(a) Certified farmers’ markets are California agricultural product point-of-sale locations that are registered under the provisions of Section 47020 and operated in accordance with this chapter and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(b) The operator of a certified farmers’ market shall establish a clearly defined marketing area where only agricultural products may be sold. Only the producer or the lawful authorized representative of the producer may sell agricultural products within the area defined as a certified farmers’ market. Sales of agricultural products purchased from another individual or entity shall not occur within a certified farmers’ market, and an agricultural product producer or product dealer shall not sell his or her agricultural products to another individual or entity with the understanding or knowledge that the products are intended to be resold in a certified farmers’ market in violation of this chapter or the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. Every producer selling within a certified farmers’ market shall comply with Section 47020.
(c) All vendors of agricultural products selling within a certified farmers’ market shall do all of the following:
(1) Post a conspicuous sign or banner at the point of sale that states the name of the farm or ranch, the county where the farm or ranch maintains the production grounds that produced the products being offered for sale is located, and a statement that “We Grew What We Are Selling” or “We Raised What We Are Selling” or “We Grow What We Sell” or similar phrases that clearly represent that the farm or ranch is only selling agricultural products that they themselves have grown or raised on California land that they possess or control. Product sales by different farms at the same vendor stand shall separate the products from each farm or ranch and correspondingly post the required sign or banner in direct relationship with the sales display of the products produced by each farm.
(2) Ensure that all processed agricultural products that they offer for sale state in a clear manner by package label, container label, or bulk sales signage that they consist only, with the exception of incidental flavorings and necessary preservatives, of agricultural products grown or raised by the farm or ranch selling them, the farm or ranch name, and the city where the farm or ranch is located. In addition, every processed product shall identify on a package label, container label, or on bulk sales signage the registration number or other identity reference of the facility where the food was processed, or another required labeling statement or information, in accordance with Sections 110460, 114365, and 114365.2 of the Health and Safety Code, or, in the case of meat or poultry products, the identity of the facility where the meat or poultry products were cut and wrapped, in accordance with the applicable United States Department of Agriculture or State of California inspection standards, or, in the case of dairy products, the identity of the facility where the dairy products were manufactured or processed.
(3) Ensure all products being represented or offered for sale as organic are clearly labeled or have conspicuous and posted point-of-sale signage identifying the products as organic.
(d) The representations required pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be subject to the provisions and penalties specified in Section 890.
(e) An operator of a certified farmers’ market that also operates, manages, or otherwise controls a separate sales activity or vending event or marketing area in close proximity, adjacent, or contiguous to the operator’s certified farmers’ market shall not allow the sale or distribution of fresh whole fruits, nuts, vegetables, cultivated mushrooms, herbs, and flowers by vendors selling within those sales activity or vending event or marketing areas.
(f) The operator of a certified farmers’ market shall keep an accurate participation record of the individual direct marketing producers whose agricultural products were presented for sale in their market each market day. The operators shall submit to the department a quarterly report of the registration numbers and participation frequency of the direct marketing producers whose agricultural products were presented for sale in the operator’s market during that past quarter. The department shall create and maintain online capability for reporting.
(g) Operators of certified farmers’ markets may establish rules and procedures that are more restrictive and stringent than state laws or regulations governing or implementing this chapter, so long as the rules and procedures are not in conflict with state laws or regulations.
(h) Except for certified farmers’ markets operated by government agencies, nonprofit entities and other qualified operators of certified farmers’ markets shall be considered private entities and may take actions, adopt rules, and impose requirements they deem necessary for the proper and honest operation of their market, subject to the application of any state or other laws. Government agency operators of certified farmers’ markets are subject to applicable state laws, the regulations and laws of the governing agency, and other laws governing the conduct and actions they may take as a governmental entity.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 374, Sec. 5. (AB 862) Effective January 1, 2016.)