VENDOR INFORMATION
Thank you for expressing interest as a food or non-food vendor for Eldon RAGBRAI. RABGRAI will be coming to Eldon Friday, July 26, 2024. You can download the vendor information packet Here.
Any organization or business wishing to be a food/non-food vendor for Eldon RAGBRAI celebration must first submit the “Food /Non-Food List” Item 1, along with the applicable vendor fee, clean up deposit, and proof of insurance.
**This is due no later than May 17th .** Applications received after this date are not ensured of approval and are subject to a $250 late fee.
If your application is approved, you must then contact Rose Haukedahl at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to determine if you need a temporary county license. Her contact information is: rosa.haukedahl@dia.iowa.gov (515)-971-1957.
*Food vendors are responsible for applying for and obtaining their license. (Event organizers/City of Eldon does not issue food licenses to sell food.)
The Application Process
- Submit the “Food Items List document” (ITEM 1)
- Submit payment for RAGBRAI vendor fee, cleanup deposit, and include insurance certificate (ITEM 2)
- The Vendor Committee will contact you between June 1 and June 15
- Once accepted as a vendor: Submit payment for Temporary County license.
- Attend required Food Safety meeting (to be held in June 2024)
-The Vendor Committee recommends that every non-profit and for-profit organization take enough time planning for this event. The groups that plan well and have something creative will do very well. It is recommended that you plan to sell all the food you prepare. Any food left over will cut into your profits.
-As we plan for this event to be a winning situation for the whole community, please consider purchasing your supplies locally.
– According to RAGBRAI officials, most of the riders and other participants will plan where they are going to eat the night before they arrive in Eldon. Therefore, all approved vendors will be listed on the food vendor map and on the website map.
INSURANCE:
All vendors will be required to show proof of liability insurance. A copy of the insurance policy must be on file with Eldon RAGBRAI.
FOOD SAFETY MEETING:
There will be a required Food Safety meeting for all Food Vendors, to ensure the safety of the public. Once you have been accepted as an official vendor you will be notified of the date and time.
FEES:
There will be 2 separate fees required of food vendors.
Item 1 is due to the City of Eldon.
Item 2 is due to the Iowa Department of Inspections.
1. RAGBRAI Permit:
Eldon RAGBRAI has established the following fee schedule, which has been adopted by Eldon City Council as an Ordinance. *Spaces will be roughly 10’x20’. If you require 2 spaces, you must pay 2 vendor fees.*
- Commercial Vendor Food/Non-Food $300.00 _________
- Non- Profit Vendor $200.00 _________
- Local Commercial Vendor Food/Non-Food $150.00 _________
- Local Non-Profit (Eldon Organization) $100.00 _________
- Outdoor Service (Current Eldon Business) $150.00 _________
- Required Cleanup Deposit $100.00 _________ Total Fee Submitted $ _________
*Submit 2 checks: One for the vendor fee and one for the cleanup deposit.
Payable to: City of Eldon.
Mail to: City of Eldon, P.O. Box 367, Eldon, IA 52554
2. Health Department Permit or License:
If your application is approved, you must then contact Rose Haukedahl at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals to determine if you need a temporary county license. Her contact information is: rosa.haukedahl@dia.iowa.gov (515)-971-1957.
- Food Vendors will pay their fees separately for a Health Department permit/license apply https://dia.iowa.gov/food/temp-food-stands-and-events
- Anything other than pre-packaged ready to eat foods, including canned and bottled beverages from a food processor, will require a Temporary County license.
- The cost for the Temporary County license is $50.
- Each food vendor must have a RABGRAI permit hanging visibly within the booth.
RAGBRAI permits and temporary county license will be handed out at the mandatory Food and Safety meeting, date and time to be announced.
Booth assignments will be handed out at the Food Safety Meeting
Booth Set Up:
Booth set up may begin as early as Thursday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m. Booths MUST BE SET UP and ready for inspection by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, July 26. Food Vendors will not have a specific inspection time assigned to them. You must be ready for inspection.
Hours of Operation:
All vendors must be set up and ready to serve by 5 a.m. on Friday, July 26. This will allow enough time for inspections and ensure that Eldon is ready to take care of the early participants. You should plan on being very busy between 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. This is when most participants will come through. It is your decision on how long you plan to be open for business. Please note that Eldon shut down time is 11:00 a.m.
Pricing:
It will be up to each group to set their own prices. Try to price your food items so that you can make a profit while still offering a reasonably priced item. For example, most riders will feel that items priced similar to McDonald’s food items are reasonable. All registered RAGBRAI participants will have a wristband. We recommend that a lesser price be charged to RAGBRAI participants with a wristband.
Clean Up:
We require that all food vendors clean up their areas before they leave. You must provide your own trash can at your booth. We recommend that each vendor schedule a cleanup crew to help clean up their area. All vendors must have their booths cleaned and moved by Friday, July 26 by 7:00 p.m. unless prior arrangements are made with the committee.
