Like the rest of the nation, Hawai‘i’s farmers’ markets are a hit! The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s list of Hawai‘i markets is here, and the federal list of Hawai‘i markets is here. A list for O‘ahu courtesy of Honolulu HI 5 is here.
Currently, there are no federal, state, county or association standard best practices for farmers’ markets in Hawai‘i. Some states, counties and market associations outside of Hawai‘i have made either regulations or developed guidance and some examples are listed below. Thus, at the moment, an uncut raw agricultural product (called, “RAC”) sold in farmers’ markets has no regulatory oversight (as in the case in most states). “Foods”, however, are regulated by the FDA Food Code 2013 and that authority is passed down to the Hawai‘i Department of Health. In Hawai‘i, the Department of Health’s Sanitation Branch issues Food Establishment Permits for those individuals or groups that have a permanent, mobile or temporary establishment and who want to sell “food”.
Farmers market standard operating procedures
- A UH-Hilo, UHM-CTAHR and farmers market managers’ Best Practices Manuals for Farmers Markets and Ag Tourism operations.
- Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation – vendor guidelines for their farmers market
- California farmer’s markets association – rules and regulations for certified farmers markets (probably the most comprehensive guideline on the web)
- California Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles: certified farmers’ market rules and regulations (great application, very detailed)
- California – UC Small Farm Program on farmers’ markets (some of the best publications about markets available)
- California (Raw Inspiration) (great application with spots for signatures on each item)
- Connecticut (Westport) – Westport farmers’ market association market guidelines (good note about sustainable fish sales)
- Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Inc. – Legal aspects of setting up farmers’ markets
- Indiana (Purdue U) – Food safety regulations for farmers’ markets
- National AgLaw Center – Farmer’s markets: rules, regulations and opportunities
- Massachusetts Department of Agriculture market site
- Michigan farmers market food safety guidelines (by Michigan State U) (covers fish sales and fish HACCP and overall is very comprehensive)
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture – Operational guidelines for vendors at the farmers’ market
- Minnesota farmers market association – manual (very complete manual – one of the best out there!)
- Missouri (Columbia) – farmers market rules and by-laws
- North Carolina (Salisbury) – Salisbury Farmers’ Market (good notes on meat sales)
- Oregon Department of Agriculture farmers’ markets
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – farmers’ market website
- Washington State’s farmers’ market manual (very complete)
An example of our new farmer’s market sign allows for audited farmers to promote their product’s attribute, including GAP.