Food Booth Vendor Application

We are looking for quality food vendors with preference to those featuring mushrooms on
their menus. Food vendors must have a certificate of insurance naming the Morgan Hill
Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc as additionally insured and fill out all the necessary paper work
and applications for the Health Department and Fire Department. Any applications
returned incomplete will not be accepted.  

Morgan Hill, CA is Silicon Valley's escape. Centrally located between San Francisco and the
Monterey Bay, Morgan Hill is one of the most desirable and fastest growing communities in
Santa Clara County. People are drawn to the beautiful hillsides surrounding the valley, the
peaceful atmosphere and the general quality of life Morgan Hill offers. Morgan Hill's combination of climate, resources, points of interests and ethnic diversity provide a solid economic environment as well as a vital and exciting community in which to live, work and play. Demographics available upon request.

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRELEY AS IT HAS IMPORANT INFORMATION ON APPLYING AS A FOOD VENDOR.  

FOOD VENDOR FEES:

• $1500 per 10x10 serving/booth space for the two-day event ($1000 non-profit and beverage only vendors). Additional space is provided at no additional cost for cooking/BBQing. If your set-up/serving booth does not fit into the above space, you must supply details of your set-up requirements. Additional fees may apply depending on the additional space you will need. 
• Vendor fees are refundable up to May 1st, minus a $200 application processing fee.
• Additional fees apply for electrical. Electrical is available during festival hours only. Quiet Generators are acceptable with approval of the Electrical Chairman.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

• Completed application must include a picture or handwritten sheet of booth set-up. This is very important so we make sure we give you enough space for your cooking area.
• The Selection Committee will meet every two weeks to consider all applications received at that time. New food vendor applications will be held until March 1st to determine the festival needs.
• The Committee’s decision is based on the needs of the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival and is final.
• Vendors will be notified of their acceptance and approved menus in a timely manner. Those accepted will receive space assignment and set-up information the first week of May. All placement decisions are final. NO NEGOTIATIONS!
• Priority on menu items is given to returning vendors. If a returning vendor does not submit their application by the deadline date of March 1st, we will accept a new vendor with similar menu items. No exceptions!
• Fill out all Health permit forms completely and return with application and appropriate fee. If the organization is Veteran Exempt, please fill out the necessary information included on the Temporary Event Permit from DEH

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Electrical is only available during festival hours
2. All appliances must be listed on the food vendor’s application.
3. All information must be accurate to a reasonable degree.
4. All electrical extension cords must be provided by the food vendor (100 ft. per appliance, 14-gauge, 3 wire minimum).
5. No more than 3 electrical appliances allowed per booth.
6. No coffee pots for personal use.
7. Electrical is limited to certain areas. Quiet Generators are acceptable with approval.
8. All decisions made by the electrical chairman are final.

FIRE DEPARTMENT (see additional Regulations enclosed):The Fire Marshall will be on site to ensure compliance. All Fire regulations will be enforcedeven after the inspectors have left the grounds. The Mushroom Festival does not takeresponsibility for any vendor who is shut down for non-compliance. Absolutely no refundswill be granted if a food vendor is shut down by the Fire Marshall or festival managementfor non-compliance. All food vendors must supply their own 10x10 health & fire approved canopy or rent one from us. Any vendor cooking with an open flame must have a flame-retardant canopy.

SALES PERMIT:The vendor is responsible for obtaining a current and valid sales permit prior to the event.Only public education institutions are exempt. This is not negotiable. If you do not have asellers/temporary sellers permit, please click here to visit the CDTFA online services. 

HEALTH PERMIT (see DEH regulations in attachments):

Copy the informational pages and train all workers on these regulations. Inspectors will beon site both festival days to ensure compliance. All Health Department regulations will beenforced even after the inspectors have left the grounds. No menu changes will be allowedwithout written approval. Food may not be sold or sampled outside of the booth. The Mushroom Festival does not take responsibility for any vendor who is shut down for noncompliance.

Absolutely no refunds will be granted if a food vendor is shut down by the Health Department or festival management for non-compliance.

SIGNAGE:We can’t stress enough how important signage is. GOOD SIGNAGE IS THE KEY TOYOUR SUCCESS! Do not use poster board or butcher paper for the main sign. Optimumsize for the sign is 8' x 18" or 8’x 24”. Vinyl banners with grommets & bungee cords workbest. PVC pipe works well to get your signs high above the booth for optimal view. Foodvendors must provide their own signage display equipment. Poster board is fine for postingmenu and prices at eye level. Signs should have name of menu items and organization. Alittle imagination and color here pay off big. Please emphasize “MUSHROOMS” on yourmenu if you are selling mushroom dishes.

INSURANCE:Vendor agrees to secure and maintain the following minimum insurance policies, limitsand provision during the entire length of each Event. Such insurance will be provided bycompanies that maintain an AM Best rating of at least A- and a financial size of at least7(VII) or equivalent rating and name Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, Inc. as anadditional insured. All liability policies will be on an occurrence based. Commercial GeneralLiability Insurance: Commercial general liability insurance coverage will be in anamount equal to or greater than $1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limit. SaidCommercial general liability coverage will provide coverage for bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, advertising injury, host liquor and contractual liabilities.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Food vendors are allowed to sell sodas, bottled beverages and bottled water. All beverages must be stated on application and approved by festival management. All beverage vendors must provide their own water.
• The Mushroom Festival reserves the right to locate vendor booths according to the needs of the festival.
• All food vendors must supply their own 10x10 health & fire approved canopy or rent one from us. Any vendor cooking with an open flame must have a flame-retardant canopy.
• All display and selling area must be placed within your 10x10 space.
• Booth sharing is NOT allowed
• No handing out samples outside your booth.
• Electrical service is only available during festival hours and not available in all locations. This will affect booth location. Quiet generators are allowed upon approval.
• Overnight security will be provided. Each vendor is responsible for securing their own booth. The festival is not responsible for any loss or theft incurred by any vendor.
• Access to your space will be available on Friday at 5pm for set up. No Exceptions. Streets don’t close until 5pm and we need time to get the refer, ice and beer trucks staged before vendors set-up. Vendors are encouraged to put up signs, decorate and move in large appliances and tables on Friday. If you set up in the wrong booth space you will be asked to move. If you are not available to move your booth, Festival management has the right tomove your booth and is not responsible for any damage.
• Cancellations prior to May 1st will be refunded, minus a $200 processing fee. Absolutely no refunds for cancellations after May 1st. If you are NOT accepted as a vendor or if the festival is cancelled for any reason, all fees will be returned by May 1st.
• Tables and chairs are not available to borrow or rent from the festival. Please make arrangements to provide your own. They should be covered with a washable surface. A great reference is Kuik Covers.
• Vendors are responsible for removing their own trash from their area each evening and may not use Festival trash receptacles used by public for its disposal. Each food booth must provide its own large garbage cans behind booth. Your $100 security deposit will be voided after the festival if you follow all general rules and your space is left clean.
• The Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras has the right to prohibit and/or evict (without refund or assumption of liability for lost sales or expenses) any presentation or person who is in any manner deemed offensive or unprofessional.
• All vendors agree to participate for the entire event and understand that tear down on Sunday before 6pm is not allowed for any reason.
• The Mushroom Festival Committee does not guarantee exclusive rights to any food item and makes all final decisions regarding food and beverage sales.
• Per the Morgan Hill Municipal Code, vendors and food providers shall not dispense prepared food to a customer in a polystyrene foam food container. These containers are commonly known as Styrofoam™. In favor of our environment, the use of paper, aluminum and other recyclable food containers is encouraged by any vendor during the festival.

INSTRUCTIONS ON OBTAINING A TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITY PERMIT (TFF):

• Download and complete the Temporary Food Facility (TFF) permit application and return with this application to be accepted as a food vendor (attachment is in this application process). ONLY EXCEPTION (FOOD TRUCKS/CART VENDORS WHO HAVE AN ANNUAL PERMIT WITH SANTA CLARA COUNTY).
• Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival collects all Health Permit Fees and submits them to theSanta Clara County Department of Health on behalf of participating food vendors. Any applications submitted within two-weeks prior to the festival will incure a 25% late fee.
• If you apply for more than one (1) food booth/operation booth, submit a separate TFF application and permit fee for each booth/operation.
• A CDFA license is required for manufacturing milk, ice cream or soft-serve products.
• A Cottage Food Operator registration or permit is required to make approved cottage foods from a home kitchen.
• Once all event applications are approved by the Santa Clara County Dept of Health, permits will be sent to the Mushroom Festival who will distribute your permit to you Saturday morning. Your permit must be posted in public view in your booth at all times during operation.  

MOBILE FOOD FACILITIES - Mobile food facilities (carts/trucks/trailers):

• Out-of-county permitted mobile food facilities (MFF): Generally, MFFs need an annual SCC MFF permit to operate in SCC. Instead of requiring an MFF to obtain an annual SCC MFF permit to attend an event, if the organizer has at least one food booth TFF, DEH can issue a TFF permit to the out-of-county MFF to operate at the event.
  • a) Out-of-county permitted mobile food facilities (MFF) must submit a TFF application, TFF permit fee, and a copy of their valid Environmental Health permit (or HCD Insignia for occupied MFFs if no EH permit) issued by their local jurisdiction. They must be in good standing with their local jurisdiction.
  • b) Occupied MFFs must have an HCD Insignia to operate in California. Contact the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) at (916) 255-2501 or CLICK HERE to visit the HCD website for more information on how to obtain an HCD Insignia.
  • c) These operators count towards the number of food operations when determining the Event Coordinator fee.
• In-county permitted MFFs must have a current permit decal, annual Environmental Health permit and be in good standing to operate in Santa Clara County (SCC). TFF permit fees are not required to operate at temporary events.

VETERANS:Download the attachment and complete the Affidavit for a Veteran's Exemption form and return with all required documentation no later than April 1st. If you do not return with all the requirement/necessary documentation, you will be invoiced the $125 DEH permit fee.

Veterans are not exempt from late fees, reinspection fees, or enforcement fees. For more information or questions regarding Temporary Events contact: (408) 918-3400 and askto speak to Administrative Support for Temporary Events

If you are a new food vendor and would like to meet with festival staff prior to the festivalto go over requirements, etc. please contact Sunday Minnich or Heather Moggia at info@mhmmg.com to set up an appointment.