How can I become a Boiled Peanut Vendor for a yearly town fair?

by Tracey
(West Springfield, MA USA)

How can I become a Boiled Peanut Vendor for a yearly town fair? I don't have a clue yet!

Comments for How can I become a Boiled Peanut Vendor for a yearly town fair?

Apr 23, 2012

Where to begin as a Boiled Peanut Vendor
by: Bret

Tracey,
If you could ask specific questions, we may be able to assist you better.

To become a boiled peanut vendor you need to be able to boil peanuts, and need to meet all of your local health and licensing requirements for mobile food vending. You must ask whether you need a sales license, and whether you have to collect taxes on sales.

You will need a large pot for boiling peanuts, fuel and burner for that pot, utensils for stirring and serving boiled peanuts. You will need containers for dispensing the peanuts. You'll need a source of raw peanuts, and a place to store them. You may need a refrigerator or freezer for storage of boiled peanuts.

You will need to demonstrate that you have processes and facilities to handle and dispense food safely. This will include insuring proper holding temperature for cold and hot foods, handwashing facilities, insuring that no cooked food is touched by bare hands by using gloves and/or clean serving utensils, proper waste water disposal, a sanitizing station for cleaning utensils, etc.

You should contact your local health department to understand their requirements, and licensing process.

Here is Springfield, Massachusetts health permit listings, including food licenses.

I see mobile food server listed.
Here is the license form.

Per the above form, a food service must be in accordance with the
Statutory Authorization Massachusetts General Law 94, which is here.

You can contact the Springfield Health & Human Services at 95 State Street, Suite 201
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: 413 787-6740
Monday - Friday, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

I hope this helps. What specific questions do you have?

Mar 27, 2013

Did you start your business?
by: Nancy

Tracey,
Did you wind up starting a peanut business? I am trying to find food vendors for an Art Festival called First Fridays in Putnam, CT. In May our theme is "Circus" and we think a roasted or boiled peanut vendor is a must have, so I'm surfing the net looking for someone. If you are up and running, please email or call and I'll send you some more info.
nldziki@yahoo.com
860-617-7897

Sep 07, 2015

They Won't Sell
by: Dirty Deek

Boiled peanuts are a southern or "hick" type novelty food. I see people trying to sell them around the Appalachians in places such as Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Cherokee, NC and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. But, they don't even sell very well in these areas.
Why?

They're a regional food. Northern people won't eat them or even try them. People simply will NOT try something they don't know about....give all the free samples you want, it won't help. Boiled peanuts are like raw oysters, you either love them or hate them. They're very messy too, people don't like messy foods. Especially if they're in a place where there's no place wash up. I want to try them here in Indiana, but I've been in the concession business many years and I know what will sell and what won't. Peanuts of any kind won't sell, not enough to fool with anyway.

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