Farmers' Markets Food Licensing & Sanitation

LICENSING

A  Farmer's Market Food License is required to sell food such as raw fruits and vegetables, eggs, poultry, breads, and beverages at any of the farmers' markets in the City of Milwaukee. Your Farmer's Market Food License affords you the option of selling at any of the various markets.  However, if you operate at more than one market on the same day during the same time frame, you will need a license for each additional market.  Operators selling only fresh produce may operate more than one booth at the same market without needing additional licenses unless the stands are not adjacent to each other, in which case, each stand needs its own license. Effective March 1, 2011, Farmer's Market Food License Applications are processed by the License Division of the City Clerk's office.

Temporary Event License information and application

INFORMATION ON THE SALE OF FOOD AT FARMERS' MARKETS

• Selling restaurant foods such as hot dogs, egg rolls or brats at a farmer's market requires a Temporary Event Food License . Please see our temporary events page for more information. 

• Baked goods must be prepared in a licensed premise.

• Eggs, meats, poultry products and other potentially hazardous foods, need to be maintained at 41° F or less at all times. More information on the sale of meat and poultry is available from the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection publication:  Direct Marketing Meat and Poultry.

• Honey sales may require additonal licensing. Check with The  Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

• Maple syrup processing is subject to requirements and may require additonal licensing. Click here for information.

• Limited sales of home-canned foods is allowed under a Wisconsin law – sometimes called the “pickle bill” – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection has more information about home-canned foods.

• Proper labeling is required for all packaged foods (e.g. salsa, soup, bakery) 

  •  Labeling Guidelines Fact Sheet.

  • Wisconsin Department of Agriculture information on labeling.

• If you use a scale for weighing your produce, the scale must be checked for accuracy and licensed with a Weighing and Measuring Device License prior to use. If you decide to sell produce by a method other than weight please refer to the information pages below:
  • Method of sale for retail sales of produce  
  • Sale of Commodities by Count 

Both the original Food Dealer License and the original Weighing and Measuring Device License must be displayed at your stand at all times that you are selling. 

AREA FARMERS' MARKETS

A listing of area farmers' markets can be found in The Farm Fresh Atlas of Southeast Wisconsin: www.farmfreshatlas.org/southeast/