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