Hot food stand at farmers markets

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Feb 26th, 2018 8:58 am

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Feb 15th, 2018 2:41 pm

spavey [OP]: Newbie; Feb 14, 2018; 1 posts

Feb 15th, 2018 2:41 pm

Hot food stand at farmers markets

My wife and I are looking into becoming vendors in a few farmers markets this summer. Our idea is to sell hot fried food cooked on a food trailer (fried dumplings and spring-rolls etc). Our initial idea included my wife making some of these items herself at home (her dumplings are delicious which is how the idea started). After looking into the health and safety regulation and food handling permits it is starting to seem like this is not possible.
After contacting a couple of market organizers we are getting the impression they won't accept our vendor application as it would be considered high risk foods. Does anyone have any experience in this area or suggestions on how to make this work?
We live in the Calgary area.

9 replies

Feb 17th, 2018 11:01 pm

daivey: Penalty Box; Dec 27, 2013; 8003 posts; 4007 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 17th, 2018 11:01 pm

i asked about baked goods not long ago and the work involved in doing that.. to much effort/liability/ for not a lot of profit. im better off working a second job at minimum wage part time.. zero risk.

Feb 18th, 2018 5:01 pm

Poppwl: Deal Addict; Aug 15, 2015; 1568 posts; 203 upvotes; Markham, ON

Feb 18th, 2018 5:01 pm

Why not contact the community centre and offer cooking classes.

Feb 18th, 2018 9:25 pm

eonibm: Deal Expert; Aug 2, 2010; 15193 posts; 4974 upvotes; Here 'n There

Feb 18th, 2018 9:25 pm

The best I bet super-profitable low investment 'food stand' I see is Jamie Kennedy's son( Jamie being a noted 'signature' Toronto chef) who sells fresh potato fries with salt 'n fresh chopped thyme at the Brickworks. Always a huge line up and I've seen him around town at other venues.

+1

Feb 19th, 2018 1:07 am

daivey: Penalty Box; Dec 27, 2013; 8003 posts; 4007 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 19th, 2018 1:07 am

eonibm wrote: ↑ The best I bet super-profitable low investment 'food stand' I see is Jamie Kennedy's son( Jamie being a noted 'signature' Toronto chef) who sells fresh potato fries with salt 'n fresh chopped thyme at the Brickworks. Always a huge line up and I've seen him around town at other venues.

haha smart.
potatoes are still cheap!

Feb 23rd, 2018 11:08 pm

toshibaaa: Member; Jan 15, 2013; 349 posts; 29 upvotes; Oakville

Feb 23rd, 2018 11:08 pm

yeah they are high risk food and can't be made at home unless you have another kitchen separately from your main home kitchen. Then the city can come inspect your kitchen and see if you get the approval... if not, then you have to rent a commercial kitchen which is probably like easily averaging $25/hour or so.

baked goods, jam, jellies and a couple things (can't remember) are the only exception that can be made at home with city approval of the main home kitchen (don't need a separate kitchen) and sell at the farmers market only. The only costs are paying the farmer market fee and insurance liability depending what the farmer market people want, which is probably 2 millions.

Feb 25th, 2018 4:24 pm

mrct1944: Sr. Member; May 28, 2012; 532 posts; 504 upvotes; ONT

Feb 25th, 2018 4:24 pm

daivey wrote: ↑ i asked about baked goods not long ago and the work involved in doing that.. to much effort/liability/ for not a lot of profit. im better off working a second job at minimum wage part time.. zero risk.

A few years ago a friend sold baked goods from original European recipes at a Farmer’s Market. Then the rules changed and he would have had to have each of the products evaluated for calories, fat content, salt content etc etc, all the facts you see on virtually all food products these days. The costs were prohibitive and he closed the business.

+2

Feb 25th, 2018 5:00 pm

daivey: Penalty Box; Dec 27, 2013; 8003 posts; 4007 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 25th, 2018 5:00 pm

mrct1944 wrote: ↑ A few years ago a friend sold baked goods from original European recipes at a Farmer’s Market. Then the rules changed and he would have had to have each of the products evaluated for calories, fat content, salt content etc etc, all the facts you see on virtually all food products these days. The costs were prohibitive and he closed the business.

yeah not worth it unless you go into as a full time gig.

Feb 26th, 2018 12:36 am

eonibm: Deal Expert; Aug 2, 2010; 15193 posts; 4974 upvotes; Here 'n There

Feb 26th, 2018 12:36 am

mrct1944 wrote: ↑ A few years ago a friend sold baked goods from original European recipes at a Farmer’s Market. Then the rules changed and he would have had to have each of the products evaluated for calories, fat content, salt content etc etc, all the facts you see on virtually all food products these days. The costs were prohibitive and he closed the business.

I am not sure that's the case. If you go to the Brickworks Saturday Farmer's Market there at many vendors selling baked goods with no labelling or requirement to have the products evaluated. Actually if you go to any farmers market in Toronto there are vendors selling all manner of baked goods without such requirements.

+1

Feb 26th, 2018 8:58 am

houska: Deal Addict; Feb 25, 2007; 1417 posts; 873 upvotes; Ottawa

Feb 26th, 2018 8:58 am

My understanding is this an area which is a mishmash of federal, provincial, and local regulations. And targeted exceptions to those regulations since the generic regulations often make it prohibitive for people to do exactly what OP wants to do, and yet it would be desirable.

Since OP is in Calgary, what those of us who are Ontario residents will tell him/her will therefore unfortunately be of limited usefulness. To OP, good luck, and hopefully someone closer to your location will give you advice!

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