Certified Farmers' Market

What Certified Farmers' Market does

Certified Farmers' Market, formally Certified Farmers Market of the Coachella Valley, operates a network of three physical farmers markets in California's Coachella Valley. The flagship Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market runs year-round with a seasonal format: outdoors at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (2300 E Baristo Road, Saturdays 8AM-1PM, October through May) and indoors at the Palm Springs Pavillion (401 S. Pavillion Way, June through September). A secondary seasonal market operates select Sundays from November through April in Desert Hot Springs (66070 Pierson Blvd.), sponsored by the City of Desert Hot Springs and The Barker Foundation. The market sells farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, and prepared goods through a rotating base of approximately 30+ named regular vendors (e.g., Bautista Family Farm, Chavez Farms, Ha's Apple Farm, Hook & Line Seafood) who must be certified local California growers, GMO-free, and ideally organic, with a stated goal of at least 50% organic vendors at all times. Certification is performed by the county Agricultural Commissioner, ensuring vendors are actual growers rather than resellers.

The business is owned and operated by The Palm Springs Cultural Center, a nonprofit cultural organization that produces live music, theatre, film, and dance events across the Coachella Valley. Revenue is generated through two streams: (1) vendor booth fees (one-time licensing) charged to certified growers and producers, and (2) a sponsorship program offering monthly packages to local businesses reaching 30,000+ locals and tourists. The market has accepted SNAP/CalFresh/EBT since 2011 and participated in the Market Match program via The Ecology Center from 2015-2017, providing dollar-for-dollar matching up to $10 per customer per market. Distribution is entirely physical; there is no app, API, or digital platform. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic social media (5,000+ Instagram followers, 6,000+ Facebook followers) plus the broader cultural programming footprint of the parent organization. Customer segments are health-conscious local families and tourists seeking fresh, local produce, plus SNAP/CalFresh recipients accessing subsidized fresh food.

Scale indicators include 2,000-3,000 weekly shoppers during peak outdoor season, 500-1,000 weekly indoor summer shoppers, and 11-50 employees. The company is privately held under nonprofit ownership, with no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership structures evidenced. Market Manager Lindsay Jordan oversees vendor applications and sponsor inquiries.

Name

Certified Farmers' Market

Legal name

Certified Farmers Market of the Coachella Valley

Website

https://certifiedfarmersmarkets.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Certified Farmers' Market operates three certified farmers markets in California's Coachella Valley (two in Palm Springs, one in Desert Hot Springs) under nonprofit owner The Palm Springs Cultural Center. It sells produce and artisan goods through 30+ vetted local vendors to health-conscious consumers, tourists, and SNAP recipients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Farmers Market

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAHAHAE

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Fresh Food Specialists (Produce, Meat, Seafood)

SECONDARYCRAHAGAO

Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Specialty Food Stores (Deli, Cheese, Gourmet, Bakery)

Keywords

• Certified farmers markets
• Local produce retail
• Vendor marketplace operations
• SNAP EBT program
• Community market events

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor booth fees: Revenue generated from vendors renting market booth space. Vendors must be local California growers/producers who are GMO-free.
2. Sponsorship revenue: Monthly sponsorship opportunities reaching over 30,000 locals and tourists. Sponsors can align their brand with health, sustainability, and community values.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Certified Farmers' Market operates a network of three physical certified farmers markets in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs outdoor, Palm Springs indoor, and Desert Hot Springs) where vetted California growers and artisan food producers sell farm-fresh produce and locally made goods directly to consumers. The markets are supplemented by a SNAP/CalFresh/EBT acceptance and Market Match incentive program (up to $10 extra per customer per market) and a monthly business sponsorship program.

Product overview

Certified Farmers' Market operates as a dual-location farmers market network consisting of the Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market and the Desert Hot Springs Certified Farmers Market, both owned and operated by The Palm Springs Cultural Center. The Palm Springs location runs year-round with seasonal outdoor (October-May) and indoor (June-September) formats, while the Desert Hot Springs location operates select Sundays from November through April. The market supports a rotating vendor base of local farmers and artisan food producers, with a goal of maintaining at least 50% organic vendors. Additional services include a SNAP/CalFresh/EBT and Market Match program for food access, and a business sponsorship program for local companies to reach the market's customer base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market A year-round certified farmers market in Palm Springs featuring farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, and local vendors, with a seasonal outdoor format (October-May, Saturdays 8AM-1PM at the Palm Springs Cultural Center) and an indoor format (June-September, Saturdays 8AM-1PM inside the Palm Springs Pavillion). It serves health-conscious consumers and families in the Coachella Valley.
• Desert Hot Springs Certified Farmers Market A seasonal certified farmers market in Desert Hot Springs offering farm-fresh local produce and artisan goods to the Desert Hot Springs community, operating on select Sundays from November through April (8AM-1PM). Sponsored by The City of Desert Hot Springs and The Barker Foundation.
• SNAP/CalFresh/EBT and Market Match Program A federally backed nutrition assistance program offered at all three Certified Farmers Markets since 2011 that allows SNAP/CalFresh/EBT customers to process benefits at the market information booth and receive Market Match incentive funds of up to $10 extra per customer per market, doubling the produce purchasing power for low-income shoppers seeking fresh, local produce.
• Vendor Sponsorship Program A monthly sponsorship offering allowing local businesses and brands to reach over 30,000 locals and tourists per month by aligning their brand with the markets' health, sustainability, and community values, with sponsorship inquiries directed to Market Manager Lindsay Jordan at [email protected].

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ weekly shoppers during peak outdoor season
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palm Springs Cultural CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner and operator of the Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs Certified Farmers Markets. The Cultural Center is the Coachella Valley's most prolific producer of cultural events, home to live music, theatre, film, dance, and community programs. The farmers market is part of their broader cultural ecosystem.
• The City of Desert Hot SpringscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the Desert Hot Springs Farmers Market. Provides support and legitimacy to the local market operations.
• The Barker FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Desert Hot Springs Farmers Market, contributing to the market's ability to serve the local community.
• The Ecology CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Market Match program, California's healthy food incentive program that matches federal nutrition assistance benefits like CalFresh and WIC at farmers' markets. Partnered with the market from 2015-2017 to provide matching funds.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture): Operates the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco with certified grower-vendors, SNAP acceptance, and educational programming. Closely comparable as a mission-driven, certified farmers market operator.
• GrowNYC: Operates a network of Greenmarkets farmers markets across New York City. Directly comparable as a multi-location farmers market operator with vendor vetting, EBT/SNAP acceptance, and sponsor/program partnerships.
• Hollywood Farmers Market: Certified farmers market operating weekly in Los Angeles with California-grown vendor requirements. Comparable as a Southern California certified farmers market serving a mixed local/tourist customer base.
• Santa Monica Farmers Market: Multiple certified farmers markets operated by the City of Santa Monica with strict California-grown rules. Directly comparable as a Southern California certified farmers market with year-round schedules.
• Beverly Hills Farmers Market: Certified farmers market with rotating local growers and artisan food vendors. Comparable as a weekly California certified market serving affluent residents and visitors.

Emerging players

• Misfits Market: DTC online produce delivery service focused on affordable organic and local produce. Comparable as an alternate channel for fresh, organic produce that competes for the same health-conscious customer wallet share.
• Imperfect Foods: DTC subscription produce and grocery service emphasizing sustainability and reduced food waste. Comparable as a digital alternative to farmers market produce sourcing for convenience-oriented consumers.
• Local Roots NYC: Operates indoor year-round farmers markets in NYC with a curated vendor mix. Comparable as a multi-location farmers market operator targeting urban consumers with a premium experience.

Broad incumbents

• Sprouts Farmers Market: Specialty grocery chain with strong organic and fresh-produce positioning and a growing Southern California footprint. Broad incumbent competing for health-conscious produce shoppers in the same region.
• Whole Foods Market: National premium grocery chain anchored on organic, local, and natural foods. Broad incumbent competing for the same organic- and local-produce-seeking customers in the Coachella Valley.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CertifiedFarmersMarket
• Instagraminstagram.com/certifiedfarmersmarketscv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Certified Farmers' Market