Ventura, CA – County Supervisors, at their Tuesday, July 26, 2022, Board meeting, proclaimed August 7 – 13, 2022, as Certified Farmers’ Market Week in Ventura County. This coincides with National Farmers’ Market Week in the USA. (https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/national-farmers-market-week/)
There are one hundred and twenty-seven certified local farmers and ranchers that provide Ventura County consumers with access to healthy foods produced locally through fourteen certified farmers’ markets (https://cdn.ventura.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Farmers-Market-List-2020-2021.pdf), which accommodate the demand for a diverse variety of fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, meat, cheese and other agricultural products.
Farmers’ markets serve as significant outlets for small-to-medium, new and beginning, socially disadvantaged, and veteran agricultural producers to market their products, in turn generating revenue that supports the sustainability of family farms and the revitalization of rural communities.
Farmers’ markets also offer low-income women, infants, children, and seniors the opportunity to redeem benefits for fresh produce that help increase fresh produce and healthy foods for low-income individuals and families.
Ventura County market managers, producers, and agricultural commissioner’s staff have and continue to play key leadership roles in the advancement of integrity and equity in farmers’ markets throughout the State of California. Karen Wetzel Schott accepted the Board Proclamation on behalf of the certified farmers’ market community on Tuesday. She serves as the current Chairperson of the California Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee for the Secretary of Agriculture.
The Board expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the dedication and commitment of the farmers and ranchers, market operators and agricultural inspectors who work to provide wholesome fresh, locally produced food and ensure the integrity of this essential marketing system.
For more information about how to become a certified producer or how to become a vendor at a local certified farmers’ market, contact Supervising Agricultural Inspector/ Biologist Tim Fritch in the Santa Paula Office at (805) 933-2926. Learn more at https://www.ventura.org/agricultural-commissioner/.
