2025 Vendor FAQs
Before filling out a vendor application, please read the following information carefully to determine whether our market is right for you:
We are an Agriculture & Food Market Only
When booth space allows, we accept only agricultural-based registered businesses or food-based registered/licenced businesses
Makers/Producers only, no Resellers or Wholesale Brokers
No Arts & Crafts items
No Flea Market items
No CBD products
No Children’s Activities
No Promotional Booth Space for Local Businesses
No Musicians or Live Music Performances
Community Based Not for Profits/Public Service: Contact us here to share more about your non-profit/public service to see if your mission aligns with our mission
Our market is carefully curated by our market management team. Even if you fit the description of being an agricultural based business or food-based business, and we have available booth space, this does not mean you’ll be accepted into the market. Vendors are chosen based on the market’s need and the managers’ discretions. We do not have a waitlist, and filling out an application does not guarantee you a spot at the RPFM. Our vendors are chosen based on a number of factors, including: Is there a vacant spot? How does your business support local agriculture? Do your products add unique variety to our market? Are you offering something unusual/special that will delight the market shoppers? Is there an interest for your offering at our market? Can you supply and sell at least $800 worth of inventory for every market day? Have you been accepted as a vendor at our sister market - East Nashville Farmers Market? Is your business active on Instagram, and will you promote the market online if you are accepted?
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: How easy is it to get into the market?
Answer: The market is very full so it’s not easy to get in. We receive over 300 applications a year and we only have 85 booth spots. 90% of our current vendors end up renewing each season so it’s rare to have a spot open up. We have a sister market - East Nashville Farmers Market where we pull vendors from when we have a spot open. Depending on your category, it can be easier to get into East Nashville Farmers market so consider applying for that market so that you can be in line to get into Richland when a spot opens up in your category.
Question: What is the deadline to apply?
Answer: Since this market runs year-round, there is no application deadline. Even though our market is full and we rarely approve a new vendor, we accept applications year-round.
Question: I applied last year and I was waitlisted so my application is still active. Do I need to apply again?
Answer: Yes, you need to apply once each year in order to be considered for the market. Our market runs from January 1 thru December 31. Once the year ends on Dec. 31, all vendor applications received that year get archived and a new year is started for January 1. All vendors have to reapply each and every year including existing vendors.
Question: When do applications for the new year open?
Answer: Applications for the new year open sometime in January. Please note: due to lease restrictions with the park, we are not able to accept any new vendors for January to March. If accepted, the earliest you would start would be in April.
Question: How are vendors chosen to participate in the market?
Answer: Our vendors are chosen based on a number of factors, including: Is there a vacant spot in the category (ie: Farmer, baker, prepared food, etc) you are applying for? Have you been accepted as a vendor at our sister market - East Nashville Farmers Market? How does your business support local agriculture? Do your products add unique variety to our market? Are you offering something unusual/special that will delight the market shoppers? Is there an obvious demand for your offering at our market? Can you supply and sell at least $800 worth of inventory for every market day? Is your business active on Instagram, and will you promote the market online if you are accepted?Question: What are the requirements to be accepted as a vendor?
Answer: The first and most important requirement is that there is a vacant spot and that your agricultural or food-based registered/licensed business will add unique variety to the market.How it works: When a spot becomes available at Richland, we invite an existing vendor from our sister market - East Nashville to fill that spot. If you wish to be in line for a spot at Richland, you will need to first be accepted and participating at East Nashville. In addition, please see our vendor rules here to learn more about all of the requirements to be accepted at Richland.
Question: How long would I need to be a vendor at East Nashville before being accepted in Richland?
Answer: It all depends on if there is an open spot at Richland and if the open spot is for a vendor in your category. It could take several years depending on the situation. Most vendors tend to stay at Richland for years once a spot opens up so spots don’t open up very often.Question: I applied for the market but my application got declined. Why?
Answer: It can be for a variety of reasons. Some of the common reasons are:-If your business is not a food or agricultural based business, your application would be declined.
-We only accept new vendors into Richland that have been accepted at East Nashville Farmers Market. If your application did not include dates at East Nashville Farmers Market, your application would be declined.
-We only have a limited number of spots in the market, and for each category. If you are in a category where we have enough vendors already, your application would be declined.
-We are looking for vendors who add unique variety to the market. If your food or agricultural based products overlap with what our existing vendors already sell, your application would be declined.Question: If my application got declined, do I need to keep filling out applications throughout the season to be considered if a spot opens up?
Answer: No. All applications are kept on file for the season so you do not need to keep applying throughout the season. In the rare instance that a spot opens up at Richland, we invite a vendor the East Nashville Farmers Market to fill the spot. In the rare instance that there is no replacement vendor at East that matches the category where a spot opened up, we then review the declined application forms and reach out to see if that vendor would be available to participate in both markets. Only a vendor who can participate at both markets would be considered.
Question: Is Richland Park Farmers Market the only Farmers Market in and around Nashville?
Answer: No, there are 30+ Farmers Markets in and around the Nashville Area.Question: Could you provide a list of other Farmers Markets in and around Nashville?
Answer: Sure. Check out the PickTN website for an interactive listing of all the local farmers markets. You could also do an online search for holiday events and pop-up events in Middle Tennessee or Kentucky.
Question: How much do you charge for a vendor spot?
Answer: We charge 5% of sales with a minimum fee of $25/market up to a maximum of $125/market. Fees are paid at the end of each market. Here is the fee schedule.Question: I was curious as to whether you ever utilize food trucks at your market?
Answer: Yes, we have food trucks at our market. However, the spots are very limited. We have only have 2 spots for food trucks, whereas we have 85 spots for booth style vendors. Of the 30 or more applications each year that we receive for a food truck specific spot, we can only select 2 vendors per season. Popular food truck vendors from previous seasons get renewed if they re-apply. Popular food truck vendors from our sister market - East Nashville Farmers Market get subsequent priority if there are any spots left or if any spots open up during the market season.
Question: I am a Food Truck vendor and I would like to be considered as a fill-in for a market here or there in case one of your regular food truck vendors can’t make it one market - how can I be on a list for consideration?
Answer: You would simply need to fill out an application form so that we have your information on file. It’s rare to need a fill-in for a food truck vendor. However, if it happens, we first ask the existing food truck vendors from East Nashville if they would be interested to fill-in. If no food trucks from East Nashville are available, we would look through the existing applications on file and reach out to see if a certain vendor is available.
Question: Do you approve applications from Out of State Vendors when there is a vacant spot?
Answer: Yes, if there is a vacant spot open and if we feel your product(s) would add variety to the market that we don’t already have.Question: Do you allow CBD/THC products to be sold at your market when there is a vacant spot?
Answer: No, that is not something we are interested in.Question: We produce wine locally. Would like to know if you allow wine sales at the market when there is a vacant spot?
Answer: No. Our lease with Metro Parks does not allow us to sell alcohol at the farmers market.
Question: Do you accept craft vendors when there is a vacant spot?
Answer: No. We love our makers, artists, and crafters, yet due to our lease requirements with Metro Parks, we are not allowed to accept craft vendors.Question: I am an artist and performer based in Nashville. I wanted to reach out and ask if you have live music at your market. If yes, I would love to be considered for a live performance.
Answer: No. Although we appreciate live music, we do not host live music at this market.
Question: I am looking for an opportunity to play live music at the market. How can I sign up to play?
Answer: We do not host live music at this market. Amqui Station Market looks for musicians for their farmers market - here is their Musician Interest Form. If you are looking to share your musical talents with others pro bono, consider signing up as a musician through Music for Seniors or contacting the Seniors Renaissance Center to get on their schedule.
Question: Can I set up a booth to promote my local for-profit services if there is a vacant spot? I wouldn’t be selling anything at the market, just promoting my local service to the community.
Answer: No. We don’t offer assistance or booth space to for-profit service based businesses looking for visibility in the community. If you are looking for different ways to promote your services to the community, please contact the Small Business Development Center - Nashville Office to get some consulting support in how/where to market your local service based business.
Question: I am a chef, my pop kitchen serves such-and-such food. How do I be part of your event?
Answer: When there is a spot available, and assuming we feel your offerings would add unique variety to the market, and you’ve submitted an application, we only approve vendor applications for vendors with registered businesses that have all the correct permitting/licensing and insurance.
Question: How much general liability insurance is required to participate in the market?
Answer: All vendors must provide proof of general liability coverage at a minimum amount of $1,000,000.00. A current certificate must accompany each vendor application & remain on file with the market.
Question: Do you have a recommendation on where to buy general liability insurance?
Answer: Yes, Campbell Risk Management out of Kentucky offers instant Farmers Market specific liability insurance. It’s easy to obtain online in about 15 minutes and it costs around $300 for the year.Question: Who should I add as Additionally Insured to the liability insurance?
Answer: Nashville Community Farmers Markets: 6400 Delvin Farm Lane, College Grove, TN 37046
Question: What are the vendor rules that all applicants are expected to agree to and follow?
Answer: Read more about our 2025 Vendor Rules & Operating Guidelines.