We are a small, two person vegetable farm in Redwood Valley in our second season attending Mendocino County farmer's markets. We are committed to providing the community with healthy, affordable vegetables. Every cost input into our production must be weighed with the lens of providing value to our customer as well as efficiencies within our infrastructure and processing. A fee increase of 6x our current cost is unreasonable and will result in the determination of increasing prices directly impacting the consumer we are trying to serve.

I agree with the need for cost increases, but the rate in which they rise needs to be reasonable. All other inputs are also increasing which we continue to struggle to accomodate. Please consider an increase no more than double the current rate.

Regarding the Department of Agriculture memo, I support the effort to keep fee increases as minimal as possible. I understand the need for adjustments, and I appreciate the thoughtful approach. However, even modest increases can be a stretch for smaller markets like Redwood Valley.

As outlined in the memo from the Agricultural Commissioner, Angela, the proposed adjustments are:

CPC: $37 → $50 (+$13 annually)
Certified Farmers Market Fee: $37 → $75 (+$38 annually)
These rates appear more aligned with neighboring counties and help reflect the value of direct-to-consumer agricultural sales.

04/20/2026
RE: BOS meeting 04/21/26
Agg fee proposed increase for Certified Producers Certificate (CPC) for Farmers at Farmers Markets
We are local farmers (Lake County) who sell at your county’s Ukiah market.
Our CPC is from Lake County and cost is $40.00 to all farmers in Lake County
I understand your concern’s budget etc. and need to raise a fee and feel keeping in line with other counties who sell in Mendocino County Certified Farmers Markets is the only fair method. We are ok with $40.00 but feel anything above that can hurt the local farmers.
Some think local farmers make a lot of money at the markets, when in reality we are lucky to cover cost, if any money is left truly, it is well below minimum wage for the time put into maintaining and harvesting and selling the produce if any wage at all is left over.
Speaking of our farm, we have been in business for 6 years now and are USDA Certified Organic and are lucky to sell $3,000.00 of produce in bad years and $5,000 in good years, (That is an average of about $120.00-180.00 total sales per Sat) if we were not retired and financial benefits from that, one could never make a living from this venture, and truly I don’t see how anyone does if they do at all, I think most are a love the endeavor and a want to give good healthy food to the community vs big box chemical laden non-disclosed, non-fresh offerings.
Please raise funds in other ways and not at the small local farmers market, gardeners already weak business models.
Suggest raising the cost of weights and measures (grocery stores and gas stations) , charge a fee for insect id and trapping, call outs, and special request of personnel etc. But please do not tack on any sliding scale of price on the small farmers who are trying hard and are dedicated to providing healthy food to the community who knows and understands healthy eating habits.
Please vote or support a NO to increased fees on these farmers CPC.
Very sincerely yours,
Wes & Jill Baker Jill’s Market Garden, Ukiah Farmers market vendor, USDA Organic Certified and Real Organic Program Certified.

Dear Members of the Board of Supervisors - We are a small cottage business that sells at the farmers market. This is our main way of sharing our products, and our work is very seasonal. We are proud to be part of Mendocino County’s strong local business community, which is one of the many things that makes this area so special.
If fees are increased, it will impact small businesses and farms, especially those that produce food for the community and local food banks. Such a sharp increase could make it difficult for many vendors to continue operating and could impact the diversity and accessibility of local food offerings. While we understand that adjustments may be necessary, we respectfully ask that any fee increases be implemented in a way that reflects reasonable, incremental changes aligned with inflation and the realities faced by small, seasonal businesses. Thank you for your time and consideration.