Riverwalk Farmer's Market

Dear Farmers’ Market Vendor,

Below is our vendor application for 2026. Please read the entire document as we have made some changes this year.

Thank you for your interest in the Milford Riverwalk Farmers Market.  Our market is run by a volunteer committee who dedicate their time and talents to make the market one of the best in Delaware.  Our market is part of Downtown Milford Inc. and their revitalization efforts in making Milford a destination city where people come to visit, shop, and live.  The market brings an average of 600 shoppers a week to the downtown area and is the longest running farmers market in the State of Delaware.

Our market opens on May 2, 2026 and will run until October 31, 2026.  Since we are a farmers market, our primary sales are local farm and food products.  We also have local craft vendors with handmade items and specialty products.

We provide a 10’ x 10’ space to each vendor. We will have a volunteer available during setup to make sure that everyone gets into their proper spot.  Tents are only mandatory for food vendors preparing food on-site and must be 10’ x10’ or smaller.  Unfortunately, due to the layout of our market we are unable to support mobile vendors at this time.  It is important that we have a consistent number of vendors each week and we require our vendors to attend on a regular basis.  See the attached “Rules of the Market” for complete details on membership, payments options, setup information and all other market information.  Please read through all the rules carefully as there are updates and changes from prior years.

You must bring your own tents, tables and chairs. DMI will no longer provide them for rent.

The Riverwalk Farmers Market Committee is looking forward to another great year at the Market and to continued revenue growth.  We have a great Facebook page and advertise in local newspapers.

If you are interested in applying to be a vendor at the Riverwalk Farmers Market, please complete this online vendor application form.  If you have any questions, please contact us via email at coordinator@downtownmilford.org. Please discontinue use of the Farmer's Market email is it is no longer being monitored.

Best Regards,

Riverwalk Farmers Market Committee
Downtown Milford Inc.

 RULES OF THE MARKET

VENDOR INFORMATION

·       We are a Farmers Market; therefore farm and other food products are our primary sales.  Some craft and other homemade type items will be allowed. All products must be locally grown, locally made, or be approved specialty products.  Approvals are granted during the committee review process.  All outsourced farm produce must be labeled as such.  No mass manufactured products are permitted. All food items (produce, meats, etc.) sourced from more than 50 miles away from Milford must be labeled as such.

     
All vendors are required to be in compliance with any and all requirements of the State of Delaware.  We strongly recommend obtaining liability insurance.

All vendors are responsible for the liability in and around their booth.

Food vendors may contact Kent County EHFS 302-744-1220 for questions and permits.  Permits MUST be displayed at your booth.  All food vendors must have a temporary food permit for the Riverwalk Farmers Market.

Whether your business is in New Castle County, Kent County, or Sussex County you must apply for a permit via the Kent County Health Department.

 All food establishments in the City of Milford fall under Kent County.

       
All products will be displayed in a clean and safe manner.  Hand sanitizer at your booth is strongly recommended.  

Vendor spaces will be assigned by the Riverwalk Farmers Market Committee.  Sub-letting is PROHIBITED.  You are prohibited from letting someone else use your spot in your absence unless they are selling your approved product, under your business, for you.  All vendors must be approved by the Committee and must pay their required vendor fees PRIOR to the beginning of the market season.  Vendors will not be permitted to attend the market until all fees have been paid in full depending on your payment option selection and associated due date.

SETUP AND RENTAL INFORMATION

You must bring your own 10 x 10 tent, tables and chairs.  NO TENTS OVER 10’ x 10’ are permitted.  Tents are only mandatory for food vendors preparing food on-site and must be 10’ x10’ or smaller.  All membership fees are for one 10’ x 10’ spot.  If you need more room or need to set up outside of your assigned space then you may need to pay for multiple spots.

All vendors need to have their display in place before 8 AM. Setup begins as early as 6:30 AM.  No vendor should dismantle their display before the end of the Market (12 PM) unless asked to for safety reasons (Wind, lightning, etc.), if the vendor is sold out, and/or if the vendor has requested to leave early for personal reasons.  If winds reach 15 MPH, NO tents will be allowed.

All vendors are responsible for bringing their own help for setup of tents, tables, unloading, loading, and displaying their product(s).  Our market volunteer is there for directing vendors to their spots and for working on market volunteer responsibilities.

All vendors must be courteous to other vendors. Unload quickly and move your vehicle to one of the designated public parking areas.  Do not set up while unloading.  Set up your display once you have moved your vehicle. The Library parking lot may be used for loading and unloading only.  NO PARKING PERMITTED.  Please park in lots across from the library, behind La Hacienda, across from Park Place or the State building lot on Walnut Street.

Smoking is NOT permitted in the market area or inside any city parks.

ATTENDANCE AND CANCELLATIONS

Cancellations: Any market cancellations due to weather will be sent out via Facebook and email by noon on the Friday prior.  Any vendor cancellations (emergency, sick, other obligations, etc.) can be sent through email to coordinator@downtownmilford.org. We are a rain or shine farmers market and it is up to vendor discretion to attend during inclement weather.  No refund of fees will be given for any cancellations.  We are unable to refund payment(s) for any week that a vendor does not show or for any week that the market is forced to close due to predictions of unsafe, severe weather or other acts of God.

Relocation: In the event of inclement weather (with safe conditions), the market may be relocated indoors if possible.  Any relocation due to weather will be sent out via Facebook and email by noon on the Friday prior. Any vendor cancellations (emergency, sick, other obligations, etc.) can be sent through email to coordinator@downtownmilford.org.  We are a rain or shine farmers market and it is up to vendor discretion to attend during inclement weather.  No refund of fees will be given for any cancellations.

·       
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Any vendors that are a NO show/NO call will lose their spot in the market after the second NO Show/NO Call.  They will forfeit their spot to someone on the waiting list and be put at the bottom of the waiting list or be given a fill in spot.  No refund of fees will be given.  Emergency situations will be taken into account if we are notified within an appropriate amount of time.  An appeal may be submitted in writing to the Committee for review.

    
Absences: All absences must be called in to the Vendor Coordinator and/or emailed by the Wednesday prior to the market you will be absent for, whether excused or unexcused.  Vendors are limited to four absences per market season.  No refund of fees will be given.

MEMBERSHIP AND PAYMENT OPTIONS

It is the intention of Downtown Milford, Inc., to continue to provide our community with a quality farmers market.  We believe that continuity of vendor participation is a vital aspect of this, therefore vendors are required to commit to either a half-season or full-season membership option as described below.  All collected fees go toward advertising, equipment, repairs, maintenance, entertainment, DMI expenses, and other items as determined by the Riverwalk Farmers Market Committee and Downtown Milford Inc.

A)  Full year - 29 weeks - May 2 - Oct 31 plus Nov 21 & Dec 20
$15.00 per week for 27 weeks = $435
*Payment is due by upon registration
**20% discount applied to vendors who register before March 1st, 2026.

Please use discount code EARLY upon checkout. This code cannot be used after March 1.

The deadline for starting vendors is March 31st, 2026.

B)  Spring/Summer Only  - 18 weeks (May - Aug)
$15.00 per week for 18 weeks (May - July) = $270.00
*Registration is due by March 15th, 2026.
The deadline for starting vendors is March 31st, 2026.

C)  Fall Only - 9 weeks (September and October plus Nov 21 & Dec 20)
Fall Only - $15 per week for 8 weeks - $165
*Registration is due by July 30, 2026
The deadline for starting vendors is August 1, 2026

D) Winter Market - October 31 through December 26 (not including Nov 21 and Dec 20) - Vendors may set up in the Farmer's Market as a "Pop-Up" option. There is no fee for these dates and no volunteer may be on site for setup. Spaces are on a first-come/first-served basis for these dates.

IMPORTANT PAYMENT INFORMATION: All vendor fee payments must be paid upon registration.  

REPORTING:  Rules and regulation will be sent via email two weeks prior to the opening of the market. Please open any attachment that comes from Downtown Milford Inc. and check your SPAM folders if you have an accepted application but have not received an email. This year, we will be using an electronic reporting form and a link to that form which must be submitted each week will be provided.