One of the most effective ways to get rid of pesky competitors is to establish laws and regulations that make if very difficult for competitors to operate. That leads us to ask: How did farmers regain the right to sell food directly to consumers?

In 1975, Cesar Chavez led a 1,000-mile march through California’s great Central Valley to call attention to the elections then being held by the newly named United Farm Workers Union.

One year later, at the height of the harvest season, farm workers walked out of 29 canneries throughout California. Though their strike only lasted 11 days, it proved to be one of the costliest labor actions in California history. The state’s entire crop of apricots was lost, and crops of peaches, pears and tomatoes were hard hit as well.

Frustrated by the labor walkout and by California’s strict quality, packaging and labeling restrictions, farmers dumped their surplus peaches on the steps of California’s capital. That act of civil disobedience captured the attention of Governor Jerry Brown, who then went to work to pass the California Direct Marketing Act, which included the Certified Farmers Market Act in 1978.

But, the Act did not set farmers markets free. On the contrary, the Act established restrictions to the certification of the markets, compliments of the conventional farming interests that did not wish to have the additional competition from small, local farmers.

Though other states in U.S. have voluntary organizations that provide guidelines for farmers markets, the groups do not have the legal authority to enforce their guidelines.

In California, the resolute opposition to farmers markets generated a unique systems of state oversight and regulation. Ironically, the systems have been instrumental to the success of the California Certified Farmers Market Program.  Today, each California County has an agriculture commissioner whose responsibility is to watch over the rules and regulations that make it possible for city folks to buy food directly from the farmers who grow it – guaranteed!

And so we ask: How are consumers guaranteed the authenticity of farmers’ market food?

Leave a comment below: Do you think it is possible to guarantee the authenticity of farmer’s market food?

Tune in here, for the syndicated Michael Olson Food Chain Radio Show #1417 May 9, 2026 Saturday 9AM Pacific