Title: Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage

Summary: Defining the term "retail fresh market farm stand"; establishing the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide directional signage for certified retail fresh market farm stands; authorizing the Commissioner of Agriculture to designate certified retail fresh market farm stands as state tourist attractions; requiring owners and operators of certified retail fresh market farm stands to pay specified fees; establishing the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council within the department, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to retail fresh market farm stand signage; creating s. 570.851, F.S.; defining the term  retail fresh market farm stand ; establishing the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage Program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide directional signage for certified retail fresh market farm stands; providing qualification and certification requirements; providing an exception; authorizing the Commissioner of Agriculture to designate certified retail fresh market farm stands as state tourist attractions; requiring the department, in consultation with the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council, to develop uniform directional signage; requiring the Department of Transportation, upon request, to place signage at specified locations; requiring owners and operators of certified retail fresh market farm stands to pay specified fees; requiring the department to adopt rules; providing construction; creating s. 570.8511, F.S.; establishing the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council within the department; providing for council membership, meetings, powers, duties, and procedures; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 570.851, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 570.851   Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage Program.  (1)   As used in this section, the term  retail fresh market farm stand  means any facility located on a farm and used to market farm products as those terms are defined in s. 823.14(3). (2)   The Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage Program is established within the department to provide directional signage for certified retail fresh market farm stands. (3)(a)   To qualify as a certified retail fresh market farm stand, a stand must: 1.   Offer farm products for sale that are produced on the premises. 2.   Be open for business at least days a week, months of the year. 3.   Have an actual growing area of at least 87,120 square feet. 4.   Offer tours of the growing area located on the premises. 5.   Display permanent signage on the premises specifying the times for the tours and hours of operation of the agricultural facility. (b)   To participate in the program, the owner or operator of a qualified retail fresh market farm stand must apply to the department to register as a certified retail fresh market farm stand and pay application and registration fees. (c)   To maintain designation as a certified retail fresh market farm stand, a stand must annually meet the requirements under paragraphs (a) and (b). (d)   An agricultural facility that produces wine or other agricultural products but does not have a growing area on the property does not qualify for the program. (e)   The commissioner may officially recognize a certified retail fresh market farm stand as a state tourist attraction. (4)(a)   The department, in consultation with the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council, shall develop uniform directional signage bearing a uniform Fresh From Florida retail fresh market farm stand logo and emblem. (b)   Upon request of a certified retail fresh market farm stand, the Department of Transportation shall place directional signage bearing the uniform Fresh From Florida retail fresh market farm stand logo and emblem on the rights-of-way of interstate highways and primary and secondary roads. The owner or operator of the certified retail fresh market farm stand must pay a fee for the signage placement. (5)   The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. (6)   This section does not prevent retail fresh market farm stands from qualifying as an agritourism activity as defined in s. 570.86. Section 2. Section 570.8511, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 570.8511   Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council.  (1)   The Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Advisory Council, an advisory council as defined in s. 20.03(7), is established within the department. The council shall consist of members to be appointed by the commissioner. Initially, members shall be appointed by the commissioner for a 1-year term and members for a 2-year term. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for 2-year terms. (2)   The meetings, powers, duties, procedures, and recordkeeping of the advisory council shall be pursuant to s. 570.232. (3)   The council may annually submit to the commissioner recommendations relating to the Fresh From Florida Retail Fresh Market Farm Stand Signage Program. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.