Mission: To reduce barriers to fresh, local food by increasing access for all of Middle Georgia. 

Principles: 

  • Nutritious food is a right. Napier Heights Market (NHM) strives to make food financially and physically accessible to all community members. 

  • NHM will keep market requirements simple and maintain reasonable fees. 

  • NHM will be welcoming to all citizens. As an organization, we place great importance on both inclusivity and diversity. 

  • NHM will conduct regular outreach to all community members to ensure everyone knows how and where to access fresh, local food. 

Market Guidelines

Napier Heights Market (NHM) is a community-focused market that welcomes growers and creators of all kinds, though our priority is to provide local, fresh food for all members of the community. We are a producer-only market, with limited exceptions being made on a case by case basis and with the approval of market management.

Attendance

Market vendors are required to be set up and ready to go by 3:30 on market day. Please give yourself adequate time for travel and set up, especially in the hot summer months. Market hours are from 3:30 to 6:00. We expect vendors to stay until the end of market, with sell outs and emergencies being exceptions. If you are unable to attend a market, please communicate with the market manager at least 24 hours in advance and post appropriately on social media. 

Required permits and licenses

All vendors that sell products that are regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture are required to provide copies of appropriate licenses and permits. Example: a Mobile Meat License to sell grass-fed beef, pork, chicken, etc. Updated copies of these licenses will be requested each year. 

Market fees

Market fees are $10 per week, per vendor. If two vendors share a tent, each is responsible for their vendor fee. These fees may be paid in cash or deducted from the amount owed from token turn-in. 

Market space

Each vendor is allotted the space for a 10x10 tent. Please indicate on the vendor application if you will need access to power, if you need to be close to your vehicle to access a freezer, or if you will be vending from a vehicle (food trucks) and we will determine appropriate accommodations.

General Code of Conduct/Rules

  • NHM is an inclusive market. We will not tolerate any racism, bigotry, discrimination, or judgement of shoppers, vendors, or management. 

  • NHM is also a non-smoking market, this includes vapes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. 

  • The market does not allow vendors to play music at their tents. 

  • If you bring children or pets to the market while vending, please make sure to have adequate supervision for them during the duration of your stay. 

Violation Policy

  • After the first violation, the vendor is issued a verbal and documented warning and has an opportunity to change behavior 

  • The second violation results in a written warning and opportunity to change behavior 

  • At the third violation, the vendor is suspended from the market for an amount of time commensurate with the violation

  • There is not a fourth time

Tokens and Reimbursement policy

NHM will provide credit/debit and SNAP tokens for shoppers to purchase and use to buy market products. There are specific rules governing the acceptance of SNAP tokens and to do otherwise is considered fraud, which jeopardizes the entire market. 

At the end of each market, vendors will check out with the market manager and turn in their tokens. Vendor fees may be deducted from the token turn in. Reimbursement will be issued within 7 business days via direct deposit. 

SNAP tokens

  • SNAP tokens are for purchase of food items ONLY. They made of brown wood, have green ink, and are not eligible to be used with hot, prepared foods. Produce, meat, eggs, honey, dairy, baked goods, jams & jellies, cold drinks (such as bottled water) and frozen desserts are eligible to be purchased with SNAP tokens. 

  • Green, plastic tokens issued by Wholesome Wave Georgia are used to buy produce and food-bearing plants ONLY. 

  • It is the vendor’s responsibility to learn the differences between the types of tokens. If a vendor accepts tokens for ineligible products, they will not be reimbursed for those tokens. 

  • It is illegal for a vendor to trade credit/debit tokens for SNAP tokens. This violation will result in immediate and permanent expulsion from the market.