Farmers Market Insurance
Meet venue requirements and get instant proof of insurance with farmers market coverage from Food Liability Insurance Program (FLIP).
Who Needs Farmers Market Insurance?
FLIP’s farmers market liability insurance covers a wide variety of food and beverage vendors.
Beverages & Concessions
Farmers
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Vendors
Home-Based Baker
Homemade Pet Treats
Specialty Food Vendors
We cover more farmers market vendors than those listed above. See additional industries
What Is Farmers Market Vendor Insurance?
This coverage is designed to protect a variety of food and beverage vendors from the expense of third-party claims (aka accidents affecting other people) that might happen while participating in a farmers market.
Slip-and-fall accidents, foodborne illnesses, and equipment loss are some of the most common farmers market claims vendors experience. You can be held responsible for the resulting expenses from these incidents or face legal fees to defend a claim, which can easily cost thousands of dollars.
What Does Farmers Market Insurance Cover?
FLIP’s farmers market insurance policy combines essential coverages designed to protect you from the financial impact of those claims, including costs like:
- Other people’s medical bills
- Replacements/repairs to other people’s damaged property
- Legal expenses needed to defend yourself against a claim
Why Do Farmers Markets Require Insurance?
Most markets require insurance before you can become a farmers market vendor because of how common third-party bodily injury and property damage claims are. It’s easy for an attendee to slip on a wet surface next to your booth after you spill something or trip over your extension cord and hurt themselves.
While the market organizers likely have their own liability insurance policy, they don’t want their policy limits drained by accidents you or other vendors cause. They only want their insurance to kick in when they’re responsible for an accident. This is why they expect all vendors to carry their own insurance and meet specific coverage requirements.
Farmers Market Insurance Requirements
Farmers markets typically have the following insurance requirements for vendors:
- General liability insurance: While many farmers market vendors need more than just a general liability policy, this is the most basic coverage markets require in order to participate.
- Minimum limits: You may be required to meet or exceed specific general liability limits. These are often $1,000,000 per occurrence (the maximum paid per claim) and $2,000,000 aggregate (the maximum paid for the whole policy period).
- Additional insured status: It’s common for markets to ask you for additional insured status. This means you add them to your policy so they’re covered if someone tries to sue them for an accident you caused.
- Certificate of Insurance (COI): This is an official document issued by your insurance provider that market organizers want to see to make sure you have the right coverage and limits.
Every market is different, so check with any market you want to participate in to see what kind of coverage they require and what minimum limits you need to meet before applying.
How Much Does Farmers Market Insurance Cost?
Farmers market liability insurance from FLIP starts at just $25.92 a month or $299 a year, and includes the following must-have coverages for any vendor:
- General liability
- Product liability
- Damage to premises rented
- Products-completed operations
- Personal and advertising injury
92% of farmers market vendors with FLIP policies pay as low as $26 a month for coverage. If you need additional coverage, such as tools and equipment or commercial auto, your premium will go up. However, your business will be better protected against the biggest risks it faces.
Learn more about the cost of farmers market vendor insurance and which factors impact your premium.
What Kind of Insurance Do Farmers Market Vendors Need?
Farmers market insurance from FLIP includes the most essential coverages that all vendors need. However, we have many add-ons available so you can customize your coverage to suit your needs.
| Type of Insurance | What It Covers | Example Claim | Included in FLIP’s Farmers Market Insurance Policy? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bodily injuries to others or damage to their property caused by your business |
A customer trips over a crate next to your booth and injures themselves |
✅ |
|
|
Other people’s bodily injuries or property damage caused by your food/beverage product |
A customer has a reaction to an unlabeled allergen in your product |
✅ |
|
|
Claims regarding financial and/or reputational damage you caused to others when promoting your business |
A competitor sues you for false advertising because your product isn’t actually 100% organic |
✅ |
|
|
Claims related to the food you serve and any services you provide |
A customer gets food poisoning from one of your products |
✅ |
|
|
Limited property damage coverage for a rented space |
You rent a commercial kitchen and accidentally start a grease fire |
✅ |
|
|
Damages to/caused by a vehicle you use for your business |
Another vehicle rear-ends your work vehicle on the way to the market |
✖️ (optional) |
|
|
First- and third-party costs stemming from a cyberattack (e.g., phishing, data breach, etc.) |
Your card reader gets hacked through unsecured public Wi-Fi at a market, and your customers’ payment info is compromised |
✖️ (optional) |
|
|
Bodily injuries to others and damage to their property caused by your professional advice |
A client sues you after attending your home baking workshop because they say your advice caused them to lose money |
✖️ (optional) |
|
|
Replacing or repairing stolen or damaged mobile business gear |
Your generator is stolen while you’re setting up your market booth |
✖️ (optional) |
|
|
State-required benefits for employees who become injured/ill at work |
Your employee strains their back lifting inventory and needs significant time off from work to recover |
✖️ (optional) |
How to Get Farmers Market Insurance Fast
Get farmers market vendor insurance from FLIP in 10 minutes or less by following these steps:
- Start your application
- Select your primary business activity and enter information about your business
- Customize your policy with add-on coverages, as needed
- Get your free quote and finish checking out
Once we’ve processed your payment, you’ll have instant access to your COI via your user dashboard and can make any changes to your coverage online. Enjoy same-day coverage for an affordable price!
Let's Talk About Numbers for Farmers Market Liability Insurance
Why Farmers Market Vendors Choose Us
Here’s what other people have to say about their experience from over 300+ available reviews.
Coverage Details Limits
General Liability Aggregate Limit
$2,000,000
Products – Completed Operations Aggregate Limit
$2,000,000
Personal and Advertising Injury Limit
$1,000,000
General Each Occurrence Limit
$1,000,000
Damage to Premises Rented to You Limit (Any One Premises)
$300,000
Liability Deductible
NO DEDUCTIBLE
Inland Marine Limit (Any One Article / Aggregate)
$5,000/$10,000
Inland Marine Limit (Per Occurrence) – Deductible
$250
Medical Expense Limit
$5,000
Learn More About Farmers Market Insurance
FAQs About Farmers Market Insurance
What Is an Additional Insured for Farmers Market Vendors?
Farmers markets often request that vendors add them to their policies as additional insureds. With FLIP, you can add an unlimited number of additional insureds to your policy for free during your application or any time afterward via your user dashboard.
Can I Get Farmers Market Insurance for One Day?
FLIP does not offer one-day farmers market insurance. However, if you sell throughout the year, even occasionally, our annual policy makes it easy for you to apply and get accepted at more markets because you don’t have to scramble to get short-term coverage.
What Is a Certificate of Insurance for a Farmers Market?
A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is an official document provided by your insurance company that includes all the essential details about your policy. This includes the coverages you have, your limits, and your additional insureds.
It is sometimes referred to as an ACORD COI or your proof of insurance. This is what most farmers markets want to see before you can participate in their event because it lets them verify that you meet their coverage requirements and have an active policy in place.