They must be operated safely, with fuel correctly and securely stored and an appropriate fire extinguisher kept on hand. Electrical leads must be in safe condition and not create a trip hazard. The market organiser may direct any generator causing unreasonable noise or nuisance, or operating without approval, to be switched off.

13. Waste and sustainability

Caring for our environment is central to who we are. The market is 100% single-use plastic free and working towards zero waste, and we need your help to get there:

  • Strictly no single-use plastics. Single-use plastics are not permitted anywhere at the market. Please use reusable, recyclable or certified compostable alternatives only.
  • All packaging, presentation and serving must meet our sustainability standard: reusable, recyclable or compostable wherever possible.
  • We follow City of Maribyrnong and local council guidelines.
  • Leave no trace. Please keep a clean site and remove all your own waste and packaging. No rubbish or mess is to be left onsite. Our public bins are for visitors only.

Together, these small choices add up to a market our whole neighbourhood can feel proud of.

14. Licences, permits and insurance

These requirements keep our customers safe and protect you too, so please make sure you have everything in place before market day:

  • Food and beverage vendors must be registered through FoodTrader, with evidence provided with your application.
  • Liquor vendors need a current liquor licence.
  • For gas cooking or open flames, a current fire extinguisher and fire blanket must be on hand, and CFA compliance is required.
  • All stallholders must hold a minimum of $10 million Public Liability Insurance and provide a current Certificate of Currency.

15. Media and promotion

We love showing off our wonderful stallholders. By participating, you give us permission to use images of your stall, products and participation to promote the market across social media, our website, print and event marketing. It's a great way to help spread the word and bring more customers your way.

16. Communications and marketing

To run the market well, we'll be in touch about your application and market operations. By applying, you consent to this operational contact. Our marketing and newsletter communications are separate and opt-in only, and you can unsubscribe from those at any time.

17. Adverse weather and emergencies

Our market runs in all weather, rain or shine. To keep everyone safe, we may alter layouts, relocate stalls, delay opening, suspend trading or cancel the market for safety, emergency or operational reasons. Where we cancel a market day for extreme weather or because the site has become unsafe, we will refund 50% of your site fee as set out in section 6, and we are not liable for any other losses. We appreciate your understanding. These decisions are only ever made with everyone's wellbeing in mind.

18. Privacy and changes to these terms

We handle your information in line with our Privacy Policy. We may update these terms from time to time, and the current version always applies. If you have any questions about your privacy or these terms, just email us at stalls@yarravillemarket.com.au.

The Yarraville Farmers Market is operated by Common Ground Markets Pty Ltd (ACN 699 010 029).