Village Fest board approves new vendors, presses for strict "75% artisan-made" compliance

The Village Fest board voted May 26 to admit several new vendors for the summer market and to tighten enforcement of its longtime rule that at least 75% of a booth's inventory must be handmade or maker-produced.

Board members welcomed applicants and heard brief presentations from food and craft sellers, then took a series of motions to approve participants, including Pastries by Samaya (Egyptian pastries and drinks), Miss T (matcha and boba drinks), Juniper Hill Naturals, Nova 3 Design Studio (3D-printed goods), Luna Tropicals/The Jungle (succulents and tropical plants), Polytreat (dehydrated pet treats) and a soap-and-body-products maker, Holy Loved Body.

"We do require all of our vendors and products to have their ingredients listed," a board member said during review of Holy Loved Body's samples; Brandi Arrington, the vendor, said she would add ingredient lists. The board approved her application on the condition that ingredient labels be applied to each product or placed on a back label; a board motion to that effect passed.

Why it matters: Village Fest markets itself as an artisan fair rather than a general street fair. Board members repeatedly emphasized that the festival's selection criteria are meant to preserve maker-driven booths and to avoid large-scale resale. Several members reported seeing booths at recent events that may not meet the 75% threshold; they asked staff to follow up with those vendors and, if necessary, bring them back before the board for review.

Vendor highlights and board questions Brandi Arrington, who said she uses tallow, kokum butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E to make balms and toners, told the board she created a "sensitive" formula without essential oils after using it on her infant. The board cautioned her against medical claims and required ingredient labeling before participation.

Pastries by Samaya and Miss T demonstrated beverages and pastries the board described as good fits for summer foot traffic. Miss T described four matcha flavors and boba options and said drinks would be prepared on site. Pastries by Samaya presented Egyptian-style desserts and said she would include ingredient information on packaging.

Ashley Nicolopoulos, owner of Juniper Hill Naturals, described a desert-inspired fragrance and lifestyle line made using locally foraged creosote on property she owns; Board member Anderson recused himself from that vote because of a personal connection. The board approved Juniper Hill after discussing provenance and production.

Harrison Askenazi of Nova 3 Design Studio said he uses multiple 3D printers, controls slicing, printing, and finishing, and conducts live printing demos at markets. Board members questioned how to measure the 75% maker threshold for digitally produced goods, but ultimately approved the vendor while reiterating the fair's artisan standard.

Luis Montanello (Luna Tropicals/The Jungle) explained greenhouse and acclimation practices for succulents and tropical plants brought from Vista, California; the board approved his application for plant sales. Jessica Bedwell (Polytreat) described dehydrated, single-ingredient pet treats processed in a commercial kitchen and labeled with ingredients and manufacturer information; the board approved her vendor application as well.

Enforcement and next steps Board members reported two booths observed on a recent walk-through that likely fall short of the 75% handcrafted rule—one clothing seller with many imported items and another selling jewelry chains. Members directed staff to contact those vendors to discuss the rule and requested that staff bring any unresolved cases back to the board.

Faith, identified in the meeting as staff, said she would follow up and bring vendors in for discussion as needed. The board also noted a vendor name-change that had been conditionally approved pending legal review; the board voted to finalize that name-change this evening after staff confirmed the outstanding legal questions had been resolved.

The board closed the meeting by reminding vendors about a June 3 appreciation dinner with the City Council at the Convention Center and by adjourning with unanimous assent.

Votes at a glance - Approve agenda and April 28 minutes: approved. - Approve Holy Loved Body (Brandi Arrington): approved, condition — ingredient labels required. - Approve Pastries by Samaya (pastries and Egyptian drinks): approved. - Approve Miss T (matcha/boba drinks): approved. - Approve Juniper Hill Naturals (Ashley Nicolopoulos): approved; Board member Anderson recused. - Approve Nova 3 Design Studio (Harrison Askenazi): approved. - Approve Luna Tropicals / The Jungle (Luis Montanello): approved. - Approve Polytreat (Jessica Bedwell): approved. - Approve vendor name-change for Lydia (previously conditionally approved): approved.

The board asked staff to contact vendors flagged for possible noncompliance with the 75% artisan threshold and to schedule them for future review if the issues are not resolved.

(Reporting based on the Village Fest board meeting transcript, May 26.)