The Program Standard
Why a standard
The mark certifies
The mark does not certify
Other certifications a business carries are governed by their own standards bodies.
The Economic Impact Standard
Criterion A
50% or more of ownership held by regional residents or regionally headquartered entities.
Verified by: Articles of incorporation, partnership agreements, ownership cap table, or notarized owner attestation.
Criterion B
50% or more of full-time-equivalent labor hours performed by regional residents.
Verified by: Payroll records, residency documentation (privacy-protected), or notarized owner attestation.
Criterion C
Substantial transformation of the product physically happens in the region.
Verified by: Lease agreements, business licenses, production photos, equipment lists, or facility documentation.
Criterion D
50% or more of primary inputs, by cost, sourced in the region. Inputs that are not regionally available, like coffee beans or cacao, are documented exceptions and count neither for nor against.
Verified by: Purchase orders, supplier invoices, or notarized owner attestation.
Criterion E
50% or more of net revenue retained or recirculated in the region: wages to regional employees, payments to regional suppliers, local taxes, owner draws to regional residents and reinvestment in regional operations.
Verified by: Profit and loss statement, financial summary, or notarized owner attestation.
Documentation stays confidential. Records submitted for verification are not published or shared outside the review. Where source documents can’t be shared, a signed, notarized owner attestation is accepted, subject to audit.
Every certified business also chooses a pathway ↓
The three pathways
GROWN
Raised, cultivated or harvested here.
Products from primary biological inputs that originate in the seven counties.
Examples: Livestock and poultry raised here; fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains and forage; honey, eggs and dairy; timber harvested here; permitted wild-foraged products.
Producer responsibility: Show the in-region origin of the primary input. Processing outside the region, like USDA-inspected slaughter, does not disqualify a product if it was raised here and kept segregated.
CRAFTED
Made, processed or finished here.
Products substantially transformed in the region, whether or not every input comes from here.
Examples: Coffee roasted here; chocolate made here; wine, cider, beer and spirits; furniture and goods; textiles; prepared foods, sauces and packaged goods.
Producer responsibility: Clearly disclose where non-regional inputs come from. Crafted is an honest pathway, open to everyone from small-batch makers to higher-volume manufacturers.
FORGED
Shaped by working here.
Service, retail, trade, hospitality and professional businesses anchored here by ownership, employment and operations.
Examples: Contractors and trades; retail stores, galleries and tasting rooms; hospitality; professional services; guides and outfitters; restaurants.
Producer responsibility: Qualify on the regional anchoring of operations. The mark appears in business identity, marketing and public-facing materials.
How certification works
Business and contact information, pathway selection, documentation for at least three criteria, the signed Producer Attestation Form, and the annual certification fee [amount], which covers trademark and branding rights. A basic directory listing is always free.
The administrator reviews within 30 days: completeness, verification of evidence, and a pathway check. The outcome is approval, a request for more information, or a denial with a written explanation, which can be appealed within 30 days.
Master mark and pathway stamp files for print and web, Brand Guidelines, the rights to use the trademark, a certified designation in the directory, access to participating retailer and distributor networks, and recertification reminders.
Recertify every year. Report material changes, like an ownership transfer, a move outside the region or a new production model, within 30 days.
The administrator may audit on site, with at least 14 days’ notice, prioritizing larger producers, USDA- or TTB-regulated categories, random samples and complaints. Suspected ongoing misuse can mean an unannounced visit.
Once certified, here is how the mark gets used ↓
Using the mark
Tier 1 · The program name
The umbrella name and master mark (lantern plus wordmark). It appears on the website, chamber and coalition materials, grant applications, press, retailer partner signage and certification letters, anywhere the program speaks as itself.
Tier 2 · Pathway descriptors
On packaging, hangtags, retail signage and producer marketing, a small descriptor stamp sits beneath the master wordmark in the approved lockup. The descriptor never replaces the master mark, and producers never redraw it or make their own pathway logos.
Permitted uses
Prohibited uses
Retailers and distributors may use the mark when selling or serving certified products, as long as the product is in fact certified and the mark is unmodified. A separate Sierra Sourced Partner designation for retailers and distributors is forthcoming.
The fine print, in plain English
The complete Program Standard, including the Producer Attestation Form, is available as a PDF. Download the full Standard.
Products under USDA FSIS labeling oversight use the mark in one of two modes.
The mark and pathway descriptor appear on hangtags, butcher case signage, displays, websites, marketing and packaging inserts, not on the federally regulated label panel. This does not trigger FSIS source claim review and keeps the full marketing benefit.
The mark or Sierra Grown descriptor appears on the regulated label panel. It becomes a third-party certification source claim, and the producer and processing establishment submit FSIS documentation with label approval:
These align with FSIS guidance for source and traceability claims under 9 CFR § 412. Producers using out-of-region processors confirm segregation with the processor; the administrator can provide template segregation language.
Additional guidance for using the mark and descriptors on TTB-regulated label panels is being finalized with compliance counsel and will be issued as a supplement. Producers in these categories should talk with the administrator before submitting label applications that include Sierra Sourced or a pathway descriptor.
Repeated or systemic non-conformance may lead to suspension or revocation.
Misuse of the mark may result in any of the following:
A business whose certification is revoked may reapply after 12 months by showing the conditions behind the revocation are resolved.
The Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce administers the program: application intake and approval, verification and audits, branding kits and guidelines, trademark protection, annual recertification, partner coordination, and reporting on program scale and regional impact.
A coalition of regional chambers, economic development organizations, county governments, tourism bureaus, arts councils and producer partners supports outreach, ambassador networks, promotion and input on the standard.
Material revisions require 90 days’ advance notice to certified producers, a public comment period of at least 30 days, and coalition approval. Producers recertify against a revised standard at their next annual cycle.
Application data is aggregated and anonymized to identify regional infrastructure needs, like in-region USDA processing, cold storage, distribution and shared production space. The administrator publishes a regional economic impact report at least once a year to inform Sierra Jobs First and other regional efforts. Individual financial information is held in confidence.
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