Episode 301: Wendy Chen: Volunteering to Keep it Legal

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many farmers markets and we know that even market managers are sometimes labeled as volunteers. That labor of love is admirable. Is it legal? That depends, and it's complicated. Wendy Chen joined us at InTents, the National Farmers Market Conference earlier this year. Her work at the Center for Agricultural and Food Systems at Vermont Law School includes the newest section of the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit, specifically focused on the role of volunteers at farmers markets. Listen in as we discuss the answers to these questions and more:   

• What kind of organizations can host volunteers?

• Do the market bucks you give volunteers put you at risk?  

• Who is responsible if a volunteer is injured at the market?

• Can a full time manager be a volunteer?

• What penalties come with misclassifying team members?

Find the new volunteer resource and more at farmersmarketlegaltoolkit.org