TFF (Temporary Food Facility) is a permit that we acquire for the farmers’ markets and popup events. Until recently (June 2024), we used to be required to obtain an individual TFF for each market or popup event that we do.
TFF FOR ORANGE COUNTY
TFFs may differ by each county and state (the costs, the policies, the requirements, the duration, etc.), but I am going to be referring specifically to Orange County. More specifically, this post is about prepackaged category 1. I cannot speak on the other categories since I’ve only been doing business under this category.
There are two different TFFs for food operators, one for hot food (cooking on site/open food) and prepackaged. My business falls in the prepackaged category. Everything is prepared and packaged prior to being on site and there is no further handling of food on site. We play by different rules than hot foods… and also pay different costs (permits for hot foods cost more).
NEW ANNUAL TFF THAT COVERS ALL OC MARKETS AND POPUP EVENTS
The new annual TFF option that the OC Health Department now offers is a game changer, especially for those that do a lot of markets and events. Former prices were usually around $112 per CFM (Certified Farmers’ Market) and $66 for single day events. We used to pay separately for each one. You still can, if you don’t do too many markets or events and it makes more sense for your business. With the new annual fee, it makes a huge difference, say if you’re doing ten markets, instead of paying per market, one annual OC TFF will cover all the markets and events in Orange County. The current single TFF for a market is $171 (big jump from just being $112 just earlier of 2024). So if paying individually for each one like before, that’d be $1710 annually in TFF fees. With the new option, $317 covers all of them.
SINGLE EVENTS
For a single event, the cost is currently $140 (OMG it was just $66 before the new updates, just prior to June 2024). For a recurring event for a three month duration, the TFF is also $140. For example, (referring to former prices because it was before the changes) I did a one-time event with PSQ and paid $66 to be there for one day. The Weekend Night Market is once a month. I also paid $66 for the TFF that lasts for three months and renewed after three months.
I did Sweet Street in March and planned to do it again in August. I asked if I can pay an annual. They said no and explained that if there is a gap of over three months in between the events, I can’t do an annual. I also found out that only annual TFFs can be paid online, in case you were confused like me. I was paying for all my weekly farmers’ markets annual TFFs online. I asked why I can’t pay the single event or three month duration events online, and they explained that it’s only the annual ones that can be paid online.
DISPLAY TFFS AT BOOTHS AT ALL TIMES
TFFs need to be with you and displayed at your booth at all times. The health department does scheduled (and sometimes random and without announcement) visits. You are required to have the TFF displayed at your booth. For the weekly farmers’ markets, the health department comes by for their routine inspection. Usually, these visits are scheduled ahead of time, but I’ve seen some instances when they do a random drop by. Inspections are divided into food and agriculture. So when they come by to check for the food vendors, that is all they are checking. When they come to check for agriculture, they are only doing inspections for the produce, honey, nuts, etc., so us food people don’t need to panic or stress lol. For single events, there is a good chance to have a visit from the health department. For the three month duration TFFs, they usually come on the first day/week of the duration.
Standard things checked during routine inspections:
- Proper Labels
- TFF displayed
- Sampling (enclosed for prepackaged)
- No food or drink inside the booth
- Business identity (name displayed)
- City or zip code of the business showing
- This is a must have. One time, an inspector encouraged a neighbor vendor to quickly handwrite her zip code somewhere to be visible at her booth and said he wouldn’t mark her off for it.
- No pets
Many vendors love to bring their dogs, but technically, it does go against health department regulations.
CANCELLING AN ANNUAL TFF
If you end up dropping a farmers’ market, be sure to notify the health department, or else you will have an outstanding balance (a rookie mistake that I’ve learned from). When I dropped a market for the first time, I didn’t even think to close out the TFF with the health department. I figured it was all done via the farmers’ market. And then I got an invoice in the mail for renewal when I had dropped months prior. When you contact them, be sure to have the date of when you last attended and a confirmation from the market manager.
Routine inspections are usually no more than a couple of minutes. Out of all the inspections for prepackaged foods, it’s the simplest. We also have a kitchen inspection. I have it for county and State. The State one is the most complex and turned out to be several hours long! County inspection is usually no more than 20 minutes or so.
A lot of the people working the booths at the markets and popups (more so at the weekly markets) are employees. Some have had no idea what TFFs are. When I started the markets, I kind of thought everyone running the booths was the maker, the creator, and everything in between, like I was. But little did I know! Many of them are established companies. Some are in markets all over socal, with hundreds of employees. And then there’s booths like mine, a one person show.
IN LIEU OF THE NEW COST BREAK
By following these simple tips, you will always know what to expect, where your passport is at all times, how much money you’re spending on flights and accommodations (and when), and most importantly, that you are ready in case of emergency.
What are some of your own best traveling hacks? Share them with us below!
CLOSE SITE SPECIFIC TFFS AFTER OBTAINING THE TFF FOR ALL OF OC
Just this week, I got a renewal invoice for one of my markets that is about to expire next month. I had just gotten the OC TFF only a few months ago, so that should make me good to go until almost the end of the year. I emailed them and told them that I shouldn’t be getting an individual invoice for each market since I had gotten the OC TFF. We went back and forth a bit, but got it sorted out. They were asking if I wanted to close that market/account. I was like, huh? I am keeping that market, but was confused as to why I am being billed separately when I had paid for the TFF that covers all of OC. They closed the site specific permit for that market and hopefully, it’ll be updated in their system not to invoice me again like that lol. And make sure that they have closed any site specific TFF’s if you have gotten an OC TFF, or you might find penalties added later.