The Markets at Common Ground Policies and Procedures

550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 On the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail

MARKET SCHEDULE

Common Ground operates three distinct markets throughout the week.

The Daily Market is open seven days a week for resident vendors holding monthly agreements. Hours are 10:00am – 7:00pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00am – 6:00pm on Sunday. Daily Market vendors are expected to be open and staffed during all posted hours unless otherwise arranged with Market Management.

The Saturday Farmers Market runs every Saturday year-round, rain or shine. Market hours are 8:30am – 1:00pm. Vendor load-in begins at 7:00am. All vendors must be fully set up and vehicles cleared by 8:30am.

The Sunday Makers & Designer Market runs every Sunday year-round. Market hours are 10:00am – 4:00pm. Vendor load-in begins at 8:00am. All vendors must be fully set up and vehicles cleared by 9:30am.

Common Ground Markets will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The Saturday Farmers Market will not be held on the Saturday of July 4th weekend. All other holiday weekends operate on normal schedule.

WHO CAN VEND AT COMMON GROUND

Common Ground is a producer-first market. Everything sold here must be grown, raised, made, or designed by the vendor. Reselling commercially manufactured goods is not permitted at any of our three markets.

Farm Vendors (Saturday Farmers Market)

Every farm selling at Common Ground must carry either Certified Organic or Certified Naturally Grown certification — no exceptions.

For eggs, all laying hens must be raised exclusively on Certified Organic or Certified Naturally Grown feed. For meat and dairy — including beef, pork, poultry, sheep, lamb, rabbit, and goat — animals must be raised exclusively on Certified Organic or Certified Naturally Grown feed throughout their lives.

In rare cases of extreme weather where certified hay is genuinely unavailable, cattle may be given herbicide-free hay for up to 20 days per year to prevent starvation or malnutrition. This is a last resort. Farmers must demonstrate that all certified sources have been exhausted and notify Market Management before changing feeds.

Sustainable foraging for items like tree nuts, berries, and ramps is permitted. Wild foraged mushrooms require appropriate certification. If you have questions about foraging, contact Market Management.

Prepared Food Vendors (Saturday Farmers Market & Daily Market)

Every prepared food vendor at Common Ground is expected to cook with real ingredients, sourced as close to home as possible.

What we don't allow: corn syrup in any form, hydrogenated oils, artificial dyes, or chemical preservatives. If it wouldn't belong in a home kitchen, it doesn't belong in our market.

Meat sourcing must come from fellow Common Ground vendors or sources approved by our market team. All approved meat sources must be documented in writing.

Ingredient sourcing should prioritize local first: start with fellow Common Ground vendors, then local Georgia farms, then the broader Southeast, then the continental US. If a recipe calls for something sourced internationally, contact Market Management for approval. Spices, salts, olive oil, vanilla, and coffee from international sources are permitted. Use of tropical fruits such as mango, coconut, pineapple, and bananas is strongly discouraged — vendors must demonstrate that all domestic alternatives have been explored.

Daily Market Vendors

Every product on your counter should reflect craftsmanship, care, or expertise that sets it apart. We curate for vendors who make, grow, roast, bake, or build something worth coming back for. Whether you're selling prepared food, pantry goods, coffee, florals, or handcrafted products, we expect our daily vendors to prioritize local and regional sourcing. Georgia-made and Southeast-sourced comes first. When something needs to come from further away, that's fine — but it should be the exception, not the default.

Makers & Designer Market Vendors (Sunday)

Everything sold at the Makers & Designer Market must be designed, handcrafted, or significantly transformed by the vendor. Kit assembly, direct resale of commercially available products, and white-labeled goods are not permitted. If you reformulate or repackage a commercially prepared product or base, you must demonstrate significant added value. We'll ask about your process during the application review.

We curate our vendor mix to avoid redundancy and keep the market fresh. We're looking for a point of view — whether that's in your materials, your technique, your design aesthetic, or the story behind your brand.

LOAD-IN, SETUP & MARKET DAY

Saturday Farmers Market

Vendors may begin arriving at 7:00am. Market Management will be on-site to direct you to your assigned stall. All vendors must be present, unloaded, fully set up, and vehicles moved to designated parking by 8:30am. Vendor vehicles may not remain in the market area after 8:30am.

Late arrivals may result in reassignment of your stall space or being unable to participate that week. Vendors who arrive less than 30 minutes before market opens may not be permitted to set up and will still be responsible for the weekly fee. Repeated late arrivals will incur a $50 fee. Each vendor receives one emergency waiver per season.

Sunday Makers & Designer Market

Same expectations apply. Load-in begins at 8:00am. All vendors must be set up and vehicles cleared by 9:30am.

End of Market Day

The Saturday market closes at 1:00pm. The Sunday market closes at 4:00pm. You may continue selling while you pack up, but all vendors must sweep and clean their stall space, remove all trash and debris, and leave the site within 90 minutes of closing. Security will not be present after that window.

Vendors who break down early without advance permission from Market Management will incur a $25 fine, payable before your next market day.

STALL ASSIGNMENTS & SETUP

Common Ground provides each vendor with a fully outfitted stall — including counter, canopy, and pendant lighting. You do not need to bring your own table or tent. Just show up with your product, your signage, and your energy.

Stall assignments are made by Market Management to enhance the overall diversity and flow of the market. We'll make every effort to keep committed vendors in the same location each week. Drop-in and rotating vendors will be placed at Market Management's discretion.

All products must be clearly priced before the market opens. Products must be of good quality. Market Management reserves the right to ask vendors to remove products that do not meet our standards or that were not included on the vendor's approved application. All produce must be displayed off the ground per health code requirements.

ATTENDANCE & CANCELLATIONS

Consistency matters. Shoppers come back because they know their favorite vendors will be here. We expect all vendors to fulfill at least 90% of their committed market dates for the season.

Cancellations must be received by 5:00pm on Wednesday prior to your market day to avoid being charged the weekly fee. Contact Market Management by email or phone only — not personal text, social media, or DM.

No-shows — vendors who don't show up without advance notice — will not be invited back. No refunds will be given. If more than 10% of your scheduled dates are cancelled, Common Ground reserves the right to charge the weekly fee for all additional cancellations. Recurring absences may result in loss of your assigned stall or removal from the market, at the discretion of Market Management.

WEATHER

The market is open rain or shine. Common Ground is an indoor market, so weather disruptions will be minimal compared to outdoor venues — that's one of the advantages of vending here.

Market Management may cancel or close a market early if conditions pose a safety risk. Weekly fees will only be credited for market days cancelled before the market opens.

FEES & PAYMENT

Fees are due before your first market day. Applications will not be reviewed until the application fee is paid.

Details on current application fees, membership tiers, and weekly rates are available on the Vendor Application page. All fees must be paid at least one month in advance. Late fees will be applied if payment is not received by the second week of the month.

If you need electricity, an additional weekly power fee will apply. Vendors must provide their own extension cords.

If you need an additional adjacent stall space, it must be reserved for every scheduled market date and the corresponding fee paid each week.

Payment is accepted online or by check made payable to Common Ground Markets. If a check is returned for insufficient funds, a $35 processing fee will be charged. Cash payments will be accepted, but any discrepancies related to cash payments will be resolved in favor of the market.

INSURANCE

All vendors must maintain general liability and property damage insurance of no less than $1,000,000, including product liability coverage. Your policy must name Common Ground Markets and 550 Somerset Terrace NE as additional insureds. A copy of your Certificate of Insurance is required as part of your application.

SANITATION & SAFETY

Keep your stall clean, sanitary, and safe at all times. You are responsible for removing all trash, waste, and debris from your space before leaving — every market day. Only public customer-generated trash in common areas is the responsibility of Common Ground.

All vendors must comply with applicable health, sanitation, and safety regulations for the display, handling, preparation, serving, packaging, labeling, and sale of their products.

FOOD SAMPLES

Vendors are encouraged to offer samples to customers. Samples must be prepared at your stall and presented in a sanitary manner in compliance with Department of Health regulations. You must provide trash receptacles for sampling materials. Use of compostable or recyclable materials is strongly encouraged. Sampling may only be done from within your stall space.

SCALES

All scales used for sales at Common Ground must be registered as legal for trade and meet state and local regulations. Scales will be subject to accuracy checks by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Scales must be placed so they're clearly visible and readable to customers.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE

Every vendor is responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses, permits, and certifications required by law — including business licenses, sales tax registrations, and food safety/health registrations. You must be able to produce these documents on demand for Market Management or any government agency.

Food items may not contain CBD oil or cannabidiol in any form, regardless of source, in compliance with current Georgia and FDA regulations. Products may contain hemp oil, hulled hemp seed, and hemp seed protein, as these have been generally recognized as safe.

SOLICITATION

Solicitation by anyone who is not a current Common Ground vendor is strictly prohibited during market hours. This includes handing out flyers, distributing products or samples, and soliciting vendors for non-market business. If you see this happening, let Market Management know immediately. Political campaigning and candidate activities are not permitted on the premises.

SITE VISITS

Common Ground reserves the right to visit any vendor's business, production facility, or farm at any time. By vending at Common Ground, you agree to provide access upon request. Failure to do so is grounds for removal from the market.

SAFETY & CONDUCT

Security will be present during all market hours. Report any safety concerns to security or Market Management immediately.

Firearms and weapons are not permitted anywhere on the Common Ground premises, with the exception of on-duty law enforcement officers. Smoking is not permitted. Possession or use of drugs is not permitted. Visible intoxication or disruptive behavior by any vendor or their staff will result in immediate removal from the market and potential termination of future participation.

Vendors who wish to bring children are responsible for ensuring they do not disrupt market operations.

Dog Policy

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Common Ground. Dogs must be on a short, non-expandable leash and by the owner's side at all times. Dogs must be kept away from all food products and displays. Any items damaged by pets must be purchased by the owner. Aggressive behavior, barking, or growling is not tolerated. Owners must clean up after their pets. Market Management may ask any owner or vendor to remove their dog at any time for any reason.

PHOTO & MEDIA RELEASE

By participating in Common Ground Markets as a vendor, you consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded. This content may be used in any media in connection with Common Ground Markets. You waive all rights to royalties, compensation, and rights of publicity or privacy related to such use. If you do not agree, please contact Market Management before your first market day.

VIOLATIONS & ENFORCEMENT

All vendors are expected to uphold these policies. Every vendor will be required to sign a Vendor Agreement prior to participation. Complaints regarding violations may be submitted verbally or in writing to Market Management.

Penalties follow a progressive structure: verbal warning, written warning, then removal from the market. Vendors who receive recurring written warnings for any violation — or engage in any activity that compromises market safety or integrity — will be removed for the remainder of the season. Market Management reserves the right to immediately remove any person who poses a safety risk. If removal results from a policy violation, no refund of fees will be given.

AMENDMENTS

Common Ground Markets reserves the right to amend or supplement these Policies and Procedures at any time. Updated versions will be made available to all vendors.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Common Ground Market Management by clicking “Contact” above.