Vendor Fees

The Canopy Group’s 2026 standard vendor fee is $30 per market day for each booth space. Food truck vendor fee is $45 per market day. Fee discounts are available with full payment by Full- and Part-time vendors. You may also select a 3-payment plan. Please schedule your season commitment with the intention of attending all market dates in your chosen schedule.

Full-Time Vendors participate in all scheduled market dates throughout the full season.

• Full payment in advance qualifies for a 10% discount of the standard fee.
• Discount applied to full payment at application; otherwise, vendor will not be eligible for the discount.
• To participate on opening day, application AND payment must be received by March 15.
• The standard booth space for full-time vendors is 10x10 sqft, with additional fees charged for extra space.

Part-Time Vendors participate throughout the full season, but only twice monthly (on average).

• Schedule A part-timers participate on the first and third monthly dates, while
• Schedule B part-timers participate on the second and fourth monthly dates.
• Full payment in advance qualifies for a 10% discount of the standard fee.
• Discount applied to full payment at application; otherwise, vendor will not be eligible for the discount.
• To participate on opening day, application AND payment must be received by March 15.
• The standard booth space for part-time vendors is 10x10 sqft, with additional fees charged for extra space.

Casual Vendors must sign up for 4 market days at minimum, and 8 days at maximum; they must request specific dates in advance only.

• The standard fee of $40 per market day applies.
• Applications must be received no later than ten (10) days before the date requested.
• Payment for Casual scheduling is due with completed application. The Market Manager must give advance approval before booth space, if available, is assigned.
• The standard booth space for casual vendors is 10x10 sqft, with additional fees charged for extra space.

Food Trucks/Mobile Food Units. Standard Food Service Rate for 2026 is $45 per market day, with no additional charge against your percentage (%) of sales.

• The standard booth space for food trucks and mobile food units 10x20 sqft, with additional fees charged for extra space.

Hours of Operation

The Canopy Group reserves the right to modify hours of operation with cause.

• Farmers Markets will operate from 9AM to 1PM, unless otherwise notified. Vendors will arrive for set-up one (1) hour prior to public hours. No selling until markets are open.
• Food Truck Hubs will operate from 2 to 7PM. Mobile food units will arrive a half-hour (30 mins) before open.
• Vendors must notify the Market Manager in advance if more time is needed for set-up.

Approved/Denied Vedors

All approved vendors are eligible, but not required, to participate in any Canopy Market event managed by our group, on a first come, first served basis.

• Booth Space. Once approved as a Canopy Group vendor on Marketspread, vendors will be able to access our Vendor Map and select their own booth space! Reserved spaces will be indicated on the Vendor Map.
• Vendor Spotlight. Vendors are encouraged to upload their portfolio of photos, images, and branding items to create their Canopy Vendor Spotlight for next season! This is an effective, FREE promotion effort by Canopy!
• Vendor Compliance. Vendors must comply with all federal, state, local laws or regulations, as well as market rules applicable to participation.
• Photo Release. Vendors shall permit Canopy Group’s personnel to photograph or record their displays, booths, products, and personnel for use by Canopy Group in any manner, with no obligation to the vendor

Denied Vendors/Items. The Canopy Group and the Market Manager or Market Coordinator reserve the right to reject products offered for sale, or disqualify vendors who do not adhere to market rules after a warning.

Mandatory Restrictions

• No smoking or consumption of alcohol on market premises at any time.
• No firearms or other weapons are allowed on market premises at any time.
• No pets are allowed on market premises during operation.
  • Service animals will be allowed with safe handling. If the service animal presents a threat or causes damage, the handler will be asked to remove the animal.

Equipment

Vendors are welcome to design their space to reflect their personal style and branding, as long as it’s safe and considerate of neighboring vendors and customers.

The Canopy Group does not provide equipment. Vendors will supply their own equipment, including but not limited to 10’ x 10’ canopy/pop-up tents, tables, chairs, signage, display units, and decor.

• All canopies/tents must
  1. Have 24-pound weights on each leg.
  2. Be fire safety rated.
• Tables must be clean and unbroken.
• Display racks, shelves, boxes, etc. must be secure and not pose a tripping, tipping or other hazard.
• Hanging signs must be secured and not blow in the wind.
• Generators must be quiet or ‘whisper soft’ and not interfere with neighboring vendor operations. Loud generators may be disqualified by the Market Manager or Canopy agent. Food Trucks using loud generators will be positioned on the perimeter of the market.
• All equipment must be in good working condition, as not to pose any safety risks.

Setup & Breakdown

While the Canopy Group Market team is here tto offer assistance when we can, vendors solely are responsible for setting up and breaking down their own booths. 

• Vendors are allowed one (1) hour to set up and break down their stands before and after the event. (i.e. Bryans Road Farmers' Market opens to the public at 9 AM; vendors may arrive to set up as early as 8 AM)
• Food trucks may arrive no later than a half-hour (30 mins) prior to public operations.

Vendor Absences

Absences are highly discouraged, as they negatively impact your fellow vendors and the market. Please be respectful in your attendance.

• No Shows/No Calls. This is an ‘illegal’ absence. Vendors will receive one written warning after one (#1) “No show, no call” for a scheduled market day. A second (#2) offence will culminate in disqualification. Vendor booth space will be considered abandoned and reassigned.
• Legal Absences. A three-day (72 hr) notice is required for a ‘legal’ absence. You may recruit a vendor to fill your space and cover your fee, upon approval of market manager.
• Tracking & Disqualification. All absences will be tracked and recorded. Vendors with more than four (4) advance call-offs during the season may face disqualification to participate in Canopy events. Vendor booth space may be considered abandoned and reassigned. No refunds.
• No Refunds. There are no refunds for any absences of scheduled days.

Event Cancellations

Our scheduled events are open rain or shine. However, we reserve the right to close or cancel the market day under extreme weather or dangerous conditions, at our discretion. The Farmers Market Manager or Event Manager will make the final decision.

• In the event of a cancellation, vendors will be notified ASAP via text, email, or in person during an open market. Vendors are responsible for monitoring their email and texts.
• Refunds will only be issued if a market day is canceled by the Canopy Group or designated Market Manager. Refunds will not be made for absences when the market is open.

Methods of Accepting Payments

All vendors must be able to accept cash, check, and electronic payment.

• Vendors may use electronic systems of their choice, including Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, and Zelle; credit card readers or other point-of-sale (POS) mobile applications such as Square/Block, Stripe, Clover, etc.

Signage, Pricing & Labeling

All business signs and product signs must be securely attached to tent or table.

• All items must have visible pricing tags and/or signage.
• Food prices must be clearly displayed on a menu board.
• All prepared food items (cottage foods and bakers) must be labeled with ingredients listed, vendor’s business name and address, and MDS’s Cottage Food disclaimer on each label.

General Liability Insurance

Vendor application packages must include a valid Certificate of Insurance (COI). Applications without a required COI are incomplete and cannot be finalized.

• Vendors shall provide a COI for $1,000,000 of General Liability Insurance for the duration of their participation at our event(s), naming as indemnified the Canopy Group USA, LLC as the certificate holder.
• COIs are due before the vendors' first market day.

Tips:

• A temporary rider may often be purchased as an add-on to an existing homeowner’s, renter’s, or auto insurance policy. Try contacting your insurance provider.
• Agriculture vendors may contact a non-profit FLIP insurance agent, usually for lower rates.

Approved/Denied Vedors

Produce, Meat, and Egg Vendors. Per the Maryland Dept of Agriculture (MDA), a ‘local’ farm is within 100 miles of the markets. A ‘regional farmer" is within a 200-mile range.

• Produce should be grown locally, within 100 miles of the market.
• All meats must be processed at USDA-approved facilities.
• All egg vendors must furnish a copy of their Maryland Egg Law License to be approved.

Cottage Foods Vendors. To be considered a cottage foods vendor, one must sell low-risk foods from a home kitchen, instead of a commercial facility, per the MDA.

• All cottage foods should be made by the vendor using ingredients sourced locally or in Maryland.
• All cottage foods must be labeled with
  1. A full ingredients list.
  2. The name and address of the cottage foods vendor.
  3. MDA product warning language.

Food Trucks and Mobile Food Units must have current Department of Health (DoH) annual licenses to operate in Charles County or hold reciprocal licenses and register with Charles County DoH.

• Non-mobile units, such as cooks and caterers, must submit copies of Maryland State Licenses, Certificates, Permits, or Decals as part of their completed application package to be approved.
• All food service vendors must have authorizations on-hand at each market day they attend.
• Caterers without a licensed mobile food unit must have a Charles Co. Temporary Food Service License.

Wineries, Breweries, Distillers, and CDB Product Vendors must be properly licensed to sell to the public.

• Sampling is allowed only if vendor can furnish a copy of their DoH-issued sampling permit.
• All products must be labeled to indicate how much (%) alcohol they contain. 
• All products must meet any applicable Maryland, County, and DoH labeling requirements.
• Wineries must use grapes either grown in their own vineyards or sourced from Maryland farms.
• Brewers and distillers also must use ingredients sourced from Maryland farms.

Artists, Crafters, and Makers

• Arts and handcrafts must be created by the vendor from their home.
• Artwork must be original. No reproductions are permitted except signed and numbered prints.