Market Grievance Procedure and Inspection Policy

As members of the Boyne City Farmers Market, you have voluntarily joined together to create a market to sell local food and products and agreed to abide by certain rules. There may be a time, however, when a vendor feels the rules are not being followed. For those situations, the Boyne City Farmers Market Committee has created a grievance process. If a vendor believes that the behavior of a fellow vendor is detrimental to the common goal of maintaining a vibrant, welcoming marketplace that is hospitable to both vendors and shoppers, he / she may present a grievance.

Grievance Procedure

• Approach and discuss your concerns with your fellow vendor, always maintaining a positive attitude.
• If you cannot approach and discuss your concerns with the vendor whose behavior you question, discuss your concerns with the Market Manager.
• If the Market Manager, you and the vendor whose behavior you question cannot work out a solution acceptable to all, the Market Manager can call for Mediation involving all parties. The mediation will be facilitated by a committee of three individuals appointed by the Farmers’ Market Committee.
• Minor complaints concerning rule infringement (not usually requiring a Grievance Form such as space violations, time violations and uncovered foods) may be resolved on the spot by the Market Manager. Major complaints concerning rule infringement (involving out-of season produce, out-of-area produce or wholesale produce) must be submitted on the Grievance Form (available from the Market Manager).
• Fill out the Grievance Form and return it to the Market Manager.
• Pay a $25 deposit for the Market Manager and/or Committee Members to conduct a farm visit. If the challenge is unfounded, then the vendor who challenged will lose the $25. If the challenge is found to be true, then the $25 will be refunded and the vendor in violation will be fined $50 and suspended from the market for two weeks for the first offense. If a vendor commits a second violation, they will be permanently removed from the market.

Complainants will be identified to the vendor receiving the complaint, and complainants will accompany the Market Manager and committee members if a farm visit is deemed necessary. The production site must be available for inspection within five days following the receipt of the complaint. If the farmers market committee cannot be satisfied by vendor compliance, it may have the vendor removed permanently from the market.