COI collection
for farmers markets.
Stop re-chasing vendors for insurance every season.
Send each vendor a secure upload link, see who's compliant, and let reminders handle renewals before a policy lapses.
The season-long chase
A farmers market isn't one deadline — it's a moving roster all season long. New vendors join mid-summer, regulars' policies renew on their own schedules, and someone always shows up Saturday morning with coverage that quietly expired in July. Keeping all of it straight in a spreadsheet means re-checking certificates over and over.
The risk isn't just paperwork. A vendor whose policy lapsed mid-season is operating uninsured at your market — and if something happens, that exposure can land on the market and its host site. The whole point of collecting COIs is undone the moment one quietly expires and nobody notices.
What to require from market vendors
Exact requirements come from your host site or municipality — always confirm with them — but most farmers markets ask each vendor for:
- Commercial general liability — often $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
- Additional insured — the market (and often the host site/municipality) named on the certificate.
- Active dates — coverage valid for the full season, not just the day they joined.
- Product or food coverage — vendors selling prepared or sampled food may need more; check yours.
- Annual renewal — a fresh COI each season or whenever a policy renews.
Not sure what additional insured means or how to read a certificate? Start with the plain-language COI reading guide or the explanation of certificate holder vs. additional insured. Your host site or insurance contact can confirm the exact limits to ask for.
How VendorDrop handles it
Add your vendors
Paste your vendor email list or add them one by one. Each gets a unique, secure upload link for your market.
They upload their COI
Vendors drop their certificate through the link — no account, no login. You're notified and approve or reject in one click.
Renewal reminders run themselves
VendorDrop watches expiration dates and reminds vendors before coverage lapses — so nobody sells uninsured mid-season.
- Documents stored securely and never shared publicly
- Upload links expire and are unique to each vendor
- Vendors can't see each other's documents or information
Farmers market COI questions
Do farmers market vendors need insurance?
Most markets require it. Managers, host sites, and municipalities typically require each vendor to carry commercial general liability insurance and provide a Certificate of Insurance before selling — often naming the market as additional insured.
What insurance do you require from market vendors?
Commonly commercial general liability ($1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate), with the market and host site named as additional insured. Vendors selling prepared or sampled food may face extra requirements. Confirm exact limits with your host site or municipality.
How do I track vendor COIs across a whole season?
Each vendor gets a unique secure upload link, you see who's compliant in real time, and VendorDrop automatically reminds vendors when a policy is about to expire — so coverage never quietly lapses mid-season.