California certified farmers’ markets and farm stands can help bring fresh fruits and vegetables directly to the communities that need them most. It can be difficult—if not impossible—to find fresh, affordable healthy food in many urban and rural low-income communities. One way to make fresh produce more accessible is to encourage alternative retail outlets, such as farmers’ markets, farm stands, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, where farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers.

PHLP's fact sheet, California Certified Farmers’ Markets and Farm Stands (available for download below), explains how state law works to encourage this type of “direct marketing,” which creates a win-win for farmers and consumers alike.

People who volunteer in support of farmers' markets sometimes worry that they could be at risk of liability if an injury occurs while they are volunteering.  For more information about the significant legal protections for volunteers provided by the federal Volunteer Protection Act, see our fact sheet on Volunteers and Liability.

To learn more, be sure to check out PHLP's other resources on farmer’s markets and mobile vending:

• Establishing Land Use Protections for Farmers' Markets, includes model land use policies for supporting and protecting farmers' markets, and provides model general plan and zoning language to encourage these uses. The language is designed to be tailored to meet individual communities’ needs. 
• Creating a Permit Program for Produce Cart Vendors, provides an overview of NPLAN's Model Produce Cart Ordinance and also describes the many benefits of produce cart vending.
• Healthy Mobile Vending Policies: A Win-Win for Vendors and Childhood Obesity Prevention Advocates, shows how mobile vending regulations can promote healthy eating in communities that need it the most.