This program ensures compliance with California's minimum standards regarding quality and marketing of all produce commercially grown and/or marketed in the state. Direct Marketing regulation and Organic law enforcement are part of a program that provides for local protection to growers, marketers and consumers.

Certified Producer

A Certified Producer (Producer) is a grower who sells agricultural products of their own production at Certified Farmers' Markets (CFM) directly to the consumer. The Producer will be issued a Certified Producer Certificate (CPC) listing all the products grown by the Producer. The CPC will be issued after an on-site inspection of the growing grounds by the Sutter County Department of Agriculture to verify that all products presented for sale are grown by the Producer. The CPC must be conspicuously posted at the seller’s booth at the CFM for potential buyers to view.

• Certified Producer

Certified Farmers' Market (CFM)

Certified Farmers' Market (CFM) is a market which is comprised of Producers offering a variety of agricultural products for sale. Only Certified Producers are allowed to participate and sell produce in CFM's. The CFM allows the Producer and consumer to be connected directly across the sales counter. Producers benefit from direct sales to customers, without the expense of a middle man, and consumers are able to purchase fresh produce directly from the person who grew it. Sales between Producers are not allowed. A Producer cannot buy agricultural products from another producer or wholesale market to sell to the public or anyone else.

• Certified Farmers' Market

Organic

Organic is a term that is regulated by the California Organic Products Act of 2003. In order for someone to use the term organic, they must comply with all the regulations contained in this act. The most basic requirement is for the user of the term organic to be Registered with the California Department of Food & Agriculture. If the sales from the organic operation exceed $5,000 per year, then the operation must also become Certified by a third party organization which ensures that all required aspects of California Organic Products Act of 2003 and National Organic Program are met. Applications for organic registration are available and processed through the County Department of Agriculture. While many organic producers are participants in the CFM program, organic producers selling through venues other than CFM's do not need to be a producer, but they must be registered as organic producers.

• Organic

Farm Stands

Farm Stands - Local producers of fruits and vegetables are also able to sell their produce at or near point of production. To do so, they need not obtain a CPC, however, they may need to comply with laws and regulations enforced by the Development Services Department, Division of Environmental Health, (530) 822-7400.

• Farm Stands