There are some exceptions, but the answer is generally a resounding “Yes!” Having a food permit is essential for most vendors selling food and/or drinks. If you do not have a permit, the health department can shut you down, and the health department visits every market!

In general, you will need to purchase a Traditional Temporary Food Permit if you plan to sell or sample food/drinks. You can apply for your food permit through the St. Louis City Department of Health. You must submit and pay for your Temporary Food Permit at least two business days prior to the market you are obtaining the permit for or you will incur a $10 charge for an expedited application. You can buy permits for multiple events at once if you’d like to buy them together. Fees are payable by a business check, cashier's check, or money order only. The Department of Health does not accept cash or credit cards for food permits.

Please contact the St. Louis City Department of Health if you are unsure whether you need a food permit or have other permit-related questions. Their number is 314-612-5100, and you can visit their website here.

The only foods covered under the cottage law are baked goods (bread, cookies, cakes, etc.), canned jellies and jams (except sugar-free ones), and dried herbs/herb mixes. Salsas and pickles are not covered. Any vendor selling pickles, salsas, BBQ sauce, cut produce (including fruits and vegetables), freeze-dried foods, hot sauce, sprouts, or wild mushrooms need to be working in a regulated kitchen under routine inspection. These items cannot be prepared at home; they must be made in a commissary kitchen or prepared on-site with a permit.

Cottage foods moreover cannot cross state lines. While we live in a bi-state area, any cottage food produced in Illinois cannot be sold in Missouri. Foods prepared in a commercial kitchen under routine inspection, however, can cross state lines; the aforementioned restriction on selling food that crosses state lines only applies to cottage food made at home.

The person who made the cottage food (or a member of the household with extensive knowledge about the product) needs to be on-site at our market to ensure that questions about the process can be answered for customers.

For more information, please call the St. Louis City Department of Health at 314-612-5100 or visit their website here. You can view the full Missouri Cottage Law here.

Any vendor providing samples needs a temporary food permit, hand sink (with soap and paper towels), and extra utensils or a three-compartment sink set up with soap and sanitizer. This applies to all samples including beverages, with and without ice.

​Food not prepared on-site needs proper labels that include full name and address, common name of the food you are selling, a list of ingredients by weight, net weight of the container, and a list of allergens.

However, food prepared off-site from a permitted kitchen intended for immediate consumption does not need labeling (for example, ingredients for a rice bowl to be eaten immediately). This is predicated on there being someone on-site with extensive knowledge of the cooking process to answer any questions from patrons. It is good practice to have ingredient and allergen information on-site, but it is not required. To ensure you are prepared, the health department recommends keeping this information in a binder or folder with your permit receipts and past inspection reports; that way, this information will be handy for anyone who asks.

All pre-packaged foods need to be labeled. The name and address refers to the name of the company and address of where the food was prepared. Listing the city and state is acceptable (for example, Betty's Baked Goods: St. Louis, MO). This information is required in the event of a foodborne illness outbreak for purposes of traceability. Moreover, each individual item needs its own label on the food item. For example, if a vendor is selling individually wrapped cookies, each cookie needs a label. If a vendor is selling four types of cookies, each one needs a label with the specific ingredients used.

No, we do not. We only provide a booth space for you to use and marketing and other organizational services related to running the market as a whole. You must bring your own tent, tables, chairs, sandbags, water, and so on, just like you have to for most other markets and festivals.

No, we do not. If you need electricity, you will have to find a way to supply it yourself. Generators, especially noisy ones, are not expressly prohibited, but they are discouraged (quiet generators are just fine). In place of electrical equipment, you can use sternos, gas heating, and coolers. Be prepared to supply your own water as well.