Yolo County and the city of Woodland are hosting a free “Road to Licensure” Pilot Program educational workshop to help residents get started as mobile food vendors set for Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at 625 Court St., in the County Administration Building Atrium Training Room.

Residents will receive guidance on how to become licensed mobile food vendors in Woodland, receive direct support from county and city representatives for the “Road to Licensure” application, and information on mobile food vending requirements and resources to launch their businesses.

In August 2024, county health officials hosted a presentation on the “Road to Licensure” Pilot Program during a Yolo County Board of Supervisors meeting due to the health risks the “pop-up” food trucks and food carts were posing.

Prepared by Berenice Espitia and Cindy Perez, associate management analysts for the Yolo County Administrator’s Office, their recommendations came from a survey in July and early August that found there were 27 independent and “unique street food vendors” in Woodland. Seven food trucks posed a high risk to public health, while others posed lower risks.

“In recent years, the county has seen an increase in unlicensed street food vendors, particularly in the city of Woodland,” the report read. “There are a variety of reasons for this increase. People operating locally make an essential source of income, create employment opportunities, and are afforded the flexibility to take care of their families.

“The main issue is that food prepared by pop-up street food vendors is typically prepared from a private home or unpermitted restaurant or facility, compromising the health and safety of consumers,” the report continued. “In addition, unlicensed street food vending has an impacted ‘brick-and-mortar businesses’ ability to compete because, as registered businesses, they are required to pay taxes and fees to operate lawfully that in effect raise their food prices.

It’s for these reasons that the county recommended a pilot program with the city of Woodland to educate pop-up vendors on how to be safe, along with getting the necessary operating permits.

County staff felt the small pop-up and pushcart operations, which represent the lowest risk to public health, would be the most likely to benefit from a formalized “pathway to licensure program.” At the time, a total of 21 vendors fell into the category of the 27 recorded operations.