Greer Farmers Market – Cookoff Fundriaser Sign up 2026
You may sign up for one or both. Contestants and judges will be advertised based on your name, business, and entry as applicable on the form. Confirmation of participation will be sent following.
Chili Cookoff 📅 Sunday, November 15 | ⏰ 11AM-2PM | 📍 Greer Farmers Market, Greer City Park
GREER FARMERS MARKET:
Greerfarmersmarket.com
- Market Site: Greer City Park, 301 E Poinsett St, Greer SC 29651
- Contact Information: Maggie@greerfarmersmarket.com
- Mailing address: 113C Berry Ave, Geer, SC, 29651
- Phone: (864)334-6886
No fee for participants. Participants can include businesses, individuals, and restaurants.
RULES:
- Competition Entries must contain the item focus for the festival (Peach for Peach Cookoff, Chili for Chili Cookoff). We recommend using GFM vendor items, and to make enough for 300 2oz samples.
- Participants MAY NOT sell items of any kind without proper approval from either Greer Farmers Market (items not eaten on site) OR the City of Greer for Mobile Food Units (selling hot foods). To only participate in the cookoff (no sales), the above is not needed.
1️⃣ ARRIVAL & SETUP For Contestants
(Judges arrive at 10:45 to judge 11:00AM-12:00PM)
⏰ Loading zone opens 9:00AM, park by 10:00 AM ✅ Ready to serve by 11AM
📍 Check in at GFM booth to get:
- Display sign (with your booth’s name)
- 300 tasting cups + 300 spoons (more if needed)
- Printed instructions (same as this)
Make sure to bring any tables, chairs, and serving items needed. Contestants have a 10x10 space, and may bring a tent if desired. Tents must be 10x10 or smaller and have 40lb weights on each leg in the event of wind.
2️⃣ SERVING SAMPLES
- Shoppers buy $1 tickets from GFM booth
- 1 ticket = 1 sample (you don’t need to track tickets)
- Shoppers get a voting stick for People’s Choice (they vote at GFM booth)
3️⃣ JUDGING
- Volunteers collect judges samples from you shortly after 11 AM.
- Judges pick Judge’s Choice Winner double-blind, using SCBA-based judging rules under the guidence of a non-tasting and non-voting Marshal.
- GFM seeks to select qualified volunteer judges from the community who often represent restuarants, businesses, the media, or other entity. Each table comprises of 3-6 judges that will taste a max of 8 samples each. There may be up to 2 tables of judges and up to 16 contestants.
4️⃣ (Optional) SELLING FULL PORTIONS - by registration as a vendor
- Only if pre-approved as a vendor BEFORE filling out the cookoff form - application here.
- Anyone cooking/heating full portions of food must also have a Mobile Food Unit license with the City of Greer & follow vendor rules
- 💡 Tip: Create a separate tasting line to keep things moving
5️⃣ AWARDS
- 🏆 1:30PM PM at musician’s area - send someone to hear the results!
- Awards will be for: People’s Choice, Judges Choice, and 2nd Place
6️⃣ PACKING UP
- Event runs until 2:00 PM — keep serving until you run out of samples OR 2 PM. Please let a staff member know if you run out of samples.
- Breakdown allowed until 3:00 PM ✅ Leave your space clean before you go
Insurance & Liability:
Items brought on site are done so at the sole risk of the participant. The City of Greer nor Greer Farmers Market are not responsible for any injury, loss, damage, or destruction of personal property, equipment, and/or valuables. Vendors are responsible for their own personal and property liability insurance.
Thanks for bringing the cookoff heat to Greer! We hope you enjoy your time with us, and good luck!
Maggie Blair, Greer Farmers Market Director