Article 3 - Certificates - California Food and Agricultural Code

Sections (2)

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 374, Sec. 3. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)An operator of a certified farmers’ market shall register with the department by applying for and obtaining a certificate from the county agricultural commissioner’s office in the county in which the certified farmers’ market is located. The application shall include the times and location of the farmers’ market, the name and contact information for the operator of the farmers’ market, and the agent for service of process for the operator. Upon approval of an application, the county agricultural commissioner shall issue to the operator a certified farmers’ market certificate.

(b)A certified farmers’ market certificate issued by a county agricultural commissioner shall be valid

for up to 12 months from the date of issue, and may be renewed annually thereafter. The county agricultural commissioner shall inspect every certified farmers’ market within the commissioner’s jurisdiction at least once for every six months of operation. At the time of application or renewal, the county agricultural commissioner shall provide a schedule of fees that reflects an estimate of expenses for inspections and may charge a certification and inspection fee equal to the actual expenses incurred.

(c)(1) (A) Before selling at a certified farmers’ market, a producer shall register with the department by applying for and obtaining a certificate from the county agricultural commissioner’s office in the county in which the producer’s land or facility is located. The application shall include a

declaration by the producer that the producer is knowledgeable of and intends to produce in accordance with good agricultural practices, as outlined in the Small Farm Food Safety Guidelines published by the department. Upon approval of an application, the county agricultural commissioner shall issue to the producer a certified producer’s certificate.

(B) A declaration made pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not be used to infer that the producer is not required to comply with other state or federal laws relative to food safety and good agricultural practices.

(2)As part of obtaining or renewing a certified producer’s certificate, a producer farming fruit, vegetables, nuts, herbs, and similar crops shall annually submit to the county agricultural commissioner’s office in

the county in which the producer’s land or facility is located information requested by the department about the specific crops that the producer will harvest or intends to harvest for sale directly to the public. The secretary may promulgate regulations specifying the information a producer is required to submit.

(3)A certified producer’s certificate issued by a county agricultural commissioner shall be valid for up to 12 months from the date of issue and may be renewed annually thereafter. The county agricultural commissioner in each county shall perform at

least one onsite inspection for all new certified producer’s certificate applicants, and may perform additional inspections as needed of the property or properties listed on the certified producer’s certificate issued in the agricultural commissioner’s county as deemed appropriate by the county agricultural commissioner to verify production of the commodities being sold at a certified farmers’ market or the existence in storage of the producer’s actual harvested production, or both, of any product being sold at a certified farmers’ market. Where practical or purposeful, verification inspections shall be made when the actual harvest or sale of the commodity in question is occurring. The county agricultural commissioner shall provide to the producer a schedule of fees that reflects an estimate of expenses for

certification or inspection at the time of application or renewal or before any needed additional verification inspection, and may charge a certification and inspection fee equal to the actual expenses incurred.

(d)Renewal of a certified farmers’ market certificate or certified producer’s certificate may be denied by either the department or a county agricultural commissioner if a certified farmers’ market or a producer is delinquent in the payment of the required state fee or a county certification and inspection fee or administrative civil penalty authorized pursuant to this chapter. The certificate may be eligible for renewal when all outstanding balances and associated penalties or administrative fines have been paid to the department or the respective county or counties.

§ 47021

Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 579, Sec. 15. (AB 1871) Effective January 1, 2015.

(a)Every operator of a certified farmers’ market shall remit to the department, within 30 days after the end of each quarter, a fee equal to the number of vendors participating and selling goods under the authority and management of the certified farmers’ market operator participating on each market day for the entire previous quarter. The fee shall be two dollars ($2) for each vendor whose products were presented for sale on each market day. A certified farmers’ market operator may directly recover all or part of the fee from the participating vendors. An operator of a certified farmers’ market located in a county with a population of less than 400,000 that allows only vendors of agricultural products produced by producers on land located in

the same county as the certified farmers’ market may petition the secretary for a vendor fee of one dollar ($1). The petition shall include a statement of verification of the information upon which the petition is based by the county agricultural commissioner in the county where the certified farmers’ market is located.

(b)An operator of a certified farmers’ market who fails to pay the required fee within 30 days after the end of the quarter in which it is due shall pay to the department a monthly interest charge on the unpaid balance and a late penalty charge, to be determined by the department and not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by law.

(c)All fees collected

pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. The money generated by the imposition of the fees shall be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, by the department to cover the reasonable costs to carry out this chapter, including all of the following actions undertaken by the department:

(1)The coordination of the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee or any ad hoc direct marketing advisory committee.

(2)The evaluation of county enforcement actions and assistance with regard to multiple county enforcement problems.

(3)The adoption of regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter pertaining to certified farmers’ markets.

(4)Hearings from actions taken to enforce this chapter.

(5)The maintenance of a current statewide listing of certified farmers’ markets locations.

(6)The maintenance of a current statewide listing of producers who have been certified.

(7)The dissemination to all certified farmers’ markets information regarding the suspension or revocation of any producer’s certificate and the imposition of administrative penalties.

(8)Other actions, including the maintenance of special fund reserves, that are recommended by the Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee or any ad hoc direct marketing advisory committee and approved by the department for

purposes of carrying out this chapter pertaining to certified farmers’ markets.

(9)Investigation and enforcement expenses, including expenses incurred by any county agricultural commissioner for actions conducted pursuant to this chapter.