Thank you for your interest in joining the Ag. Institute’s community. We encourage you to review thoroughly the application that best applies to you. When complete, please mail your application to our office. While we would love to speak with all prospective vendors individually, the high volume of applications we receive combined with our regular work load does not always allow for this.
Although we do not want to discourage prospective vendors from applying, we would like applicants to have a realistic understanding of the availability of space at AIM’s markets. We receive a high volume of applications and many of our markets are currently full with an extensive wait list. Please take the following information into consideration before submitting your application. If you have a unique product that does not fall within these categories, but that does fit within our rules and regulations, please don’t hesitate to apply.
Problems with online applications, Contact Us.
Applications are available in Acrobat .pdf format. Having trouble viewing our PDF files? Click Here to download free Adobe Reader (needed to view PDF files).
Please click on one of the following links to view and download an application:
FARMER & RANCHER APPLICATIONS
AIM welcomes applications from California Certified Producers. All products must be grown in California and be listed on the farmer’s Certified Producer Certificate. Only the farmer, a designated family member, or an employee is permitted to sell at an AIM Farmers Market. Certified Farmers must grow all products offered for sale on land controlled (owned, rented, leased, or sharecropped) by the certified farmer. AIM gives preference to those applicants who farm organically. Please see AIM’s Rules and Regulations ( page 8 ) for additional requirements regarding value-added products, nursery vendors, egg vendors, etc.
Download — 2012 Farmer Application
Download — 2012 Rancher Application
FISHERMAN APPLICATION
A Fish Vendor must catch 25% of the fish offered for sale based on the retail sales of the fisherman in a calendar year. Fish sold at the market must be caught in US waters from the California/Mexico border to the northern-most tip of Alaska within a 200 mile range of the coastline and must be caught with sustainable gear that does not damage habitat and take unwanted by-catch. Aquacultured finfish may be sold at the market as long as the production is freshwater and land-based in California. Aquacultured shellfish may be sold at the market as long as the production takes place in California. Please see AIM’s Rules and Regulations for a complete list of requirements for Fish Vendors if you are interested in applying.
Download — 2012 Fishermen Application
FOOD PURVEYOR APPLICATION
All prepared food, both prepackaged and food for on site consumption, must be produced by the purveyor. We prefer those who use local, organic produce, ideally from the farmers at the farmers market. All prepared food is subject to a tasting to assure product quality and appeal. WE DO NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED SAMPLES.
Download — 2012 Food Purveyor Application
ARTISAN APPLICATION
All art must be produced by the applying artist and will be subject to review by an Artisan Jury to assure product quality, authenticity, and appeal. The Artisan Jury meets once each year to review all new artisan applications. Prospective artisans are not required to be physically present. The upcoming 2012 jury date is November 8. Artisans who are approved by the Artisan Jury Committee on the November 8, 2012 jury date may join AIM in 2013. Applications must contain quality photographs (1-2 photos per page maximum) and a photo or diagram of how the booth will look at the market in order to be reviewed by the jury. Completed applications must be received by November 6, 2012 in order to be included in the review process.
Download — 2012 Artisan Application
ENTERTAINER APPLICATION
We give priority to local musicians that complement the ambiance of our farmers markets. We are currently not accepting entertainer applications for 2012 as all markets have been booked. Please do not contact individual market managers for dates in 2012, they will contact those entertainers they are interested in booking.
AGRICULTURAL NONPROFIT
We offer space (when available) to Non-Profit organizations for educational and outreach purposes only. All non-profit organizations must be Farm, Farmer, or Agricultural related to be considered for spaces available. Others may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any and all items offered for sale will be by approval only.
Download — 2012 Nonprofit Application
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION
The commercial vendors we currently have at our markets are an enhancement to the atmosphere and overall market experience. All products that fall in the commercial category will be accepted only by approval of the market manager and our Board of Directors and are strictly limited. Due to limited market space and AIM’s commitment to maintaining focus on its mission, there are a number of businesses whose services we cannot accommodate. AIM will evaluate and select commercial vendors based on their ability to provide food or entertainment-related products or services that enhance the ambiance of AIM Markets. Please call our office (415) 472-6100 if you would like to request a commercial application.
FREE SPEECH ZONE
As per the Pruneyard decision we provide a free speech zone at our markets. We have a limited area for this purpose; please notify the Market Manager in advance if you would like to attend by calling our office at (415) 472-6100. You may set up a small card table and only in the place assigned by the Market Manager on site. Nothing may be sold in this area. This is a great place to get signatures for political purposes.