Bloomington, Indiana – The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is seeking proposals from local businesses, organizations, and individuals to manage all aspects of food and beverage artisan stands, or food truck/push cart vending stands, at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings during the 2021 Market season.
To select the food and beverage artisans and food truck/push cart vendors that will best serve the Market, the City uses a request for proposal (RFP) process. Proposals will be evaluated by a review committee that includes Farmers’ Market staff and Farmers’ Market Advisory Council members using the criteria established in the RFP including menu, price, product balance, customer satisfaction, use of local products, and location of business, with preference given to businesses located in Bloomington.
Detailed RFP forms and a link to the online RFP are available online at https://bloomington.in.gov/farmers-market/prepared-food.
RFPs, both hard copies or online submissions, are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 22. Priority consideration will be given to RFPs received by the deadline.
The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is also accepting applications from small farmers and local growers who would like to sell their products at the Farmers’ Market during the 2021 season. Farm vendors selected and approved to sell at the Farmers’ Market must reside and produce farm goods in Indiana, and are expected to participate substantially in the production of goods offered for sale.
Farmers who wish to sell at the Farmers’ Market must submit an application, available online at https://bloomington.in.gov/farmers-market/selling or by calling 812-349-3700, by 5 p.m. Feb. 22. Both online and hard copy applications are available. There is a $20 application fee for farm vendor spaces.
The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market is located at 401 N. Morton St., just south of Bloomington’s City Hall. The Farmers’ Market is held Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. April through September, and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in October and November.
Most food and beverage artisans are located on the Farmers’ Market Plaza on the B-Line Trail. Most food truck and push cart vendors are located on Eighth Street west of the B-Line Trail. Farm vendors are set up under the canopies in the parking lot south of city hall, and around the parking lot perimeter.
For more information about the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market RFP process for selecting food and beverage artisans and food truck/push cart vendors, or about applying to sell local farm products at the Farmers’ Market, contact Leslie Brinson at 812-349-3715 or brinsonl@bloomington.in.gov
