Berlin Farmers Market

The Berlin Farmers Market is organized under the Alabama Farmers Market Authority as described in the Ala. Code 2-5-1 ET. seq., the market and vendor will follow the Alabama Farmers Market Authority Administrative Code, 80-7-1.

HOURS OF OPERATIONS

June 6, 2026 – October 31, 2026

9:00am – 2:00pm

**FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE (BERLIN FARMERS MARKET – ALABAMA) FOR INFORMATION ON POP-UP MARKETS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: 50 Mt. Carmel Drive Cullman, Alabama 35058

(CORNER OF: US HIGHWAY 278 EAST & MT. CARMEL DRIVE)

Email: Clerk@berlinal.gov

Phone: (256)736-3138

Facebook: Berlin Farmers Market – Alabama

Instagram: #BerlinAlabamaFarmersMarket

BERLIN FARMERS MARKET FEES

The Berlin Farmers Market offers 16 covered bays with electrical hook-up available at every bay. Annual growers will have priority access to covered bays. When covered bays are filled, uncovered space will be offered. Water is also available on the property.

***ANNUAL PLAN GROWERS ARE ABLE TO SELL AT THEIR ASSIGNED BAY ANYTIME, ANYDAY!***

ANNUAL FEE

Annual growers may sell items ANY day of the week through out the season.

$100 – If you reside within the Town of Berlin.

$150 – If you reside within the Berlin precinct.

$200 – All others

Berlin Farmers Market Weekly Fee – $30

Daily Fee – $10

Special Event Daily Fee – $20

BERLIN FARMERS MARKET RULES & REGULATIONS, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

2026 BERLIN FARMERS MARKET RULES & REGULATIONS

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SECURE YOUR BAY AT BERLIN FARMERS MARKET: You must provide a FREE State of Alabama Growers Permit from the Cullman County Extension Office, market dues, copy of vehicle insurance, & signed Farmers Market Rules & Regulations.

ALABAMA COTTAGE FOOD LAW: BASIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Alabama Cottage Food Law went into effect in 2014 and was revised in 2021. The law states that individuals can produce certain nonhazardous foods in their homes. The new law defines a cottage food as a non-potentially hazardous food that has been prepared in a person’s home that does not require time and temperature control for safety. The law excludes products that use meat, poultry, or fish.

FOODS THAT CAN BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER:

Candies
Jams, jellies, fruit preserves, marmalade
Dried herbs and herb mixes made from commercially prepared ingredients
Baked goods: cakes, cookies, glazed pastries, Danish pastries, doughnuts, breads, pies, cheese straws
Candied or roasted nuts
Popcorn (candied, coated, flavored)
Spices (nonhazardous and considered generally recognized as safe or GRAS by the US Food and Drug Administration)
Roasted coffee
Dried baking mixes
Chocolate or caramel covered fruit

SOME EXAMPLES OF FOODS THAT CAN BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER WITH A WATER ACTIVITY OR PH LEVEL ALLOWED BY THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH:

Home dehydrated or dried herbs, herb mixes, tea leaves, vegetables or fruits, or fruit leathers (no melon)
Fermented or preserved vegetables or fruits that do not result in the production of alcohol. Examples include pepper relish, chowchow, pickles, relishes, salsas (tomato or fruit), kimchi, sauerkraut, pickled fruits
Fruit butters
Infused vinegars containing GRAS ingredients
Nut butters

Note: Water activity and pH testing can be performed by Alabama Extension’s Food Safety testing lab or a processing authority for a fee. For more information on testing through Extension, contact your local food safety agent.

FOODS THAT CANNOT BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER:

Baked goods with a component that requires refrigeration, such as custard pies and cakes with a whipped topping.
Barbecue sauces
Cheesecakes
Garlic in oil mixtures
Ice cream
Juices from fruits or vegetables
Beverages/teas from fruits or vegetables
Juice drinks
Meats in any form
Milk products
Raw cookie dough
Soft or hard cheeses, including cheese sticks
Vegetable pizzas

Note: Some foods, such as syrups or freeze-dried candy, may need further evaluation on a case-by-case basis.

THE COTTAGE FOOD LAW REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING ON LABELS IN A MINIMUM 10-POINT FONT:

Name of the individual or business
Physical address or post office box of the individual or business
Common name of the food
Statement: This product may contain allergens. This food is not inspected by the Health Department.
List of ingredients: Ingredients and sub-ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance by weight.

Note: Every package must have a label. Health claims fall under FDA regulations and are not covered under the Cottage Food Law.

SELLING REQUIREMENT

Cottage food cannot be sold to permitted facilities such as restaurants and grocery stores or to novelty shops for resell. Producers must sell directly to consumers within the state whether in person, by phone, or online. However, delivery options have changed. The new law allows delivery of products within the state by mail, through an agent of the producer, or directly to the consumer.

TRAINING REQUIREMENT

A person operating a food business under the Cottage Food Law must attend and pass a food safety course approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health every 3 years. An approved course is the one taught by Alabama Extension or any American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited food safety program.

COTTAGE FOOD GROSS SALES

Under the 2021 Cottage Food Law, the gross sales of $20,000.00 have been lifted. Currently, there is no cap on gross sales.

***YOU MUST COLLECT AND REMIT PROPER SALES TAX & LICENSING ON ALL GOOD SOLD IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALABAMA STATE LAW. THE TOWN OF BERLIN AND THE BERLIN FARMERS MARKET ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT SALES TAXES ARE COLLECTED OR REMITTED IN ANY WAY. THIS RESPONSIBILITY RESTS SOLEY WITH THE VENDOR.

***YOU MUST FOLLOW STATE & LOCAL LAWS.

***FOOD VENDORS MUST HAVE A CURRENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT.

***YOU MUST DISPLAY BOTH TOWN OF BERLIN BUSINESS LICENSE AND HEALTH PERMIT AT YOUR AREA.

ONLINE FARMERS MARKET APPLICATION, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW:

Civic Review – Permit & Licensing Software