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Division of Agriculture
Division of Agriculture

Certify to sell at County farmers markets

In order to sell their agricultural products at a Certified Farmers Market, producers must obtain a Certified Producer’s Certificate from their home county’s Agriculture Commissioner’s Office. This certificate must be displayed at the point of sale and must list each commodity offered for sale.

To obtain a Certified Producer’s Certificate, follow the following steps:

  1. Fill out an online application on the California Department of Food and Agriculture database: Direct Marketing Program-DMP (ca.gov)
  2. Contact your agriculture commissioner’s office and arrange for an appointment with a Biologist who will come out to verify your production site. If your production site is in Santa Clara County, the department will charge an hourly rate for the certification inspection.

To start a Farmers’ Market or operate a Farmers’ Market

A certified farmers' market may only be operated by a nonprofit organization, one or more certified producers or by a local government agency. 

  1. Fill out an online application on the California Department of Food and Agriculture database: Direct Marketing Program-DMP (ca.gov)
  2. Contact your agriculture commissioner’s office to complete the application. Non-profit organizations must submit proof of their non-profit status and producers must submit a copy of their current Certified Producer’s Certificate. A map of market location and market layout must also be submitted. 

  3. Our office is mandated to inspect markets every 6 months of operation.  Per Section 47020 (b) of the Food and Agricultural Code, we charge for our travel and inspection time.  Our mileage is based off the current IRS per diem rate, which is currently .67 per mile.  We do our best to group up markets together to share in the travel miles and time.  Our travel and inspection time is rounded to the nearest 6-minute interval, and we charge our cost recovery rate.   Depending on the inspector, 1-hour of work ranges from $166.21 – $206.41. 

     

Attachment

Download Certified Producer's Certificate form