​Types of Vendors We Accept

We look for products that are overall cohesive and consistent with our healthy outlook and community market feel. We look for innovative and unique products to help diversify the goods available. We look for farmers, makers, and artisans who produce what they sell. Fair traders but no resellers. We are interested in producers of veggies, fruits, dairy, pasture-raised meats, fish, and poultry.

We look for makers who prepare food on-site, smoothie makers, bakers, and chocolatiers who bring foods with ingredients that are "Clean," meaning free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or artificial and often carcinogenic dyes.

No coke, pepsi, sprite-- mexico-bottled coke made with cane sugar is acceptable.

We are also interested in vendors with fine, funky, unusual, and unexpected goods and services. Examples include handcrafted items, fine art, collectibles, toys, and furniture.

Milk Lady Markets does not allow Makers to use hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial food color or flavor, commercial mixes, crusts, or jarred and flavored fillings. In January 2025, the FDA finally banned one of several food additives. See: FDA Red Dye article.

Please note we do not allow Styrofoam food or egg containers, only compostable and recyclable containers.

Bakers, please use only unbleached, unbromated flour such as King Arthur, Sir Galahad, Bob’s Red Mill, or any certified Organic flour. Bromide is linked to cancer tumors. See: King Arthur Baking article.

Smoking is prohibited in vendors' tents or within 50 feet of any market area. The nci and johns hopkins university campus policies call for a smoke-free zone. Milk lady markets has a no smoking policy enforced on the market site during market hours. If you must leave the premises to smoke, please wash your hands before returning to the market.

1. Log of your tents must have a weight of 25 lbs or more securely attached and not hanging in the air. Filled water jugs are not acceptable without written permission. Weights that sit unattached on the tent legs are not acceptable. See our tent and weights video here: Tents & Weights - MILK LADY MARKETS

2. Here are some weights recommended by vendors:

a. The Sandbag Store -- highly recommended by vendors... we suggest filling with stones... sand permeates over time.

b. Eurmax Tents & Weights 

​c. The Home Depot Online

You bring all of your equipment, including a canopy tent. A canopy is required for all vendors. Only 10 X 10' tents are allowed. 12'x 12' or larger tents are not acceptable without written permission. You can see some vendor-recommended tents at EuroMax here: http://www.eurmax.com/basic-10x10-canopy-tent.html

​Vendors need a 3' x 5' or larger banner or sign with your farm or company name. Your business name should be large enough to occupy about 40 to 60% of the sign for visibility across the market. If you need resources, we can also send you photographic examples of banners that work well.

We recommend that your setup look abundant and be layered using varying display heights for dimensionality at your booth. Not cluttered or one-dimensional... create a single focal point! See some creative vendors' display ideas at the bottom of this page.

For your 3' x 5' or larger banner or sign, your business name should be large enough to occupy about 60% of the sign for visibility across the market. Our very affordable local sign maker is Kamran 240-408-2288.

Derwood market - 7:30 AM until 8:30 am

Shady Grove market -9:30 aM until 10:30 am

‍Wheaton Market 1:30 pM until 2:30 pm
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Please arrive during this time to set up.   On your first market day, come at least 90 minutes before the market starts to clarify your space assignment; this takes about 15 to 20 minutes... hint: be early!

Setup is not about how long it takes you to set up; we have to consider fitting in trucks, allowing space for uniformity, and avoiding gaps in the market. Seasonal members get an assigned space for the season. This space will be held for you until 45 minutes before the market opens. The market goal is to have a balanced presentation and no gaps or empty spaces because a vendor is absent. If you arrive late, you will not be allowed to drive into the market space and disrupt the market to access your space, and you will unload and walk your goods in from the market entry.

​For vendors who phone ahead to the market manager and if their space is accessible, we will try to work with you. If you are frequently late setting up and this disrupts the market, you will be moved to another space that is less sensitive to the market operations.

​Your prices must be posted, and farmers must post the state of origin. This is a Maryland State Law, and you will not be allowed to set up and sell without posted prices, with no exceptions. 

All vendors are expected to be ready to serve the patrons by the time the markets officially open. Please feel free to help customers if you are set up and ready to sell before the market opening. 

At the beginning of the season, we may move your setup a few times until we get the right fit for your product within the market. This is to give you the best merchandising position for your product.

At Milk Lady Farmers’ Markets, we value your participation and understand that everyone needs time away. To ensure smooth operations for all, please review the following policies regarding vacation and schedule changes.

Vacation Requests

We encourage you to plan ahead and secure coverage for your booth when you’re away.

• Log in to your application profile to request schedule changes.
• All attendance requests for the upcoming month must be submitted by the 15th of the current month.
• Fees for the upcoming month are due by the 24th of the current month.
• Please note that refunds are not available, but credits will be issued for approved schedule changes.

Schedule Changes

If you submit your schedule change request by the 15th of the prior month, you will receive a credit for that time. Refunds are not offered. Changes submitted after the 15th that are approved come with a $20 fee.

Emergencies

We understand that emergencies happen. Vendors are allowed one emergency absence per season, but this will not result in a credit. Multiple last-minute absences may result in forfeiting your vendor spot to ensure market reliability.

No-Shows

If you fail to notify us of an absence and do not show up, you will be removed from the market for the remainder of the season.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in keeping our markets running smoothly and reliably for everyone. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
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Maryland law also states that if you are a farmer, you must have the state of origin of your farm products. If a vendor fails to put up signage or post prices and has to be approached by the market manager, a fee of $25/per market will be assessed.

All vendors are expected to stay open until the official closing of the market day. If you have sold out, you may use the time to market your business to potential customers. If you leave the market early or start shutting down before the market officially closes, you will be assessed a $25 fee. You may consolidate as the day continues and as you sell the products, but you may not remove your banner or close your booth!

​Vendors who do not show or call that they will be absent or late for the market will lose their designated space. They will need to request to return to the market and will be reassigned a space. There are no refunds for these infractions.

​Parking is close as we are on or near parking lots or have designated parking close to your space or an easy walk of a few yards to vehicles; it is very convenient.

Have your insurance agent email (paperless only) an "Additional Insured Endorsement" directly to [email protected]; this is an insurance document naming Milk lady Markets as additional insured.
We need all pages of the endorsement certificate, not just the COI. Our leaseholder and attorney require this, so please send only that endorsement certificate.

Do not mail the certificate, email only.

The insurance level minimums: Each Occurrence – $1,000,000; Damage to Rented Premises (each occurrence) – $100,000; Medical Expenses (any one person) – $5,000; Minimum of $2,000,000 umbrella coverage.  ​

Mailing address: Milk Lady Markets, PO Box 4463, Silver Spring, MD 20914.

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Weekly market locations for your insurance application:  

1. For Derwood Market: "Redland Rd & Grande Vista Drive Parking Lot, Rockville, MD" -- DO NOT SEND MAIL HERE.   

2. For Wheaton Market: "Evans Parkway Neighborhood Park, Wheaton, MD" -- DO NOT SEND MAIL HERE.
    And: At Wheaton Market, an additional Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming the Parks Dept as added insured as follows:  
    M-NCPPC, 2425 Reedie Drive. Wheaton, MD 20902

3. For Shady Grove: "Broschart Rd & Key West Ave, Rockville MD" -- DO NOT SEND MAIL HERE.   

​END OF INSURANCE SECTION

All food vendors, farmers, skin care product vendors, and any vendors with potentially harmful products such as glass must have liability insurance with a minimum of $1,000.000 per incident coverage and a minimum of $2,000,000 umbrella coverage. Be sure to get a few quotes and compare. Start early; it can take 5 to 7 days to gather a few quotes. Here are some resources to review:

a. We get our insurance from The Farmers Market Coalition. They offer affordable liability insurance plans for vendors; contact Larry Spilker at 800-730-7475 ext. 203, or [email protected] 

b. To get a quote from another affordable source, try the Food Liability Insurance Program at this link: https://www.fliprogram.com  

c. Be sure to see what your home, rental, or auto insurance agents can quote you for bundling another policy.

​Tax ID number

Most vendors use a tax i.d. number on their application, although some use their social security number, which is an acceptable substitute. You can obtain an EIN or tax ID number immediately. Just go to: Apply for and Employer Identification Number EIN Online.

All makers of edibles must have current food handling training and certification. This includes home bakers, snack makers, pickle makers, etc.  A Food Handling Safety certificate is proof that you have trained in cleanliness standards with any products for public consumption and is a requirement at our markets.

Here are some online training options: www.NRFSP.com 407-352-3603 or www.ServSafe.com 312-715-1010. You will need to upload the certificate to your market application once you receive it.

Who needs one?

FOOD, COMMERCIAL BAKERY AND BEVERAGE VENDORS who are selling or sampling AND Farmers who wish to sample their products will need a county permit.

​Apply using the online option (not the PDF option) here: Prepared Foods and Sampling Permit

​Print a paper application to fax directly to the health department here: FARMERSMarket APPLICATION.pdf (montgomerycountymd.gov).
1. Where the application asks about water and sewer, the County wants to know if you are on a well or other water collection system or if you use public/city water.
2. It's a good idea to PRINT your email address clearly on the paper form so you can get a quick response.
3. Once you fax in your application to the secure fax on the application form, you are eligible to attend the market; no need to wait for a paper certificate. The county will contact you by email.
4. If you have questions for the health dept, call Kenny Welch at the Farmers Market Health Permit office directly for the best information at 240-777-3840.

COTTAGE Food Makers: Click here for Montgomery County Cottage rules. And Click here for the complete State of Maryland Cottage Food Business Guide.

Call Kenny Welch at the farmers market health permit office at 240-777-3840 with questions pertaining to your business or application.

Help us to Market the Market
LIKE us and tag us on Facebook @Milk Lady Farmers Markets. Follow us on IG @MilkLadyMarkets. Follow us on TWTR @MilkLadyMarkets.

​​We are excited to promote individual vendor profiles in local print and online advertising. The more information and large, clear product photos you provide with your application, the better chance we can promote your profile! We encourage each vendor to use our logo on their website. Our most successful vendors advertise their participation in the market. Social media is the way to go. Post your Milk Lady market schedule on your website and tell your networks about your involvement in the market. We reach out to the local neighborhoods to promote the market with flyers.

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We host community groups, chefs, dining areas, and musicians to draw and retain customers' time spent at the market.

All photos taken at the market of your booth, product or person at the market are the property of Milk Lady Markets and may be used in advertising specifically promoting your business or generically promoting the market at any time. ​

We provide a market apron for all vendors to enhance our team presence and it's to be worn on market day. Sometimes we have enough aprons to offer for a second team member at your booth. Aprons are returned at the end of the market season or your last scheduled market day.

We offer a few Ag celebration days, at the markets such as Strawberry Day, Peach Day, etc.