Become a Vendor
Whether you participate every week, or once in awhile, you’ll be sure to love the YVFM!
Becoming a vendor at YVFM is a great way to sell food, meet community members, and help enrich the Yellowstone Valley with your unique flavors and perspectives.
There are a few things to know, so here’s some paperwork and an FAQ to get you started.
Documents
Click the buttons below to download PDFs
Please send completed Vendor Registration Form to:
YVFM: Vendor Application
P.O. Box 1696
Billings, MT 59103
Frequently Asked Questions:
Answers are derived from the Market Rules and Vendor Registration Forms.
If these documents don’t answer your questions, please Contact Us.
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A: The YVFM has always been a “Farmer’s Market” and therefore the sale of any craft items is not allowed. Please contact the Market Master if you have questions about the products you’re selling. The YVFM divides eligible products into four categories. They categories are as follow:
Produce: This category includes vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and plants grown within a 120 mile radius of Billings. Also included in this category is locally produced frozen meat. The market does not limit the number of vendors under this category.
Local Food Products: This category is for locally produced products such as preserves, pies, pickles, bread, and sauces. Interested vendors must apply to the YVFM board for acceptance to the market. Certain food licenses and certifications may apply.
Non-local Produce: This category is for fruits and vegetables grown outside the 120 mile radius of Billings. You must apply to the YVFM board for acceptance to the market. Please note that if you are selling the same product that is produced locally, you will not be allowed to sell your products.
Prepared Food: This category is for any prepared food product that’s meant to be consumed at the market. Prospective vendors must apply to the YVFM board for acceptance. The market maintains a strict ratio of produce-to-prepared food vendors, and therefore only a limited number of vendors will be allowed. New vendors will be selected based on the variety of food already available. Vendors must possess a food license and certification in order to sell at the Market.
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A: For new vendors, please fill out the New Vendor Application and mail it to P.O. Box 1696, Billings MT 59103.
Please be sure to fill out application in its entirety, and allow 2-3 weeks for processing.
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A: Most applicants are accepted, but there are some ways to increase your odds. Locals selling food made or grown within 120 miles of Billings will take priority over non-locals selling the same or similar products.
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A: This depends on what you’re selling, and the best way to know for certain is to contact RiverStone Health and speak with the food inspector in your area.
Ready-to-eat food vendors must have a Food License supplied by RiverStone Health. If you are a food truck or trailer, more information can be found here. If you are preparing your food in a tent at the market or bringing it in from a commercial kitchen, more information can be found here.
Cottage food vendors must follow the Cottage Food Guidelines laid out on RiverStone Health’s Cottage Foods page.
Permits for Growers are dependent on what you’re growing, how you’re growing it, and the size of your operation. Contacting RiverStone Health is the best way to know for sure what kind of permits and safety precautions are required to sell your goods.
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A: A few spots can provide power, though they are not common. Please include your power needs in your application and be prepared to bring generators if you are not provided with a power-capable spot.
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A: There is a one-time $75 registration fee if you are accepted. This fee is waived for vendors that attend the Annual Grower’s Meeting.
From there, weekly or Season Pass prices will kick in. A full breakdown of costs can be found at the bottom of the page. For locals, a Season Pass for all markets is $300 for one space, and a non-Season Pass holder pays $30/market. All new vendors pay weekly their first year. Non-locals follow different pricing rules outlined at the bottom of the page or in the Vendor Application.
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A: Vendors are expected to arrive between 6 and 7AM on market days, and to be fully set up for sales by 8AM. Vendors are expected to stay for the entirety of the market. No vendor vehicles are allowed to enter or leave the market area between 7AM and 12:10PM.
Vendors are required to be torn down, and out of the market area by 1PM.
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A: Season Passes are a way to save money and guarantee that you get the same spot at every market. By purchasing a Season Pass at the beginning of the season, vendors save between $70 and $105, depending on if it’s a 12 or 13 week season.
When you pay the per-market rate ($30/market), you are not guaranteed to be in the same location every week.
Vendors are not eligible for a season pass during the first year of participation. After your first year, you must be approved by the Board of Directors to hold a season pass.
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A: Not a problem! We’d love to have you at the market, even if you only have a few boxes of garden-grown vegetables or a couple dozen loafs of bread. There are no size requirements, we’re here to help everyone share great food!
(Applicable food licensure required)
YVFM Vendor Fees
There is a one-time $75 registration fee. This fee will is waived for vendors that attend the Annual Grower’s Meeting.
Single Spaces are 24’x18’
Double Spaces are 48’x18’
Triple Spaces are 72’x18’
New Vendor & Non-Season Pass Holder Market Fees
$30/market – Single Space
$60/market – Two Spaces
$90/market – Three Spaces
Season Pass Holder (Local)
$300.00 – Single Space
$600.00 – Two Spaces
$900.00 – Three Spaces
Non-Local per market fees:
$65/market – Single Space
Season Passes are not available to non-locals.