Area farmers markets must adhere to state, county regulations

Farmers markets are a big draw in many Southeast Missouri communities. They give consumers an opportunity to buy locally grown produce and homemade goods, and provide organic alternatives in communities where shoppers otherwise might not have the option.

Like any other entity that sells or prepares food, however, farmers markets must comply with specific state health department regulations for food storage, preparation and packaging.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services lays out the basic regulations that require all stands to "protect food from the environment, pests ... and contamination," but county health departments step in to enforce the rules and, in some instances, create a few of their own.

Cape Girardeau County uses a permitting system for farmers markets. According to Amy Morris, environmental health specialist with the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, the stands that display the permit have been inspected and meet the county's and state's standards.

Vendors are allowed to sell cut and uncut fruits and vegetables, but something as simple as slicing a fruit in half completely changes the regulatory requirements, Morris said.

Reagan Brown of McClure, Ill., shops at a booth operated by Austin Pender with Bass Farms of Cobden, Ill., at the Cape Riverfront Market on Saturday in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

"If I sold watermelons and I decided to cut them and sell them that way, they would have to be Saran wrapped, refrigerated and I would have to have a permit through the state health department," she said. "I would also have to have a hand-washing station and a dishwashing station for the knife and cutting board."

When fruits or vegetables are cut or "processed," the state health department requires a three-step dishwashing station for washing, rinsing and sanitizing. Hand-washing stations must have running water, soap and single-use towels.

Morris said those standards are "pretty uniform" and the county has experienced few problems.

"I think the rules are pretty clear," she said. "If we get out there and someone doesn't have something, they get it."

Whole, uncut vegetables and homemade products, such as jams and jellies, are exempt from inspection, Morris said, but the stands selling homemade goods must display a sign notifying customers they were not prepared in a kitchen subject to state or county health inspections.

At the Perryville, Mo., farmers market, there's no permitting system, but vendors are required to sign a contract indicating they have read and understand the rules and regulations.

Market manager Jennifer Lopez said she makes a point to sit down with each vendor to go over the contract and the rules.

"At first, new people might feel overwhelmed, but I sit down individually with new members about what to do and the importance of doing those things," she said.

Fruits and vegetables sold at the Perryville farmers market must be uncut and grown within a 60-mile radius of the city. Homemade jams and jellies also may be sold at the market, along with "non-potentially hazardous" baked items such as breads or cookies, and Lopez said these items have specific rules.

"Especially homemade things have to be labeled correctly, with the name and address of the person that made them and the ingredients listed from most to least," she said. "We work very carefully with the Perry County Health Department and try to keep up with the new rules and regulations from the state."

Other counties choose to keep it simple and strictly follow the state guidelines.

Bollinger County does not use permits or contracts, according to environmental health specialist Steve Yates.

"We just follow the state requirements, same as most counties," he said.

Scott County also adheres to the state regulations and sells only uncut produce, non-potentially hazardous homemade goods -- which excludes dairy products and foods containing meat or poultry -- flowers and plants.

LeAnne Gaydos sells herbal tea and coffee in the Jackson and Perryville farmers markets. As a vendor, she has experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to make sure all the rules are followed correctly.

"I think some of the rules can be little bit murky," she said.

Gaydos attended a workshop before the start of the farmers market season, which she said answered a lot of her questions about regulations and made her more prepared.

Because she does not prepare food on-site, Gaydos is not required to have the hand washing or dishwashing station. She does, however, have to make sure all her packaged tea and coffee blends are correctly labeled for purchase.

The state health department requires the name and address of the manufacturer, the common name of the food or product and a full list of the ingredients be listed on the label, although Jackson and Perryville farmers market regulations require the ingredients be listed from most to least.

Gaydos said with such specific rules in a growing business, it could become more of a challenge to closely regulate the markets and vendors.

"I think farmers markets are getting more popular and the more people you have, the harder it might be to regulate," she said.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Jackson City Park, Jackson, Mo.

800 City Park Lane, Perryville, Mo.