Considering selling food at the Mountain Market? Click here to visit the IHA website to learn how to get approval and learn about the safety practices you must follow.
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To sell food at the Fernie Mountain Market you must submit the following documents prior to vending:
- A list of foods being sold
- A Temporary Food Market letter of confirmation from the IHA or copy of your Permit/Licence (if selling high risk foods)
- Proof of insurance (a requirement for all vendors)
and ensure that:
- Food handlers observe good personal hygiene
- Food products are protected from sources of contamination at all times during storage and display at the Market.
- Display cases, counters, and shelves are made from easily cleanable material, maintained in good condition and cleaned as often as necessary.
- A satisfactory means of cleaning hands and utensils is provided including running water, soap in a dispenser and paper towels.
- A fire extinguisher is available for any vendor utilizing fuel or power sources.
SALE OF FOODS AT TEMPORARY MARKETS
Included below are a few of the main points of this document, for more details please read the full document. All food vendors selling high-risk foods must obtain approval from the local Health Authority’s Environmental Health Officer before being able to sell at the Mountain Market. NOTE: It is the vendor’s responsibility to provide evidence that a food is lower risk. The Health Authority will issue a letter of acceptance for an approved application. Generally, applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to commencement of the market/sales.
Please note: Vendors who sell ONLY fresh whole fruits and vegetables (no sampling) are not required to submit an application, and do not require a letter of acceptance, but must still follow food sales guidelines
SAMPLING
In order to minimize direct food handling at the market, food samples intended for tasking at the market should be portioned and packed off site. At the market, food samples for tasting should be individually portioned (eg. in paper cups, on toothpicks) and not offered as bulk items.
FOOD TRUCKS FIRE INSPECTION
Out of town food trucks must have a fire inspection completed before vending at the Mountain Market. Please note: If the food truck comes from a larger city than Fernie and has already completed a fire inspection as part of their certification, then this also would be valid. You can contact Fernie Fire Rescue at 250.423.4226 or by email at ferniefr@fernie.ca, Attn: Fire Prevention. The inspection may take up to one-half hour. All mobile cooking operations must also meet the following fire and safety standards included in this NFPA Safety Tips Sheet.
FOOD SAFE
The Mountain Market recommends that all food vendors complete the FOODSAFE Level 1 program. This course covers safe food handling techniques and includes microbiology, food-borne illness, personal hygiene, receiving, storing, serving and dispensing food, food protection, preparation, and dishwashing. Course graduates receive a Level 1 certificate from Interior Health, it is required by the Ministry of Health to work in the foodservice industry. The course is offered at College of the Rockies for around $70 and includes manual http://www.cotr.bc.ca or you can also take the course online for $115 in 8 hours.
MARKET SAFE
MarketSafe is a food safety training program for farmers and producers who make, bake or grow products to sell at local farmers’ markets, farm gates or other types of temporary food markets. MarketSafe was developed by the BC FOODSAFE Secretariat in partnership with the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, and is supported by the Regional Health Authorities, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. You can take the Market Safe course online for $68.50 in just 6 hours.
IHA
The Interior Health Authority is the regulating body for food safety in our region. Have questions? Learn more here and read this document. Our IHA Environmental Health Officer, Patricia Rock is incredibly helpful. She may be reached via email at Patricia.Rock@interiorhealth.ca or by phone at 250.420.2259
