Farmers planning to sell fresh products directly to consumers this year should apply for their annual growers permits through their local Alabama Cooperative Extension System county office.

“If you sell fresh fruits or vegetables, table eggs or ornamental plants, you need a growers permit,” said Brandy Childress, Chilton County Extension office administrative support associate. “It allows you to sell directly to consumers anywhere in the state at places like farmers markets, roadside stands and festivals.”

The free permits are only available through local Extension offices. Growers permits expire at the end of the calendar year and must be renewed annually.

Reasons to Obtain a Growers Permit
Growers permits are required for vendors at many farmers markets in Alabama. The permit provides proof that the person selling the raw product is also the person who grew that product. It includes wording for two sections of the Code of Alabama, which cover sales tax and licensing fee exemptions for selling raw commodities.

Also, farmers with a permit can gain access to additional customers through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The federally funded program provides $50 on a benefit card to eligible seniors to buy fresh produce from certified farmers.

Farmers Market Authority Director Don Wambles said growers permits are part of the requirement to participate in the program.

“We need more farmers to sign up for certification in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program,” Wambles said. “It’s good for our state’s senior citizens, who need more access to fresh food, and it’s good for farmers who get to sell to more people.”

Along with obtaining a growers permit, farmers must complete training, which is available in person and online. For more information, including future training dates, visit agi.alabama.gov/farmersmarket/sfmnp-farmer-training/.

Application Process
To apply, growers must visit their local Extension office, where personnel will assist in filling out a short form. Applicants must present a government-issued ID during the process.

“You show your identification, and we’ll notarize the form,” Childress said. “That same day, we will give you your copy. Then, you can present it to anyone who asks. We file the original. If you participate in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, the Extension office will forward a copy of the permit to the Farmers Market Authority for their records.”

For growers who are too busy to travel to an Extension office, Childress said they have made field visits.

“If someone cannot get away, we’re happy to go on site and help fill out their information,” she said. “Growers sometimes call on a Friday, and they need their permit for a market the next day. We try our best to get it ready for them. It really is a hassle-free process, so there’s no reason to not do it.”

More Information
Additional details on growers permits can be found on the Alabama Growers Permit web page at aces.edu. To learn more about the process, watch a video featuring Childress and Chilton County farmer Slate Knight on the Alabama Extension YouTube channel.

Growers permits do not apply to the sale of further processed items, such as jams and jellies. Extension programming for the Cottage Food Law and ServSafe certifications can help farmers markets vendors who sell these items.