What Makes a “Certified” Farmers Market?
Ever wondered what the “certified” in California Certified Farmers’ Market means? Farmers’ markets have become a win for farmers and consumers: consumers get a guarantee they are buying fresh, locally-grown produce (within a 100-mile radius), and returns a greater share of the proceeds directly to farmers, helping to sustain local agriculture. Producers undergo a farm inspection by the state Department of Food and Agriculture, certifying that the producer can sell their produce at a local market. The certification of the farmers’ market exempts the farmer from having to meet the state’s packing, labeling, and shipping requirements for the produce being sold at that market. The exemption was created in a 1977 regulation and helps small farmers increase their income by making farmers’ markets more accessible. This regulation also helped begin the rise of farmers’ markets in the state. The certification process involves plenty of fees for both the farmers and operators, but farmers’ marke
