MOFGA Letterhead

  

 

Agricultural Booth Area

Common Ground Country Fair
Agricultural Booth Area Guidelines

Coordinators: Betz Golan & Ernie Glabau

Purpose: The purpose of the Agricultural Booth Area is to present and promote family farms selling agricultural products and suppliers of products used in agricultural production. The CGCF also welcomes non-farm businesses with agricultural interests. Area Coordinators give preference to family farms that produce their own products.

General Guidelines for Agricultural Booth Vendors

  1. Applicants must read and abide by the general guidelines for the Common Ground Country Fair.
  2. The CGCF will devote no more than 10% of the total number of booths to any single product. Any current imbalance will be adjusted through attrition.
  3. At least 75% of goods displayed (as determined by size of the exhibit) shall be "farm produced." A minimum of 75% of the raw materials in "farm produced" products, as determined by fair market value, must be producer grown unless otherwise determined by the area coordinator.
  4. Up to 25% of goods for sale may originate from off-farm sources. These products should comprise part of the regular stock offered for sale at the producer's farm, farmers' market sales venue or part of the regular offerings for wholesale markets. Items in this category may include educational materials, accessories and tools, or directly related complementary products.
  5. If there are no current Maine-grown sources of either vegetable oils or vinegars, the CGCF permits out-of-state sources for these ingredients for use in herbal preparations as long as they are certified organic.
  6. In the absence of a reliable source of alcohol distilled from organic grains, conventional alcohol may be used for tinctures.

Guidelines for Food Vendors in the Agricultural Booth Area

  1. Food vendors in the Agricultural Booth Area are subject to the same standards as food vendors in the Food Area.
  2. Agricultural Booth vendors sell food products for off-site consumption.
  3. Maple syrup sold at the CGCF must be produced, not just packed or processed, in Maine, and must meet MOFGA Certification Standards for maple syrup.
  4. All processed food products sold at the Fair must be certifiable organic. The MOFGA Certification Committee has developed certification standards for processed food which will allow the direct labelling of "certified organic" rather than the current wording of "made/manufactured with certified (list of ingredients in product)."
  5. All culinary and medicinal herbs sold as potted plants at the Fair must be organically grown.
  6. Vendors selling food in the Agricultural Booth Area must have insurance.
  7. Vendors whose business requires special licenses must include a copy of that current license with their application. Examples: Maine Apiary, Maine Cider, Maine Nursery etc.
  8. Beginning in 2003 animal feeds/grains of any kind for sale at the Fair must be certified organic, or made with certified organic ingredients.

Guidelines for Dried Flower Vendors in the Agricultural Booth Area

  1. Dried flowers for sale in the Agricultural Booth must be grown organically.
  2. Agricultural Booth vendors may sell only Maine-grown dried flower products.
  3. Agricultural Booth vendors may not sell dyed materials in dried flower products.
  4. Agricultural Booth vendors may not sell spray-painted materials in dried flower products.
  5. Agricultural Booth vendors may not use or sell imported baskets for dried flower arrangements or other purposes.

Guidelines for Animal Fiber Vendors in the Agricultural Booth Area

  1. Agricultural Booth vendors may sell fibers from the following animals: sheep, goats, rabbits, llamas and alpacas.
  2. Animal fibers and products made from these fibers must come from Maine.
  3. Vendors selling kits or knitting patterns must have designed the kits or knitting patterns themselves. In 2005 the sale of "Bartlett yarns" or other yarns from fiber not directly produced by animals raised on the vendor's farm, is restricted to those for whom these mule-spun yarns are essential to the products they offer. The intention to sell these yarns must be clearly stated on the application, and approval is at the sole discretion of the Area Coordinator.
  4. Accessories must not be imported, and, to the extent possible, should be made from natural materials, e.g. wooden knitting needles; wood, horn or porcelain buttons; etc...
  5. In light of the increasing ecological concerns about genetic engineering and agriculture, the CGCF strongly encourages Agricultural Booth vendors to raise fiber producing animals on grain that is free of genetically modified organisms.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)
Common Ground Country Fair
PO Box 170
Unity, ME 04988
Phone: 207-568-4142
Fax: 207-568-4141
Email: cgcf@mofga.org