The Mechanics Of Organics: Are They The Real Thing?

Not all is what you might think at a Certified Farmers’ Market. “I’m after organic food,” said Barbara Rozalska, a shopper at a recent market.

She, like many other shoppers there, said she can taste the difference. Rozalska said the produce she’s putting into her bags tastes better than similar produce she’d buy at the store. Rozalska cited the “taste, flavor, health it provides, minerals, enzymes.”

Another shopper, Giacomina Marie of Palm Springs, said she makes a daily green drink and loves the produce at the farmers market to make it. Maria said, “I’m using my carrots, I’m using my kale. I’m using beets. And, I love their artichokes.”

There are Certified Farmers’ Markets in Palm Desert, La Quinta and Palm Springs. You can shop in a leisurely environment, support local farmers and have a better idea of where your food comes from. Often it comes with a premium price. “Because this is fresh,” said Maru Torres of Jaime Farms in Corona. “They pick it one day before it comes to the farmers market. So everything is fresh.”

But these Certified Farmers’ Markets are not necessarily places you’ll find “organic” foods Ron Bray, a Riverside County deputy agricultural commissioner, said, “The certification for the Certified Farmers’ Market is simply that they grow what they bring to the market.” He said “certified” does not mean food free of all pesticides. Bray says “Certified” growers have their nearby farms inspected annually. Inspectors only make sure they’re producing and selling to the public their own fruits and vegetables, in season and in the proper quantities. “The idea is that if you have a guy with five lemon trees, he’s not showing up with truck loads of two tons of lemons to the farmers’ market. Obviously he got those somewhere else,” Bray said.

To rise to “organic,” a producer must be registered with the state and national organic organizations. A producer must also agree to only use sprays and other materials on their crops that meet organic standards. Bray said private organic agencies sample and perform inspections. The state of California certifies those qualified agencies. State and county agricultural inspectors investigate any complaints.

Just because you’re at a Certified Farmer’s Market doesn’t even mean everything there is certified, or all that’s offered there is even grown organically. Honey and cut flowers are certified. But the bread you’ll find, coffee, meats, fish and soap are not certified. Vendors can sell them legally there though, if they are partially produced from certified ingredients.

During a walk around a recent Palm Desert market, Bray asked several vendors for their registration forms, both “certified” and “organic.” He didn’t find any problems, but showed how any shopper can examine grower certificates for any discrepancies.

In November, agricultural inspectors cited Sage Mountain Farms of Hemet for failing to display a signed certified producer’s permit. Madison Street produce of Indio was also ordered not to sell at the Certified Farmers’ Markets last February, and again in November, for selling items not listed on its approved certificate. Also for not having an inspected scale. Madison Street was also cited in November for not having a current producer certificate.

Rozalska is from Canada and insists “it’s all organic, everything organic I believe, If I can trust their advertising.” That suggests again that misconceptions remain. Inspectors say the best thing you can do is to simply ask the vendors to show you their “certified” or “organic” permits. They’re required to be posted in plain view. “Ask to see what they grow, where they grow it,” said Bray. “Because some people are very concerned about buying local.”

Growers say few people ask to see their permits. They say their business is based on trust. But it’s also monitored by market managers, the state and other growers to weed out those who might break the rules.

The local Certified Farmers’ Markets are planning to open a new location in Coachella in September. We’re told shoppers can expect culturally relevant produce there. We’ll let you know when exactly it’s set to open.

You can read more about the local Certified Farmer’s Markets here, the Riverside County Agricultural Commission’s website, or the state’s website .