(a) Each authorized farmers’ market shall maintain records of operation which shall be provided to the department and which shall include posted hours and days and shall be signed by a duly authorized representative of the farmers’ market. Farmers’ market assurances shall be submitted in a manner outlined by the department and shall provide evidence of:

(1) Whether a farmers’ market possesses the capability to serve the additional demands brought about by distribution of vouchers in the area without causing undue harm to the existing farmers’ market consumer base; and

(2) A willingness by persons associated with the farmers’ market to meet all CFM/WIC requirements. Information submitted by a farmers’ market shall include, but not be limited to:

(A) The number of Connecticut-grown fresh produce vendor participants;

(B) Hours of operation to be maintained per week;

(C) Season of operation; and

(D) Accessibility and consistency of farmers’ market location.

(b) The department shall give priority to a farmers’ market with previous involvement in CFM/WIC provided the farmers’ market has maintained the conditions outlined in its farmers’ market assurances and does not have a high incidence of certified vendor noncompliance or suspensions.

(c) In determining a farmers’ market’s authorization, the commissioner shall consider the number of eligible applications received by the department prior to the first of May which indicate the intent to participate in the proposed farmers’ market. The standard for the authorization of a single or principal farmers’ market in a county shall be one eligible application for every one hundred participants who participate in the distribution clinic in said county. A minimum of two or more eligible applications shall be required for a farmers’ market to receive authorization.

(d) The number of farmers’ markets authorized for the season shall be determined by the department no later than the thirty-first day of May prior to each season.