Maine Marketplace Information

The Crafts and Maine Marketplace areas at Common Ground are the largest commercial areas at the Fair. While similar, in that both feature Maine based enterprises, the requirements for participation in either differ in several ways. The most general distinctions have to do with the scale of the enterprise, the role of the vendor in the enterprise, and the product or service being offered.

The Crafts area is open to individual craftspeople that reside in Maine and who make high-quality work that is original in design and concept.

The Maine Marketplace is open to Maine-based businesses that are creating goods or services in Maine. We do offer a few spaces to non-Maine businesses if their service is unique, not available in Maine and fits with the mission and purpose of MOFGA and Common Ground. But by and large, almost all vendors in the Maine Marketplace have a material presence in Maine.

The determination of who fits where can indeed be subjective, but generally speaking, if the business is built around an artisan who conceives, designs, and creates the finished product, Crafts is likely the right fit; whereas, if the business relies upon a number of employees to manufacture or create the finished product, or a product line that is not original in concept, the Maine Marketplace is probably where we would locate that vendor. If you have any questions, please call or email us at the MOFGA office for assistance.

There are other distinctions between the two areas. Notably, the Crafts area is a juried show with a hard and fast application deadline, but Maine Marketplace, space permitting, may accept applications after the deadline. And, Crafts only offers 10' x 10' booths whereas Maine Marketplace offers booths from 10' x 10' up to 20' x 20'. Otherwise, these two areas share many attributes. For example:

• Booth fees are comparable between the two areas. For example, a 10'x10' booth in either area is priced the same.
• As an organization dedicated to protecting the environment by promoting organic agricultural practices, MOFGA gives preference to vendors that use non-polluting, organic materials and processes whenever possible. These considerations apply to applicants in both areas.
  
• Both areas feature Maine based enterprises.
  
• Participation in either area is competitive, with not all applicants being accepted.
  
• Both areas offer spaces under the cover of a large tent or outside where the vendor provides their own booth.
  

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For more information about the Maine Marketplace, contact:

Patti Dowse
Maine Marketplace Co-Coordinator
docqs@aol.com

Laurah Brown
Maine Marketplace Co-Coordinator
kennebecriverco@aol.com

Jeff Cotton
Maine Marketplace Co-Coordinator

 Vendor Application

If you are interested in being a vendor in the Maine Marketplace, you will need to submit an application online. The deadline for the initial review is February 10. Space permitting applications may be accepted after February 10, but preference is given to those who apply by the deadline.

Before starting your online application, download and read the Maine Marketplace and Fair guidelines. Links for both are below.

Maine Marketplace Guidelines (pdf)

Maine Marketplace Booth Application (online form)

Maine Marketplace Electricity Form (pdf)

2013 Common Ground Country Fair Presenter Application

All vendors must carry their own liability insurance. If you do not have coverage under an exisiting policy, you may obtain a short-term policy effective during the Fair. Contact the office for more information.

Special Note for Food related businesses:  All food items and ingestible products sold or given away as samples at the Common Ground Country Fair must meet the same standards as food sold by the vendors in our Food Area. This includes a thorough review of ingredients and ingredient sources by the Fair office. A copy of the MOFGA Food Policy and Food Ingredient Form are available for download below. If you are interested in selling or offering any food item, you must submit a complete Food Ingredient form with your application. If you wish to offer food items or ingestible products, download these additional materials:

MOFGA Food Policy  (pdf)
Fair Food Ingredient Form (pdf)