City of Bloomington issue RFPs as Indiana Farmers Markets are shaping up for the 2021 season.
There are reports that the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market will take place every Saturday from April through November at the Showers Common just outside of City Hall and the local officials are getting ready.
The city is asking local businesses, organizations, and individuals who are interested in operating vending stands at this season’s market to submit their proposals by 5pm on February 22nd.
These proposals will be evaluated by a review committee that includes Farmers’ Market staff and Farmers’ Market Advisory Council members using the criteria established in the RFP including menu, price, product balance, customer satisfaction, use of local products, and location of business, with preference given to businesses located in Bloomington.
If you are interested, you can get the application forms online at the Parks and Recreation Department website here. The department will only give priority consideration to the application forms that are received by the deadline.
These RFPS are only for persons who intend to sell food and beverages. If you want to sell only farm produce ( non prepared food and beverages) , the Market is also accepting applications from small farmers and local growers who would like to sell their products. In order to be considered, Farm vendors must reside and produce farm goods in Indiana.
If you wish to sell at the Farmers’ Market you must submit an application, by 5 p.m. Feb. 22. Both online and hard copy applications are available and There is a $20 application fee for farm vendor spaces. You can get the application forms here.
As a reminder, The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is located at 401 N. Morton St., just south of Bloomington’s City Hall. The Farmers’ Market is held Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. April through September, and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in October and November.
Most food and beverage artisans are in a different location and can be found on Eighth Street west of the B-Line Trail. Farm vendors are set up under the canopies in the parking lot south of city hall, and around the parking lot perimeter.
You can get more info by contacting Leslie Brinson at 812-349-3715 or brinsonl@bloomington.in.gov.
