Direct Market Food Safety Resources
Direct Market Food Sales in Virginia
Broad-based overview.
Going to Market
A guide to selling raw, processed and prepared food products at farmers’ markets, stores and roadside stands.
Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce
These excellent resources were developed by Virginia Tech, Clemson, and University of Georgia. They provide a great starting point for better understanding on risks, with a focus on specific various routes of contamination. See also other Producer Resources subpages for additional related resources.
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce - On the Farm (Overview)
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce - Farm self-help form
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce –Land Use
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Water Use
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Manure Use
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Farm Worker Hygiene
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Farm Worker Toilet and Handwashing Facilities
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Harvesting and Storage
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Transporting Produce Safely
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Training and Certification Options
Enhancing the Safety of Locally Prepared Foods
Often understanding the steps needed to prepare foods for sale in the direct market such as Farmers Markets can be complex. Regulations and steps for producing foods safely can vary greatly depending on the food product. These factsheets provide great information related to a variety of food products and other topics.
- What do I need to know to sell KOMBUCHA at the farmers market?
- What do I need to know to sell REFRIGERATED DIPS, SPREADS, DRESSINGS, and SALADS at the farmers market?
- What do I need to know to sell JAMS, PRESERVES, JELLIES, and FRUIT BUTTERS at the farmers market?
- What do I need to know to sell PACKAGED MEALS (refrigerated/frozen) at the farmers market?
- What do I need to know to sell Fermented Vegetables at the farmers market?
- What do I need to know to provide SAMPLES at the farmers market?
- What do I need to know about LABELING my foods for sale?
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – At the Market
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Farmers Market Self-Help Form
- Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce – Keeping Food Safe at the Market
“A Primer for Farmers’ Market Food Safety” YouTube Videos
This excellent set of videos provides guidance on farmer’s market food safety and lots of tips for reducing food safety risks. Available in segments or as a complete primer.
- Importance of food safety at the farmers' market - https://youtu.be/PqYt6foZqKA
- Sanitation on the farm - https://youtu.be/0nrY7NoRhDw
- Washing, storing, displaying produce at the market - https://youtu.be/aWc37RoJ0Oc
- Selling cottage foods at the market - https://youtu.be/qqjHEe-wp4s
- Foods with special requirements - https://youtu.be/cco4z7PzcOM
- Providing samples at the market - https://youtu.be/kpNNBrUvEbE
- Farmers' market food safety plan - https://youtu.be/gBDLigv9o8E
- Full farmers' market food safety primer - https://youtu.be/o6dNB9FtZoI
