Southland Farmers Market Association city of redondo beach finance director,Los Angeles
7.6.04 -- Southland has written ato Health Services Director Jonathan Fielding regarding the Health Departments new policy of not accepting personal checks for payment of health permits. The Department recently returned a check issued by a local government agency under this new policy and insisted that the city involved pay via money order.
>Events &Happenings
San Diego (3 mkts)
Zamora Farms, Vista, CA- In December, staff notified Zamora Farm that it would be subject to an audit of the products they sell at the Santa Monica market. The audit was never conducted, however, as Zamora Farms abruptly left the market. Efforts to contact them since have been unsuccessful. Zamora Farms will need to complete this audit before they will be allowed to re-enter Santa Monica markets.
>Studio City
4.18.05 -- Southland will open two new certified rmers markets in May. ThePanorama City Certified Farmers Marketwill open on May 20, 2005 at a location one block north of the intersection of Roscoe Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City. The market will operate weekly on Friday evenings from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This market will be developed in partnership with the Valley Economic Development Center.
>Price Comparison Study
Los Angeles City Council Considers Eliminating Special Event and Street Closure Fee Waivers for Certified Farmers Markets
Letter to Los Angeles City Council Proposes Certified Farmers Market Exemption From Proposed Special Event Permit Fees
>Best Practices
7.22.04 -- Southland was written to the USDA in opposition a proposal that would allow the importation of Mexican Hass avocados into California and the other 49 states. The Bush administration has plans to lift a 90-year old ban of importing avocados into US avocado-growing regions. Southland joins with the California Avocado Commission and other organizations to raise concerns that Mexican fruit will introduce harmful pests into California avocado groves. The deadline for written comments in July 23, 2004. You may join in opposition to this proposal by going to
8.4.04 -- In a decision that may effect all rmers markets on public streets, the NTSB has city of redondo beach finance directorcited language in the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devises as source of a requirement that street barriers for the Santa Monica Farmers Market should be highly visible with three stacked bars. According to the Los Angeles Times today, the Board criticized the Citys current practice of using rmers vans and trucks to block the markets entrances. Officials said that the vehicles gas tanks could explode if struck by a st-moving car.
>Coupon Information
>Chinatown
Southland member certified rmers markets offer you the opportunity to buy directly from the California growers who produce the products that they sell. We hope that you will ask questions, sample the produce, and get to know the growers at our member markets and have an enjoyable shopping experience.
5.23.04 -- Southland Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on the dates listed below. Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Check this website for updates. The meeting dates for 2004 are: July 18 and October 17. Meeting dates for 2005 are: January 16 and March 13. Southlands 2005 Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 17.
7.6.04 -- Southland President Laura Avery and Executive Director Howell Tumlin will attend the July 15, 2004 Board of Directors Meeting of the Marin County Farmers Markets Association in San Rael, CA to discuss Southlands proposals for reform of the certified rmers market program.
>Bulletin Board
Gardena
>SFMA Newsletters
6.28.04 -- Southland unveiled a free website design program for Los Angeles County certified rmers markets today at the Brentwood - Bel Air Holiday Inn. Farmers market operators from the 84 Los Angeles County certified rmers markets were invited to a luncheon and presentation by website designer Donna Freiermuth ofto learn how a market can receive free website development. The design tools and presentation were graciously funded by the Buy California Campaign Program and the Southland Farmers Market Association. Southland received a $100,000 Buy California Campaign grant that it has leveraged into 13 sub-grant projects generating more than $280,000 in specialty crop promotions in Los Angeles County. If you are a Los Angeles County certified rmers market operator, and want more information, contact Howell at 310-481-0167, x-13.
3.21.05 -- The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services recently took the unprecedented action of banning sales of wild mushrooms in certified rmers markets. The reason given was that the source of the wild mushrooms was not an approved source according to their definition. David West, a Southland member and long time vendor of wild mushrooms at the Santa Monica Certified Farmers Market was essentially put out of business. Protests from customers and calls to the County Supervisors advising them that all wild mushrooms come from the same source added pressure on the Department of Health Services. In the end, the Department backed off its ban on wild mushrooms in Los Angeles County. The reason they gave was that it was a State matter to develop standards for approved sources of wild mushrooms. We think the Department simply got in over its political head on a decision that made sense to no one. See Southlands letter to the Director of Health Services and the most recent Los Angeles Times Article. Much credit for the change in the Departments decision goes to David West, who was persuasive in getting customers and supporters to call and write on his behalf. Laura Avery, Southland President and Supervisor of the Santa Monica Farmers Markets, championed Davids cause and was significant in getting the word out to radio listeners and market participants.
6.22.04 -- Southland met with City of Los Angeles Council member Jack Weiss staff yesterday. It was confirmed that Council member Weiss was the originator of the proposal to eliminate fee waivers for special events that require street closer/permits. Council member Weiss staff assured us that certified rmers markets will not be subject to the requirements of other commercial events nor expected to pay $528 per week in fees, as reported by City of Los Angeles staff.
>List of all SFMA Markets
6.30.04 -- Southland is looking for approximately 500 square feet of donated office space on Los Angeles Westside. Our current office space lease ends on August 31, 2004. If you know of anyone who may be interesting in supporting our mission with a donation of a small office space, please let us know at 310-481-0167.
Southland Proposal For Grower Protections & Due Process Approved by the Certified Farmers Market Advisory Committee
4.27.04 -- The City of Los Angeles has alerted certified rmers markets located on Los Angeles city streets that a proposed ordinance would eliminate the authority of LA City Council members to waive street closure and special event fees for certified rmers markets in their districts. Effective July 1, 2004, the ordinance would require markets that do not currently have a street closure and vender fee waiver to pay $528 per week in City fees.
>SFMA Consulting Services
6.9.04 -- Southland opposes a proposed City of Los Angeles ordinance that would categorize certified rmers markets as commercial events and therefore no longer eligible for special event and street closer fee waivers. We urge the City to modify the definition of commercial event to exclude certified rmers markets where at least 75% of the vendors are rmers. For more, see.
Coronado
>Santa Monica (2 mkts)
Nakamura Farms, Oxnard, CA- Staff audited Nakamura Farms in January 2005. We visited both production sites in and near Oxnard. The audit concluded that Nakamura Farms was able to demonstrate that the products being sold at the market are being grown at the rm.
The effect of this ordinance, if passed, would to put most certified rmers markets located on City streets or property out of business. Southland has alerted the Council offices of its strong opposition to this proposal and will actively oppose the Citys efforts to solve its fiscal difficulties by driving rmers markets either out of existence or onto private property. We urge all City of Los Angeles certified rmers markets to contact your Council office and express your outrage at this effort to undermine this important program.
>Insurance Information
>Statement of Values
4.28.04 -- The WTO has ruled in vor of Brazils cotton growers who challenged rm U.S. subsidies for domestic cotton producers as unir. This is the first agricultural case to successfully confront the practice of rm subsidies for agricultural products. For more, see this.
>How to Sell at a Market
>Roster of Member Markets
Fontana - Kaiser
At a Southland Farmers Market, you are assured that you are purchasing quality produce from certified local growers and producers. Southland Farmers Market Association serves member markets, local California rmers and consumers by promoting and protecting the integrity of certified rmers markets in Southern California.
Claremont
>Southlands MarketNews
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Unveils Instructional Video on Farmers Market Salad Bar Program on July 1, 2004
2.14.05 -- Southland and the Santa Monica Farmers Markets have been working together to implement a review of the products being sold in the market. Beginning in December 2004, Southland/Santa Monica staff selected two rms each month to audit. The audits document what is currently being sold at the market and includes a trip to the rm see the products growing at the rm. For more information on how the program works, click.
Silverlake
Pomona
San Dimas
>Discount Program
>Find a Southland Market
Polito Family Farms, Valley Center, CA- In December, the staff completed an audit of Polito Family Farms. The audit found that all products observed being sold at the market were clearly visible at the Polito Southland Farmers Market Association city of redondo beach finance directorproperty. The audit report concludes that Polito Family Farms successfully demonstrated that it is producing the products it sells in the Santa Monica Farmers Market.
>Contact Us
>How toStarta Market
5.11.04 -- The Certified Farmers Market Advisory Committee yesterday adopted a Southland proposal regarding noncertifiable agricultural products. The Committee approved memorializing current practices while it continues to study how to address the pressing issue of value-added and processed foods in the certified rmers market program. To see the regulation adopted by the Committee, click on the Legislative Voice link in the green navigation bar to the left.
Pacific Beach
The purpose of this ordinance is to create a One Stop Special Events Office and to end the practice of waiving fees for commercial special events. To the degree that a certified rmers market is a special event, it would qualify as a commercial event because the food and merchandise sales are for the benefit of the not-for-profit sponsoring the organization.
The second market will be located at theKaiser Permanente Foundation Hospital in Fontanaand will open on May 27, 2005. Certified producers interested in selling at either of these markets should contact Southland at 310-481-0167.
Horton Square
National Transportation Safety Board Cites Inadequate Road Closure Barriers in City of Santa Monica Farmers Market Tragedy
>Our Code of Ethics
Markets
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>Whats in Season?
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>Recipes & Articles
7.19.04 -- The Santa Monica Certified Farmers Markets sales continue to grow each year. The Wednesday Markets sales lead all markets with a 17% increase over last year, the Saturday Organic Market has increased by 15%, the Saturday Pico Market by 8% and the agricultural product sales at the Sunday Market increased by 7%. Congratulations to the Santa Monica Market staff for such terrific results.
>Farmer Application Form
>Nonprofit Status Info &
Southland views the CACASA proposals as another indication that there is a growing movement of serious and committed growers, market operators and regulators who are ready to deal with the unsavory practices of a small but growing number of dishonest market operators and participants. Southland has lead this movement because we view the unaddressed abuses of rmers markets as threatening this extraordinary program. We welcome CACASAs contribution to this effort and applaud their initiative.
West Hollywood (2 mkts)
>Tips & Useful Information
6.16.04 -- CDFA has proposed new regulations regarding the definition of sprouts, the requirement of markets to have a current certificate and the posting of organic registration. See thefor the text of these proposals. Comments on these proposals must be received by CDFA by 5:00 PM, July 26, 2004.
>La Cienega
>SFMA Consulting Services
Theis an important contribution to the discussion on how to restore integrity to certified rmers markets. Anyone who is concerned about the future of rmers markets should read and carefully consider its suggestions. Southland is soliciting comments for these proposals from all who have an interest.
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Financials PDF Download
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Accomplishments
4.18.05 -- The Los Angeles City Council will consider an ordinance next week that would effectively eliminate the current practice of waiving special event and street closure fees for certified rmers markets operating on Los Angeles city streets. It would appear that markets would be required to pay more than $500 per market day in fees to the City. Southland urges the City to continue to exempt those certified rmers markets that consist of no fewer than 75% rmers. Click here for the full text of the Southland letter to the Los Angeles City Council.
5.19.04 -- A nonprofit corporation is required to file IRS Form 990 if it has annual revenues of $25,000 or more. Nonprofits that operate certified rmers markets sometimes learn of this requirement only after being penalized for ilure to file in a timely manner. The penalty for ilure to file may be as much as $100/day with a maximum of $50,000. For more information, The IRS also has athat may assist you. Nonprofits operating on a calendar reporting period must file by May 15th. If you have a fiscal accounting year, then you are required to file by the 15th of the fifth month after the fiscal year ends.
>Our Enforcement Program
6.24.04 -- The City of Redondo Beach provided a tour of the Redondo Beach Farmers Market today for summer camp kids. This project is funded by the California Department of Food and Agricultures Buy California Campaign Grant to encourage consumers to purchase specialty crops from California growers. CDFA Staff member Josilyn Hendricks traveled from Sacramento to attend this event and see first hand the benefits of introducing young kids to the fun of certified rmers markets. Many thanks to John York for this program so successful. Seearticle for more.
>Oxnard
>Report Forms
3.29.05 -- Southland announces the creation a new service for member markets with the introduction of the Southland Market News last week. This weekly, one-page news bulletin is emailed on Mondays to Southland member markets for distribution to growers and vendors on market day. The one-page format makes the News to copy and pass out during the market. Past editions of the Southland Market News can be found by clicking on Market News found under About Southland Farmers Market Assn. on the navigation bar to the left.
Monrovia
7.12.04 -- The CFMAC approved a Southland proposal that would set forth the due process protections that market operators must provide to market participants. It is the policy of CDFA to require due process whenever a grower is fined, suspended or expelled from a market. The Southland proposed process would ensure that growers are properly noticed of the action and given a right to a hearing before the discipline is imposed. For more, see
Vendors (The Directory)
Southland Confirms Los Angeles Farmers Markets Will Not Be Forced to Pay High Street Closer/Permit Fees
McGrath Family Farms, Camarillo, CA.- Staff documented the products being sold at the market by McGrath Family Farms. We observed that these products were well established and growing at the rm. The audit report concludes that McGrath Family Farms is selling products at the market that are easily seen growing at the rm.
Los Angeles Count Department of Health Services First Bans, then Rescinds Ban, of Wild Mushroom Sales in Certified Farmers Markets
Covina
>Suppliers & Resources
Panorama City
>Redondo Beach
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>How SFMA Promotes Its
6.30.04 -- Nutritional Specialist Dona Richwine will present the a newly developed video and manual designed to show other public schools how to establish their own rmers market salad bar program tomorrow at 1:00 PM on Thursday, July 1, 2004, in the Boardroom of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District offices. The SM-MUSD offices are located at 1651 16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404. The instructional video and supporting materials were produced as a sub-grant of Southlands Buy California Campaign Grant Funding. We are grateful to the California Department of Food and Agriculture for funding this program. Southland is looking for additional funding to enable us to duplicate these materials and make them available to any school that is interested in developing a rm-to-school salad bar program. For more, see the
6.15.04 -- Southland expelled the Westwood Farmers Market from the Association for its ilure to comply with the Code of Ethics, including the markets refusal to provide financial accountability to the community it serves and ilure pay its annual membership fees. The Westwood Farmers Market was organized by Southland in 1994 as a service to the Westwood Village community. Theprovides the details. On June 28, 2004, the UCLA Bruin news wrote the following story about the Westwood Farmers Markets expulsion form Southland. For the full story,
>Directory of Growers &
5.12.04 -- CACASA, the association of California county agricultural commissioners, has joined in the growing call for fundamental reform of the Certified Farmers Market Program. CACASA presented an important discussion to the Certified Farmers Market Advisory Committee this week. It lists six proposals, the sum of which would return the Direct Marketing Program back to its original intent. Mirroring the Southland proposed reforms from the certified producers point of view, CACASA offers a package of major and minor reforms to restore the promise of the program from the regulators perspective.
5.10.05 -- West Hollywoods West-side Farmers Market opens Wednesday, May 25, 2005 and will operate on Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on the softball field at 647 N. San Vicente Blvd (near Santa Monica Blvd.). The West-side FarmersMarket is seasonal and will be open from May through September.
