Want to be Reading Terminal Market’s newest merchant? A contest will decide who gets to move in.

Reading Terminal Market is getting ready for a food fight, seeking applications from entrepreneurs who would like to set up shop in the historic food hall.

The “Fresh Food Fight,” launched this month, invites applicants to submit proposals for fresh food or grocery concepts. The judges of the competition will not consider proposals that call for prepared food or restaurant-style concepts — instead, they’re looking for ideas like a Halal or kosher butcher, a grocery store, or an in-house bread maker.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 17, and there is a “question and answer” period that runs through Friday, April 26. Applicants can download the request for proposal form at readingterminalmarket.org.

RTM’s board of directors will select semifinalists and invite them to present their concepts to a panel of judges. Later, those finalists will be evaluated by the Reading Terminal Market Corporation Leasing Committee.

The market is offering a $10,000 prize to be used toward fit-out costs for the merchant that is chosen as a winner, provided that they also sign a lease with the leasing committee for a space at the market.

Applicants are encouraged to pitch ideas that are different from businesses that already exist in the market.

“This search is in line with the Market’s mission of providing fresh, affordable food options to Philadelphians, and is in response to those who do their shopping at the Market asking for a wider variety of fresh food options,” Reading Terminal manager Anuj Gupta said in a statement.