[FMC] Petting Zoo at the Market?

[Zachary Lyons]

Funny.  I was just discussing this with our manager relative to a  
woman promoting city goats.

When I management the Washington State Farmers Market Association's  
insurance program, it did not cover live animals at the market.  What  
that means is that the market must either get an insurance rider  
specific to live animals, or the petting zoo needs to show the market  
proof of adequate liability insurance and add the market as an  
"additional insurance" to its policy.

Petting zoos are lots of fun, but they are also high risk, whereas  
farmers markets are low risk.  All you need is one bite or one  
illness and your market could be in a heap of legal problems and bad  
press.  And no matter what, follow the Kansas City lead and keep the  
animals far away from food.  Also, rent hand-washing stations, or  
require the petting zoo to do it, and have staff or volunteers making  
sure anyone going into the petting zoo washes up thoroughly before  
they go back into the market and start handling food again.  If  
someone gets ill because someone transferred bacteria from an animal  
to a head of lettuce, the liability will be with the market, not the  
petting zoo, as the market is responsible for everything in the  
market outside the petting zoo.

Zachary Lyons
Seattle

On Jun 10, 2008, at 11:15 AM, Deborah Yashar wrote:

> Does anyone have experience/knowledge about LEGALITIES /  
> RESTRICTIONS regarding having live animals at farmers’ markets (as  
> a family friendly featured activity/small petting zoo)?
>
>
>
> Thank you in advance,
>
>
>
> *Deborah Yashar
>
>
>
> Deborah Yashar
>
> Food Systems Program Manager
>
> Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)
>
> (831) 758-1469 x 18 office
>
> (831) 345-7957 cell
>
> (831) 758-3665 fax
>
> deborah at albafarmers.org
>
> www.albafarmers.org
>
>
>
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