As the country is currently celebrating National Farmers’ Market Week, CDFA would like to remind Californians that when you visit a Certified Farmers’ Market, “Certified” means something significant.
To be certified, a farmers’ market vendor must be registered under the provisions of Section 47020 of the California Food and Agricultural Code. This means that only the producer or lawful authorized representative of the producer may sell products at these markets. It also means you’ll see a banner that states the name of the farm or ranch, the county where the farm or ranch grows the available products, and a statement that “We Grow What We Sell,” or a similar phrase.
To verify these regulations of California Certified Farmers’ Markets, CDFA Direct Marketing Program inspectors regularly visit production sites and markets. Such protections allow young farmers and ranchers to utilize Certified Farmers’ Markets for business development and provide small-scale farmers and ranchers a regular venue for sales.
It truly is something special to be able to purchase nutritious, locally grown whole foods directly from a producer. It’s an opportunity to know what’s in season in your area, support a local business, and, as noted by Blue House Farm’s Claire Pinkham in a CDFA video spotlighting the benefits of California Certified Farmers’ Markets, talk to growers about their farming methods and get tips on how to cook the produce they grow.
Click here to view this original CDFA Planting Seeds blog post.