Food freshness, short supply chains and excellent traceability make farmers markets ideal venues for food safety. The pride and care market vendors take in preparing and selling their products draws shoppers to our markets. Following safe food handling and preparation practices helps keep them safe and coming back.

In Virginia, farmers market vendors who manufacture, process, pack or hold food for sale are subject to the Virginia Food and Drink Law and related regulations. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (VDACS) Food Safety Specialists, also known as inspectors, ensure that farmers markets are in compliance with these regulations. Food service vendors at farmers markets are permitted by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (VA ABC) administers alcohol-related laws with an emphasis on public safety. Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) provides helpful food safety publications and training.

During this annual Food Safety Summit, the Virginia Farmers Market Association (VAFMA) brings together representatives from VDACS, VDH, VA ABC, and VCE to walk you through the requirements and answer your questions. These sessions are recorded and shared with registrants. Participants are able to receive a certificate of participation.

An online summit for farmers market managers & farmers market food vendors/producers covering food safety requirements in Virginia

Q&As

• This Q&A document provides comprehensive answers from VDH, VDACS, VCE and other authorities to questions regarding best practices, regulations, and guidelines for ensuring food safety at Virginia farmers markets.

Certificates:

• Proof of Participation Certificates are available to people who attended the live session on April 4, 2024. Contact us if you have not received your certificate.

• Did you miss the live webinar of the Food Safety Summit and need a certificate?

  Watch the recordings, pass a short quiz, and the certificate will be emailed to you. It’s all available on Farmers Market University. https://www.farmersmarketuniversity.org/

Recordings from all 3 days of the 2024 Summit are Available:

VAFMA recommends that all farmers market managers & farmers market food vendors/producers view the April 4th session & any sessions relevant to their markets/businesses/products.

April 4, 2024 Recording (recommended for all to watch):

• Market Food Safety slides – Virginia Department of Health – Whitney Wright, VDH
• Market Food Safety slides – Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Pam Miles, Rashelly Bland & Karen Bergin, VDACS
• Produce Safety slides – Erik Bungo & Kristina Banks, VDACS
• Weights & Measures slides – Gary Milton, VDACS

Day 2: April 9, 2024 Recording

• Dairy slides – Hunter Moyer, VDACS
• CBD/Hemp slides – Lisa Ramsey, VDACS
• Pet Food slides – Caroline Wilkinson, VDACS

Day 3: April 11, 2024 Recording

• Alcoholic Beverages slides – Virginia ABC – Marc Haalman
• Food Safety Resources slides & Resource Links – Lester Schonberger and Melissa Wright, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Meat & Poultry Recording from 2023

Speaker: Peyton Lee, Technical Resource Adviser, Office of Meat and Poultry Services

Presentation Slides

Recording 

Other Food Safety Resources Shared During the 2023 Summit

Links shared during the Food Safety Summit

Speaker Contact Information Sheet

Egg Safety

Guidelines for Providing Safe Food Samples at the Market

Tent Requirements for Vendors Cooking at Market

Food Truck Wheel Chocks Regulations

Pet Food Safety

5 Things to Do After Right After Visiting Animals

Backyard Flocks and Salmonella

Salmonella and Pets

Handwashing Stickers

VDACS Agritourism Best Practices

VDACS Safety Around Reptiles

Funding for this publication was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 21FMPPVA1084. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Funding support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA NIFA award number: Grants 12843216) is acknowledged.