We accept applications annually from farmers and producers, craftsmen and cottage food selling items that feature products grown or made in the DMV and Pennsylvania. We do not accept vendors that are reselling other companies goods.
Applications for the 2025 Season are now open. The deadline for submissions is April 1st. Once we fill each section of the market, if you apply we will place you on a waiting list for cancellations.
Rustic Route Farm Markets aim is for all our vendors to feel like family. To want to help each other set up, support each other through social media. We request that vendors submit ideas for social media posts that feature their product. The market is about you, and we want the world to see that!
Thank you for your interest in vending at our farm markets! Our event planners have over 20 years of experience in marketing, events, fundraising and food service. We put all our expertise together to create this unique farm market. Please read all the FAQ's carefully before applying.
Our Farmers Markets are open from 9am to 1pm every Saturday. Our Markets run from May 10th through December 13th, 2025.
TBD - All farm markets are located in Montgomery County, MD.
Rustic Route Farm Markets was started by two women that grew up in Montgomery County, and having chosen to create a better system for small businesses and local vendors to be lifted up amongst the larger brands that take over major shopping centers. If you have the same passion for growing your business, getting your name out to local residents and making an uplifting experience for our customers then we want you!
Type of businesses we are looking for: Local Small Businesses. Craft vendors with an online presence. Food vendors that can produce licenses to serve food, drinks or samples. Cottage food businesses that can produce large enough qualities to accommodate the urban areas that our markets are located in. And of course, farmers! Local Produce from the DMV and Pennsylvania are welcome.
We don't want to break your bank! Understanding that the cost to make a product in small batches is likely 50% more than the big box brand is important to us. Our vendor fees are only $35 per day and a one time fee of $25 for the application.
All vendors are required to show up a minimum of twice a month. We will need the dates you will NOT attend three months in advance. This is to ensure that our markets are full and lively for the customer, to keep them returning week after week.
Set up starts at 8am for a 9am start time. Take down needs to be complete by 1:30pm.
All vendors will be asked to provide proof that their business is in good standing with the state of Maryland and all necessary licenses are sent to Rustic Route Farm Markets by April 1st.
All vendors selling prepared foods are required to have current Food Handling Certification and liability insurance
Linked below are forms and information on food licenses for Montgomery County:
Farmers Market Sampling Guidelines
Temporary Food Service License
If you have questions for the health department, call Kenny Welch at the Farmers Market Health Permit office directly for the best information at 240-777-3840. Please contact the County for any additional information you need on what is allowed or not allowed to be served at events and if you are required to have a license.
1. Your application submission constitutes agreement that you have read and agree to the Market Rules here.
2. Once the staff of Rustic Route Farm Markets reviews your website, social and general application, you will be contacted for next steps and additional information.
3. If accepted, you will receive a form to complete where you will choose the dates and location you'd like to be a vendor for. It is up to the staff of RRFM to request additional dates or make changes to allow for a full and complete market to take place. Applicant will be notified of any change requests within 5 days of completing the dates form.
3. After all dates and locations have been agreed upon by both parties, you will receive an online invoice for the application fee of $25, and the first monthly period. Future month's fees are due on or before the 15th of each month for each upcoming month. All fees are non-refundable.
4. RRFM requires electronic copies of all relevant proofs of insurance, licenses, and permits to be sent to contactus@rusticroutefarmmarkets.com by April 1st if vendor is attending the full season. If vendor is on a week by week schedule, all forms need to be sent in 2 weeks before the event date.
5. You will be notified of a completed application within 14 days of completing all required documentation.
6. After reading the full information provided below, if you still have questions, send an email to
Every vendor is required to complete a sales report within 48 hours of the market date. This allows us to know the value of our markets. Emails will be sent out after each market with a form to complete for best guess sales. We understand that full reporting is not always possible. This information will help us grow our supporters, customers and sponsors.
We do not share your individual sales information with any person or agency.
RRFM believes that clean air should not be a choice for our vendors or customers. Smoking is prohibited in vendors' tents or within 50 feet of any market area. We have 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.
If you are not set-up 25 minutes before the start of the market, you will be considered a no-show. If you are frequently late setting up and this disrupts the market, you may be asked not to return.
Please bring all necessary equipment to set up your tent including:
1. TENT: White tents are not required, but full size pop-ups are. Please do not bring a tent that can't handle wind, rain, storms, etc. Tent walls are required by the county rain or shine, they need to be at the market and available to set up in case of a storm. NO brightly colored tents. White, black, gray allowed. Tent Recommendations: Instant Pop Up with walls, Pop-up with awning
2. All tents should be 10 by 10 unless you pay for more than one space.
3. Weights for tent. DO NOT underestimate the power of the wind. Tents are required to have 25 pounds of weights on each leg. Here are some recommended weights: Sand Weights, Weight Set, Heavy Duty
4. Signage: The more the better. Please bring banners, A-frames, etc to let everyone know who you are. We will require photos of your set up before being accepted. Banners for the back of your tent are required with you logo prominently displayed
5. Tables, chairs and table cloths. NO table should be uncovered at events.
The State of Maryland requires all prices to be posted, and farmers to post the state of origin. All vendors are expected to be ready to serve the customers by the time the market is officially open at 9am. 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.
Agreeing to be a vendor at RRFM is a great opportunity to get your name out to local residents that will be repeat customers. If you can not make it to a date that you have agreed to, no refunds will be given. We will credit you for another date in the future if available. Please try to find coverage, as our customers will be looking forward to seeing you and your products!
RRFM wants this to be a win win for everyone! If we all do our part and follow the guidelines of the county, then no fines will be imposed. If we are informed by the Health Department or other state or county representatives that a vendor didn't complete the required applications or requirements then any fine given to RRFM will be passed on the vendor who caused the fine.
Please make note of any signage in neighborhoods about parking. As vendors ourselves, we know walking to and from your car can be a hassle, but please remember that if you take up the closest spaces to the market, that will discourage customers from attending and end up hurting all the vendors.
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: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online
LIABILITY INSURANCE
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.
If you don't have insurance, you will not be accepted. This is a legal requirement.
What to tell your insurance provider?
Have your insurance agent email (paperless only) an "Additional Insured Endorsement" directly to contactus@rusticroutefarmmarkets.com; this is an insurance document naming Rustic Route Farm 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: Rustic Route Farm Markets, 18040 Barnesville Road, Barnesville, MD 20838.
Weekly market locations for your insurance application:
1. TBD
All makers of food or beverages 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.
COTTAGE Food Makers: Click here for Montgomery County Cottage rules. And Click here for the complete State of Maryland Cottage Food Business Guide.
Our staff has over 20 years of marketing experience and are profitant in social media marketing and google SEO. We post multiple times a week to get customers interested in each vendor and encourage them to return.
The more you help, the better! Posting on your own social media, sending in photos, recipes, tidbits about your business will all help us grow!
Facebook and Instagram handles are @rusticroutefarmmarkets
Take the time to research which payment system is best for you. Credit card processing does increase fees, but also adds convenience to the customer. If you have cash options, please make sure you have enough change that customers aren't discouraged. Venmo, Zelle, Apple Pay - all acceptable options.
We know our events are going to be fun, a great way to meet other vendors and get good sales. In order to make this a successful event, we require our vendors to comply with ALL of the terms listed above.
Montgomery County, MD
Mon | Closed | |
Tue | Closed | |
Wed | Closed | |
Thu | Closed | |
Fri | Closed | |
Sat | 09:00 am – 01:00 pm | |
Sun | Closed |
Check out our event schedule for details on farm market locations, hours and dates.
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