Supporting Local (and beyond) Supporting Local (and beyond) Agricultural Tourism EffortsAgricultural Tourism Efforts

Adopting regulations to meet changing needsAdopting regulations to meet changing needs

Janet Caprile

Farm Advisor

UC Cooperative Extension

Contra Costa County

Ag Tourism Summit 11/4/11

Established Established agritourismagritourism

industry in CCCindustry in CCC

““Harvest TimeHarvest Time””

started in 1976started in 1976

Over 40 UOver 40 U--pick and Roadside standspick and Roadside stands

Markets & customers have changedMarkets & customers have changed

Current markets and customersCurrent markets and customers

More customers are localMore customers are local

Less time for cooking & canningLess time for cooking & canning

Small volume, weekly grocery sales Small volume, weekly grocery sales

Family & farm experienceFamily & farm experience

The Modern Farm StandThe Modern Farm Stand

Larger standsLarger stands

Room for displays & activitiesRoom for displays & activities

Product diversityProduct diversity

Farmers trade goodsFarmers trade goods

Value added farm products Value added farm products

Make use of extraMake use of extra

Extend the seasonExtend the season

Olives have to be processedOlives have to be processed

NonNon--farm productsfarm products

Bottled water & drinksBottled water & drinks

Cook books, canning suppliesCook books, canning supplies

County Regulatory RoadblocksCounty Regulatory Roadblocks

Roadside stand survey: ID problemsRoadside stand survey: ID problems

(summer 2004)(summer 2004)

Stand size restrictions (200Stand size restrictions (200--400 400 sq.ftsq.ft))

Product restrictions (fresh produce grown on site)Product restrictions (fresh produce grown on site)

Permitting confusion & expensePermitting confusion & expense

Parking and traffic problemsParking and traffic problems

RecommendationsRecommendations

(spring 2005)(spring 2005)

Ordinance changes toOrdinance changes to

increase stand size increase stand size

and broaden product salesand broaden product sales

General plan amendment General plan amendment

LUP in Ag Core for sm. processing facilitiesLUP in Ag Core for sm. processing facilities

Permit streamlining and cost reductionPermit streamlining and cost reduction

CCC Ag Task Force (growers, UCCE, Ag Dept)CCC Ag Task Force (growers, UCCE, Ag Dept)

The County FixesThe County Fixes

Grower StandGrower Stand Farm StandFarm Stand Farm MarketFarm Market1500 1500 sq.ftsq.ft.. 1500 sq ft1500 sq ft 3500 sq. ft.3500 sq. ft.

LocallyLocally

grown producegrown produceDrinksDrinks

(vending)(vending)Locally grown produceLocally grown produceLocal value added (600sf)Local value added (600sf)NonNon--agag, non, non--local (60sf)local (60sf)

Locally grown produceLocally grown produceLocal value added Local value added (100%)(100%)

NonNon--agag, non, non--local local (700sf)(700sf)

Allowed by rightAllowed by rightBuilding permit for Building permit for structuresstructures

Admin review ($)Admin review ($)

Building permit for Building permit for structuresstructures

Land Use permit ($$)Land Use permit ($$)

Building permit for Building permit for structuresstructuresRetail food permit ?Retail food permit ?

Adopted June 2007 (after 3 long years!!!)

Local Farm Stands Saved!!Local Farm Stands Saved!!

Local Farm Stands become Local Farm Stands become Retail Food FacilitiesRetail Food Facilities

State Regulatory RoadblocksState Regulatory Roadblocks

Food & Ag CodeFood & Ag Code

Whole produce, shell eggsWhole produce, shell eggs

Grown on or near siteGrown on or near site

Health CodeHealth Code

Retail Food Retail Food FaciltiesFacilties

require:require:

Permanent potable water & sewer Permanent potable water & sewer

Grocery store like buildingGrocery store like building

Impermeable flooringImpermeable flooring

Mop sinks Mop sinks ……

CA Retail Food Safety CoalitionCA Retail Food Safety Coalition

Advisory group: industry, Advisory group: industry, govgov’’tt, academia, academia

Preparing amendments to the new Retail Food CodePreparing amendments to the new Retail Food Code

Proposed an expanded Farm Stand definition Proposed an expanded Farm Stand definition

NonNon--potentially hazardous processed farm products potentially hazardous processed farm products

Bottled water & drinksBottled water & drinks

CouldnCouldn’’t reach consensus (Jan 2008)t reach consensus (Jan 2008)

CA Farm Bureau CA Farm Bureau To the Rescue!To the Rescue!

Initiated Assembly Bill 2168 (Feb 2008)Initiated Assembly Bill 2168 (Feb 2008)

Author: Dave Jones (DAuthor: Dave Jones (D--SactoSacto))

Worked with all groups to create an acceptable billWorked with all groups to create an acceptable bill

Kept us all informed & told us when to:Kept us all informed & told us when to:

Solicit letters from local supportersSolicit letters from local supporters

Solicit speakers for hearings Solicit speakers for hearings Noelle Crammer,

Government Affairs CFB Liaison

CA Farm Bureau CA Farm Bureau To the Rescue!To the Rescue!

Took it through the legislative processTook it through the legislative process

Assembly Agriculture Committee *Assembly Agriculture Committee *

Assembly Appropriations CommitteeAssembly Appropriations Committee

Senate Agriculture Committee *Senate Agriculture Committee *

Senate Appropriations CommitteeSenate Appropriations Committee

Senate consent calendarSenate consent calendar

Assembly consent calendarAssembly consent calendar

Governor signed (Sept 2008)Governor signed (Sept 2008)

Effective Jan 1, 2009Effective Jan 1, 2009

AB 2168AB 2168

Amends Food & Ag Code and Health CodeAmends Food & Ag Code and Health Code

Creates 2 types of producer owned standsCreates 2 types of producer owned stands

Field Retail StandsField Retail Stands

(original): (original):

Whole produce & shell eggsWhole produce & shell eggs

Exempt from size & package, not maturity & quality Exempt from size & package, not maturity & quality reqtreqt..

Exempt from Retail Food CodeExempt from Retail Food Code

Farm StandsFarm Stands

(new):(new):

Same products as above PLUSSame products as above PLUS

Processed, preProcessed, pre--packaged, local farm productspackaged, local farm products

NonNon--local, prepackaged, food products (50 local, prepackaged, food products (50 sq.ftsq.ft.).)

Food sampling OK if toilet & Food sampling OK if toilet & handwashinghandwashing

facilities availablefacilities available

AB 2168AB 2168Farm Stands (new):Farm Stands (new):

Processed, preProcessed, pre--packaged, local farm productspackaged, local farm products

Not potentially hazardous (shelf stable)Not potentially hazardous (shelf stable)

Prepared/packaged in an approved facilityPrepared/packaged in an approved facility

Produced in close proximity to the farm standProduced in close proximity to the farm stand

NonNon--local, prepackaged, food products (50 ftlocal, prepackaged, food products (50 ft22))

Water & drinks specifiedWater & drinks specified

Other nonOther non--potentially hazardous foodspotentially hazardous foods

Samples: Samples: portaporta--potty with wash potty with wash facilitesfacilites

OKOK

AB 2168AB 2168Farm Stands (new):Farm Stands (new):

NOT exempt from Retail Food Code BUT NOT exempt from Retail Food Code BUT inspectors are only concerned with:inspectors are only concerned with:

Processed foods stored in Processed foods stored in vermin proofvermin proof

area area or container when the facility is closedor container when the facility is closed

All All garbage/refusegarbage/refuse

dispose of in an dispose of in an appropriate mannerappropriate manner

No live animalsNo live animals

within 20 feet of food within 20 feet of food storage or sales area (service dogs exempt)storage or sales area (service dogs exempt)

AB 2168AB 2168

NonNon--standard pack produce can be bought by:standard pack produce can be bought by:

ChefsChefs

for their restaurantsfor their restaurants

Individuals, organizationsIndividuals, organizations

who sell or who sell or

give produce to end usergive produce to end user

Collaborative CSA Collaborative CSA

Charitable distribution to the needyCharitable distribution to the needy

It takes a coordinated effort It takes a coordinated effort ……

Agricultural Task Force –

Board of SupervisorsAgriculture DepartmentCooperative ExtensionBuilding DeptCommunity Development Environmental HealthPublic Works