Is this your first time vending at a farmers market? Here is a checklist so you can prepare:
Do you have an LLC or Business License?
The Wicker Park Farmers Market requires you to provide a business license with your application. This makes you an official business within the State of Illinois, so you are legally allowed to sell your product to the public.
>>Find more information about starting your company here.
Do you have business insurance to cover your LLC?
The Wicker Park Farmers Market requires you to have $1 Million + in liability coverage in order to sell with us.
>>Find more information about insurance here.
Are you using a home kitchen to make your products?
If you are making your product out of your home, this is considered a Cottage Foods Operation. Cottage Foods vendors are subject to more thorough inspections from the health department and must feature specific labels on their products.
>>Find more about registering a Cottage Foods Operation here.
Do we accept craft vendors under the general application?
No. The permit issued to us by the Chicago Parks District entitles us to operate as a Farmer’s Market. This means that everything sold by vendors at our market must be food-related.
>>Please check out our ‘Local Business Table’ option under the sponsorship page to learn more about how to pop-up.
What do we look for in a new vendor?
- We look for an application submitted by the deadline, filled out fully and properly, with an application fee paid in full.
- We look for product diversity. Is your product line different from what we already provide? Is it something that we have demand for at our market?
- We look for vendors who would benefit from exposure to the Wicker Park community.
Acceptance into the 2025 season is based on: The applicant’s strengths in the following areas (in order of priority):
- The submission of a complete application, including a $100 non-refundable application fee, by the March 24th, 2025 deadline
- A signed signature page indicating compliance of rules, a signed hold harmless agreement, and copies of all permits and licenses required for the sale of the applicant’s products.
- Payment of all Wicker Park Farmers Market fees to date. Vendors applying for the 2025 season will not be eligible to participate until full payment has been received from past seasons.
- Vendor's legacy with the Wicker Park market. This includes adherence to market rules and regulations, market attendance, history of positive consumer/producer relationships, payment of fees, and professional behavior.
- Products that are locally-grown, have seasonal integrity, and are of high quality. We define “local” as within 300 miles of the City of Chicago.
- Uniqueness of products offered.
- Ability to engage and educate consumers about products and how they were produced (via knowledgeable employees, informative brochures and handouts, etc.)
- Space availability.
- Individual farms are given preference over partnerships or cooperatives and small-to-moderate family businesses over larger enterprises.
- Importance of WPFM as a marketing outlet for the vendor’s overall marketing strategy (direct sales vs. utilization of distributors).
- Processed products feature seasonal and regional ingredients.
Vendor Types
- Farmer/Producer—Farmers/producers must grow/produce 100% of the product they sell. Farmer/producer-owned cooperatives are included in this category.
- Processor—Any vendor who sells a value-added product who is not the primary grower or producer of the raw ingredients used to make that product.
- Prepared Foods—Any vendor, including Farmers/Producers and Processors, that intend to prepare food on site for sale and/or immediate consumption are considered Prepared Foods Vendors.
- Other—Although the Market is primarily a place for local farmers and processors of agricultural products and prepared foods, a limited number of other goods, services, and/or activities may be accepted at the discretion of management.
- If you do not fall into one of the above categories, please contact the WPFM Manager directly at farmersmarket@wickerparkbucktown.com
Farmers/Producers: $30 per 10’x10’ market stall
Processor: $35 per 10’x10’ market stall
Prepared Foods,
Other: $40 per 10’x10’ market stall